Author: Saint Augustine

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) on Thursday said it was satisfied with the judgements so far delivered by the courts over the lingering disputes with between it and the Lagos State Government. Speaking on the occasion of the Safety and Awareness visit of the Management of NIWA to Lagos, the Managing Director of NIWA, Hajia Inna Maryam Ciroma recalled that on her first official visit to Lagos on assumption of office almost one year ago, she did promised to dialogue with the officials of Lagos state and to go to court for adjudication if nothing positive was arrived at…

By Monday Japhet Emo Ekiti State is reputed have produced more professors than any other state in Nigeria, in fact legend has it that every family has at least two professors. So it is understandable that the process of selecting such cerebral people into positions of leadership will be fierce and stiffly contested, especially that of the position of Executive governor who normally has puppets as legislators and has proverbial powers of “the genie” to dispense largesse from the crumbs allocated to the state from the federal purse. Given the allure for lucre the stake cannot be higher, this is…

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi has described the problems at the nation’s maritime sector as one that requires emergency solutions. Akpobolokemi who was speaking in an interview with journalists at the just concluded one day National Workshop on PPP Strategy for Infrastructural Development and Modernization in the Nigerian Maritime Sector held in Lagos recently stated that because the problems could be seen as emergency, there was no further need to keep waiting for the government’s intervention to address the myriads of problems in the sector rather than to engage…

Following the protests that greeted the partial implementation of the new automotive policy by the Nigeria Customs Service, the Secretary, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Hon. Increase Uche has described the protests as wrong step in the wrong direction. Uche who was speaking in an exclusive interview with Primetime Reporters at his office in Lagos on Tuesday, also said that NAGAFF has called its members to order telling them that the association was not in support of those that were against the implementation of the government policy. He disclosed that as intermediaries, Freight Forwarders and agents were…

Customs clearing agents in Apapa, Tin Can and PTML commands ON Monday staged a peaceful protest against what they called the hasty implementation of the Federal Government’s policy on used vehicles, which basically states that 35 percent flat duty rate plus a levy of 35 percent will be charged for all vehicles imported into Nigeria. Attempt by the Nigeria Customs Service to commence the total implementation earlier this year, was resisted by Customs clearing agents, with the full support of importers. This resistance prompted the government to suspend the policy, only for it to subtly resurface in March 2014. However,…

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) on Monday said that it was working assiduously to establish a viable National Shipping line in the country through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement. The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Mr. Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi who made this known in a welcome address he rendered at a one day National workshop on PPP Strategy for Infrastructural Development and Modernization in the Nigerian Maritime Sector held in Lagos stated that the National Shipping Line when operational would address the problems of sea time training being experienced by the Nigerian…

Chief Eugene Nweke is the National President, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF). In this interview with our correspondent, he bared his mind on the six months lifespan of the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) of the Nigeria Customs Service, the activities of the ousted Service Providers and the performance of the Nigeria Customs Service so far. Excerpts: Having operated the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) regime for an upwards of six months now, how do you assess the performance of PAAR? Well, first and foremost, PAAR is a laudable concept because PAAR is a homegrown portal and platform that…

President Goodluck Jonathan has identified inadequate manpower as the major problem militating against the growth of the maritime sector in Nigeria calling for a concerted effort to address the situation. The President who made this known last Saturrday while performing the ground breaking ceremony of the Nigerian Maritime University at Okerenkoko in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State stressed that human capacity development had been identified as a major factor needed to boost the maritime sector to fully utilize the gains of the industry. He stated that the establishment of the Maritime University would enhance his administration’s commitment…

The Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA) are gearing for a action against the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke over her claim that 60 per cent of oil lifting contracts for 2014 have been awarded to Nigerian indigenous companies. The Chairman of NISA, Chief Isaac Jolapamo who made this known while addressing journalists Tuesday at the Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN) International Maritime Press Centre in Lagos, said that the statement credited to the Petroleum Minister was misleading. Jolapamo also said that series of attempts by his association to get clarification of the statement attributed to the Minister were…

The Freight Agents working at the Ports and Terminals Multiservices Limited (PTML) Wednesday continued their strike action to press home their demands. The agents had on Tuesday downed tools to protest against what they called the premature implementation of the new automotive policy of the federal Government earlier enforced by the Nigeria Customs Service in February this year which was later suspended to allow room for further consultations. They wondered why the policy which was scheduled to commence on the 1st of July, 2014 would be enforced by the PTML command of the Nigeria Customs Service wondering what might have…