Author: Saint Augustine

…Customs absolves self of allegation Following the recent reopening of the cargo warehouses shut down by the Murtala Mohammed Airport Command (MMAC) of the Nigeria Customs Service, the National Association of Air Freight Forwarders and Consolidators (NAFFAC) has faulted the move by the men of the command to allow only licensed customs agents access into the warehouses as a way of checkmating crowd. Speaking in an interview with our correspondent in Lagos recently, the Murtala Mohammed Airport Chapter Chairman of NAFFAC, Mr. Alade Shabi also faulted the monetization of the collection of identity cards as a means of gaining access…

Following the dismissal of the suit filed by the Association of Shipping Line Agencies (ASLA) and the Seaport Terminal Association of Nigeria (STOAN) against the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), a legal luminary, Barr. Valentino Buoro has called on both parties to explore the post judgment mediation to resolve pending issues arising from the Judgment. It will be recalled that a Federal High Ikoyi, Lagos presided over by Justice Ibrahim Buba last Wednesday dismissed the suits filed by ASLA and STOAN contesting the status of the NSC as the economic regulator of the Nigerian Ports among other issues describing them as…

…As SALS braces up against move Counsels to the Association of Shipping Line Agencies (ASLA) and the Seaport Terminal Operators’ Association of Nigeria (STOAN) have filed for stay of execution of the ruling of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos which dismissed their suits against the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) over the reduction of shipping line agency charges (SLAC) and refund of container deposits with regards to ASLA members and reduction in progressive storage charges and increase in free storage days with regards to STOAN members. The appeal was coming on the heels of the dismissal of the suits of…

Nigeria’s leading maritime media firm, Ships & Ports Communication Company on Tuesday announced the winners of the 8th edition of its annual National Essay Competition. At the official prize presentation ceremony held at Etal Hotel in Apapa, Lagos, a Delta State-based graduate of Microbiology, Ojo Taiye was announced as the winner of the 2014 essay competition carting away N100, 000 cash Best Overall Prize donated by Dangote Port Operation. Other winners include Kenneth Okpomo who won the Sifax Group Prize for Creativity and an Owerri-based medical doctor, Anyanwu Munachimno who won the Nigerian Shippers Council Prize for Best Researched Essay.…

…Orders refund of Shipping line Agency Charge A Federal High Court Ikoyi, Lagos Presided over by Justice Ibrahim Buba on Wednesday dismissed the suit filed by the Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria and the Association of Shipping Line Agencies challenging the powers of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to unilaterally determine charges collectible by their members in the Nigerian maritime industry. The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) had on Wednesday 29th October 2014 published an advertisement announcing the reversal of progressive storage charges at the ports to that, which was in force as at May 1, 2009. NSC also ordered an…

…Sponsors children’s Christmas party Nigeria’s largest online mall, Konga, has commenced its Christmas reward programme, giving away lots of surprise gifts to customers who spend N100, 000 or more shopping from the great deals on its site from December 9, 2014. The give-away which started last week will come to an end December 20. The programme, tagged ‘Make a Wish’ campaign is aimed at enlivening the Yuletide celebrations for its customers by delivering to them their wish come true. In a related development, Konga, over the weekend in Lagos, brought joy to children and families through its sponsorship of the…

The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mallam Habib Abdullahi has re-iterated his commitment to the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan in the area of Safety of life and property especially in the maritime sector. Mallam Abdullahi stated this today 16th December, 2014 while speaking at the commissioning ceremony of Multi-Purpose Fire Service Trucks and Equipment at TinCan Island Port, Lagos. The Managing Director added that the procurement of the equipment is also in fulfilment of the Corporate Social Responsibility Policy of the Authority, stressing that the fire equipment would not only be used for combating fire outbreak…

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has that over 38% of the one hundred and twenty-nine port facilities in the Country were fully compliant with the International Ships and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. The Director-General of NIMASA, Mr. Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi who disclosed this in a speech delivered at a World press Conference held in Lagos on Tuesday, stated that this comprised of all the major ports in the country. According to him,” this is a great improvement from the less than 7% compliance level before the appointment of NIMASA as the Designated Authority (DA) in 2013.…

…Says pirates behind rumour The Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi has dismissed the alleged purchase of Norwegian Warship by Messrs Global West Vessels Specialist Limited for its use on the Nigerian maritime domain describing it as handiwork of detractors. Akpobolokemi who stated this while fielding questions from Journalists at a World Press Conference organized by the agency in Lagos on Tuesday maintained that the much talked about warships were the same boats earlier commissioned by the agency and were subsequently fitted with guns by the men of the Nigerian Navy. He also stated…

…Sponsors 33 graduates to study maritime courses The Taraba state government is currently sponsoring 33 youths with bachelor degrees and Higher National Diploma (HND) from the state to acquire knowledge from the maritime sector. The youths are currently offering a year programme from the foremost maritime institution in areas of shipping management, nautical sciences and marine engineering. Speaking with journalists on recently during a school’s end of year party and passing in out parade, the Rector ,Dr. Jim Ovai said that the government of the state found it worthy to train its citizen in maritime studies; saying that it is…