Author: Saint Augustine

… As Ship owner expresses appreciation for prompt intervention  The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has described as false, news making the rounds in some online media platform that it failed to provide assistance to a distressed vessel; MV ORC4. A statement signed by the Head, Corporate Communications, NIMASA, Mr. Isichei Osamgbi and made available to our correspondent in Lagos yesterday said that contrary to the false report which claimed that NIMASA and Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) failed to provide assistance to a distressed vessel, resulting in the sinking of the vessel and loss of lives; the…

Air Peace has again been chosen as Nigeria’s best airline, garnering a whopping 44.7 percent of the total votes cast in the domestic airlines category of the third edition of the Nigeria Travel Awards organised by Jumia Travel in Lagos on Monday. The airline beat five other domestic carriers to clinch the “Best Local Airline of the Year” award. The first runner-up in the category came far behind with 15.6 percent of the total votes cast. Air Peace also picked the award for 2017. The winner of the award was chosen by members of the public through a simple online…

Following concerns raised by the flying public over the manner the Boeing 737 Max 8 belonging to Ethiopian Airlines carrying 157 passengers crashed on Sunday and safety issues raised over Boeing 737 Max 8 planes, the Management of Air Peace has urge members of the flying public to continue to choose Air Peace as their preferred airline and trust them to always act in their best interest. The airline in a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by Mr. Chris Iwarah, Corporate Communication Officer, confirmed that although it recently placed a firm order for 10 brand new Boeing 737 MAX 8…

The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum has expressed deep worry over the turn of events in Rivers State over the gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections held on the 9th of March, 2019 which have now been suspended by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) indefinitely. The forum in a statement signed by Chief E K Clark -PANDEF Leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo-for Afenifere Leader, Chief John Nwodo – President General Ohanaeze and Dr. Pogu Bitrus, President -Middle Belt Forum quoted Mr. Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner as saying,” :”Initial reports suggest that violence occurred in  substantial number of polling…

…As Uwadia seeks appointment of professionals to head industry The Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint a Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Maritime Affairs in his second term in office to help advance the course of the industry in the second leg of the administration. The President of NAMM, Capt. Tajudeen Alao who made this proposition in an interview with our correspondent in Lagos yesterday recalled that the office was never in existence in the political history of Nigeria but had to be created by former President Goodluck Jonathan…

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has warned that this is not a good time to impose all manner of charges on port users in the nation’s maritime industry. The Director-General of LCCI, Mr. Muda Yusuf who gave this warning in an interview with our correspondent in Lagos while reacting to the Peak Season Surcharge on Nigerian bound cargoes by the shipping companies and the passage fee imposed on vessels by the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) said that this was a wrong timing as “the economy is going through a lot of challenges, businesses are going through…

The National Executive Director of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Nigeria, Mr. Paul Ndibe has said that the Peak Season Surcharge slammed on Nigerian bound cargoes by the shipping companies is a warning signal that Nigerian port system is inefficient hence the need to make it efficient. Ndibe who made this assertion in a chat with Primetime Reporters in Lagos recently said that it was obvious that during seasonal peaks, there were lots of congestion which according to him would also create idle time for ships that were waiting to be unloaded adding that the charges were…

As the controversy surrounding the proposed registration of port service provider in the Nigerian ports by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) rages on, the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Nigeria has identified the need for some level of regulations and organization of practitioners in any sector maritime sector inclusive. The National Executive Director of CILT, Mr. Paul Ndibe who made this position known in a chat with our correspondent in Lagos last Friday said that if one recognized the role of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council as the commercial regulator of the port, it was important that it should…

…Seeks replication of Tincan Island command one stop shop model The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has requested a directive by the Customs Management to all customs commands to adopt the Tincan Island command’s one stop shop Dispute Resolution Centre approach where issues of value must be treated by Valuation units to resolve related issues. The National Vice President of ANLCA, Dr. Kayode Farinto who made this request during a visit to the Coordinator Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service, ACG Katherine Ekekezie in Lagos recently however said that the Tincan model was theoretical as over nine…

…Introduces grant to empower 250,000 women ….Campaigns for 40% gender inclusiveness for women MMS Woman of Fortune Hall of Fame (WoFHoF) Initiative has condemned Federal Government’s suspension of Trader Moni scheme which has seen traders, mostly women fleeced off over N6 billion as two million applicants paid N3,000 at the commercial banks without obtaining  the loans. The non-profit organization made this call at a press briefing while it marked the International Women’s Day with ‘Walk Woman, Think Equal’ road walk in Festac, Lagos last week, admonishing the government to restructure the scheme rather than jettison it. The group argued that…