Author: Saint Augustine

The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has decried the inability of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to stamp its feet on the ground and insist that the right thing be done in the nation’s maritime industry. The Deputy National President Headquarters, NAGAFF, Chief Increase who observed this in a chat with our correspondent in Lagos attributed the development to absence of law to empower the Council in its new role as the port economic regulator. Uche further blamed the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and other relevant government agencies which he said had not helped the Shippers’ Council to…

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has assured stakeholders in its Eastern Zonal Operations that the era of being tossed between the Zonal Office and the Head Office is over as the agency has concluded plans to restructure its operations for optimal performance. The new structure is expected to grant the Zonal Offices greater autonomy to initiate, process and conclude critical transactions like ship registration, sailing clearance and other associated operations in the Zones without recourse to the Head Office. The Director General of the agency, Dr. Dakuku Peterside said this while addressing concerns of stakeholders in Port…

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside has given the assurance that the agency will provide platforms for the enforcement of its mandate especially the Cabotage Act. Peterside said this while addressing staff of the Bayelsa Enforcement Office in Yenagoa while on a working visit of the operational offices of the agency in the Eastern Zone. Describing the Cabotage Act as an important pillar for home grown capacity for the sustainable development of the Nigerian maritime industry, Dr. Peterside further stated that the agency was committed to the full implementation of the…

The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli Emiko has appealed to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA) to facilitate the effective utilisation of the Warri Port and the Koko Port with a view to reviving the economic activities in these areas. The traditional ruler made this known when the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside led a delegation of the Management of the agency to pay homage to the first class chief at his palace in Warri while on a tour of NIMASA operations in the Central Zone. The Olu of Warri who noted that the Delta ports…

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside has expressed the agency’s determination to strengthen its zonal operations to become the centre of the agency’s activities. By so doing, the agency plans to devolve more power to the zonal offices, grant them more autonomy and authority to handle the agency’s statutory mandate without recourse to the head office. Peterside who made this disclosure while meeting with staff and stakeholders in Warri as part of his working visit to the Central Zone in continuation of his familiarisation tour of the agency’s offices and facilities…

The Deputy National President, Headquarters of the National association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Chief Increase Uche has slammed the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) over its issuance of password to licensed companies rather than to individual for the purpose of operating Direct Trade Input (DTI) describing the move as throwing up another business challenge in the nation’s maritime industry. Uche who made this observation in a chat with Primetime Reporters in Lagos stated that since the commencement of issuance of password to those licensed companies, a number of customs licenses had been blacklisted following one infringement or the other.…

The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has pledged its support for the recently launched Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the nation’s ports by the federal government. Speaking in an interview with our correspondent, the National Publicity Secretary of ANLCA, Dr. Kayode Farinto described the launch of the SOP as long overdue adding that it would enhance business at the nation’s seaports. Farinto while appreciating the federal government for the bold initiative however warned that unless the SOP has a legal framework to back its operation as well as spell out punishment to be meted out to defaulting agency…

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday approved the appointment of Chief Executives for the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), the Standards Organsation of Nigeria (SON) and 11 other parastatals and agencies. A statement by the Director of Press, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), Mr. Bolaji Adebiyi, indicated that the President appointed Alhaji Usman Abubakar as Chairman of Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC). The President also appointed Mr. Joseph Ari as Director-General, Industrial Training Fund (ITF); Ms. Sharon Ikeazor, Director-General, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD); Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim, the Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA); and…

Facts emerged yesterday that the former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori who is serving his jail term in London is expected to be released soon. Although it is not yet clear when he is likely to be released, his political associates in Delta State believed the former Governor would celebrate the 2016 Christmas at his hometown, Oghara. In a goodwill message marking the 50th Birthday Ceremony/thanksgiving Service of Mr. Ben Igbakpa, former Delta State Commissioner for Transport at Ovade, Oghara yesterday, the Odidimadi of Africa, Chief Ighoyota Amori declared that Chief James Onanefe Ibori, former Governor of Delta…

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside has described preparedness and core training as the panacea for handling oil spills in the maritime environment. Peterside stated this while addressing participants at the eight day training programme on “Oil Spill Response and Preparedness Training on the Job” being organised by the European Union (EU) in Lagos. The DG who decried the negative impact of oil spills on the marine environment and its effects on the livelihood of people living in coastal communities noted that it was only adequate preparation that cotld help mitigate…