Author: Saint Augustine

A group of maritime reporters, the Maritime Correspondents’ Organization of Nigeria (MARCON) has called on the Federal government not to rescind its policy on the increased tariff on imported rice. MARCON in an open letter it addressed to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a copy of which was obtained by Primetime Reporters observed that any attempt at truncating what it called a laudable economic policy of the government would amount to satisfying the business interests of a few. The group in a letter which was signed by the duo of Ismail Aniemu…

Bolaji Akinola is the spokesman of the AP Moller Terminal, Apapa, Lagos. In this interview with our correspondent, he bares he mind on the new customs examination bay, the new administrative building for the company, the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR), Congestion at the Terminal and many more. Excerpt Your company in the last quarter of 2013 told us that by the end of the first quarter of 2014 that it will deliver a new customs examination bay as well as a new administrative building. We are on the last day of the first quarter of 2014, have you delivered on…

With capacity to handle almost half of the total volume of containers passing through Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre; Lagos, APM Terminals Apapa Limited has been described as the largest and best equipped terminal not only in Africa’s most populous country but in the entire West Africa. Chief Commercial Officer of APM Terminals Apapa Limited, Mr. Neil Fletcher, told delegates at the 12th Inter modal Conference and Exhibition held in Lagos last week that the leading terminal operator is a multi-user facility having 10 shipping lines calling at its terminal. He said the terminal is fully ISPS compliant and is the…

Defending champions, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) today opened the defense of their Maritime Cup title on a bright note as they defeated hard fighting Dominion Divine Freight Forwarders (DDFF) 2-1 in the opening match of the 2014 Ships & Ports Soccer Challenge, also known as the Maritime Cup competition. Dominion Divine had scored the first goal of the match through Obinna Nwankwo via penalty kick in the 19th minute of the first half. But Customs equalized in the 37th minute through Abubakar Mikail. Customs scored its second goal in the 82nd minute of the match through Tenyon Yenne thereby snatching…

A Maritime Lawyer, Barrister Osuala Emmanuel Nwagbara has called on entrepreneurs in the country to invest in Maritime institutions saying that establishment of more maritime schools will help increase the number of professionals in the industry. Nwagbara who made the appeal at an event held in Lagos last week, when he won the best Maritime Lawyer of the year organized by National Evergreen Merit Award observed that there was the need for investors to participate in the creation of marine colleges that will help to build capacity in the sector. He also urged maritime schools without website to do so…

During the just concluded Nigerian Maritime Expo (NIMAREX) 2014, the Nigerian Navy was the envy of all at the Expo as it displayed its ship NNS Andoni which was said to be built locally by the Service. The participants especially the Nigerian Indigenous Ship-owners Association (NISA) was filled with pride at such a “can do spirit” of Nigerians which had been demonstrated by the Nigerian Navy. But not up to one week after the much celebrated achievement, the Nigerian Media was awashed with the news that the Nigerian Ports authority (NPA) has donated three patrol boats to boost its surveillance…

As the chapter elections of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) continues, the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal chapter in Lagos, Wednesday, got a new set of executives. The chapter which has been under the leadership of Engr. Fabian Okafor for the past ten years, first, as Sole Administrator and later as the elected chairman of the chapter now has Otunba Micheal Adekoya as its Chairman Elect. Adekoya who is the Vice Chairman of the chapter in the outgoing dispensation beat his only opponent in the contest, Prince Jerry Nwokedi with a total of 122 votes as against Nwokedi’s…

Apparently satisfied with the successes recorded by the Lagos Channel Management and the Bonny Channel Management in Lagos and Calabar respectively, the Federal Government has given nod for the establishment of Calabar Channel Management (CCM) to guarantee the sustainability of the Channel. The Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar who made this known while declaring open the 12th Inter-modal Africa 2014 Exhibition and Conference in Lagos Thursday reiterated the federal government’s commitment towards the resuscitation of the Calabar Access Channel which he said was a joint venture between the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Messrs Niger Global Limited. According to…

By Eugene Nweke-RFF, Mpta, Mnis,Fffa   Web Fontaine as an old Service Provider appears to be basking under the euphoria of industry monopoly, having enjoyed over 8 years of non competitive operations as structured by the Ministry of Finance, hence, being the only Service Provider with speciality in Information Technology development, stakeholders are yet to come to appreciable terms with the level of self developed innovations injected into the system so far.   Alternatively, can Web Fontaine proudly point to what it considers to be its records and achievement over the years and the cost thereof for public assessment or else it…

By Joy Enamuna Today, Standing from an emergency meeting held at the seat of the Caliphate and convened by sensible and sober Nigerians drawn from all walks of life with different religious and political affiliation and associations, with yours truly as one of the distinguished drunkards representing DWB (Drunkards Without Borders) in response to the senseless butchering of Nigerians by UKO (unidentified killing objects) allegedly premeditated by Al Qaeda and master minded by Boko Haram, it was agreed that one of the many permanent solutions to the recalcitrant problems of insurgency is to transfer the Capital or what we call…