Author: Saint Augustine

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) have lauded the partnership between I and the Nigerian Navy describing both institutions as partners in progress.  The Director General, NIMASA, Mr. Ziakede Patrick Akpobolbkemi made this known while playing host to the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western naval Command, Rear Admiral Samuel Ilesanmi Alade who paid a courtesy visit to the agency’s headquarters in Lagos recently, noted that the relevance of the Nigerian Navy to the development of the nation’s maritime sector could not be overemphasized. Akpobolokemi re-emphasized the commitment of NIMASA to fight piracy, develop human capacity, ensure safety of…

Againstthe backdrop of the continued lamentations by freight forwarders over delays associated with the Pre Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) in the clearing procedures of consignments from the nation’s seaports, the Nigerian Chambers of Shipping (NCS) has described the Nigerian Customs Service initiative as anti local content even as the Chamber is being apprehensive of its success. The Director General of the Chamber, Mrs. Ify Anazonwu-Akerele made this assertion in a roundtable discussions with journalists under the aegis of the Maritime Reporters’ Correspondent of Nigeria (MARCON) in Lagos Monday, even as he urged the customs to go back to status quo…

The thirty-seven newly promoted officers of the Nigerian Police Force, Port Police Command has been charged to rededicate themselves to their duty and make hard work their watchword. The call was contained in a statement made by the Commissioner of Police in charge of Western Ports, Kayode Aderanti, last Friday after decorating the officers with their new ranks at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) headquarters in Lagos. According to him, “I will urge you to be dedicated to the service of this country, to be loyal, steadfast and hardworking and with good records more promotion will come your way. In…

The Nigerian Navy Service (NNS) has identified the lack of enforcement by government in punishing offenders as the bane of the nation’s security agencies. The offences according to the Service include sea robbery, oil theft, piracy and other illegal activities on Nigeria territorial water. The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Usman Jubril made this known in a statement in the just concluded Nigeria Maritime Expo (NIMAREX) 2014 held at the Convention Centre, Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. The Chief of Naval Staff who was represented at the event by Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ofik said that most…

The Chairman, Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority, Hon. Chris Asoluka has called on the Federal Government to evolve an implementation framework to build indigenous shipping capacity in Nigeria. Hon. Asoluka who was speaking in the ongoing NIMAREX 2014 holding at the Convention Centre, Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos regretted that although there was a colonial and post colonial policies towards building indigenous shipping capacity in Nigeria, implementation of those programmes had always been a problem to successive administrations in Nigeria. He opined that it was easier for successive governments to come up with policies but more tasking…

The Chairman, Nigeria Maritime Expo (NIMAREX) 2014, Planning Committee, Barr. Margaret Onyema-Orakwusi has said that the NIMAREX under her watch was not owing anybody and will not owe anybody. Barr. Orakwusi who was speaking in an interview with newsmen in Lagos as part of the ongoing NIMAREX 2014 programme holding at the Convention Centre, Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos was reacting to an allegation circulating on the social media alleging indebtedness of the Expo to some contractors who worked for it in the past editions of the event. She urged the public to disregard such information as there…

Apparently to disabuse the minds of critics on the level of the government’s involvement in the biggest Maritime Expo going by President Goodluck Jonathan’s absence at the event for the fourth time running, a maritime lawyer, Barr. Emeka Akabogu has said that the President’s absence did not in anyway translate to the lack of government’s commitment to the event. Akabogu who stated this in an interview with newsmen during the opening ceremony of the Nigerian Maritime Expo NIMAREX 2014n at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island,Lagos disclosed that the President was billed to personally declare the event open and…

Contrary to the popular opinion, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council NSC, has come out to say that it has legal backing to of the law to carry out the economic regulatory role of the Nigerian Maritime industry as recently bestowed on it by the federal government. Speaking in an interview with newsmen at the opening ceremony of the Nigerian Maritime Expo, NIMAREX 2014 at the Convention Centre, Eko Hotels and Suite, Victoria Island, Lagos on Monday, the Executive Secretary, NIGERIAN Shippers’ Council, Barr. Hassn Bello disclosed that the establishing the council actually gave it a lot of economic regulatory powers arguing…

The Chairman, Nigeria Shipowners Association(NISA), Chief Isaac Jolapamo has reiterated his call on the Federal Government to give urgent attention to the shipping sector and revive it from the near collapse status. Jolapamo who made this known at the Nigeria Maritime Expo (NIMAREX) 2014 tagged,” 100 years of Maritime Development in Nigeria”, held in Lagos, Monday stated that the shipping sector was still faced with numerous challenges after its 100 years of existence saying, “We have not paid the required attention to the shipping sector. One hundred years after, we are still struggling with getting it right especially in the…

A former General Manager, Western Zone, Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Mallam Muhammed Bulangu has expressed optimism of extending the hosting right of the Nigeria Maritime Expo (NIMAREX) to other parts of country. Balungu who was speaking to newsmen  at the exhibition stand in the ongoing NIMAREX 2014, Monday hoped that NIMAREX would soon move out of Lagos to be hosted in other parts of the country. According to him, “ I am happy about what is happening today and our hope is that in a very short time NIMAREX will transcend Lagos and be held in other parts of the…