Author: Saint Augustine

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…

In his renewed efforts towards enhancing the  operational efficiencies in the Nigerian seaports, President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday disclosed that his administration has seen development of Deep sea ports as a long term solution to the problems of congestion in ports. The President who was speaking  at the opening ceremony of the 2014 Nigeria Maritime Expo (NIMAREX) tagged,” NIMAREX 2014, Invest now”, stated that part of the long term solution to congestion is the development of the Lekki Deep Sea Ports which according to him, had been  at the forefront of his administration. “For the enhancement of operational efficiencies at…

 President Goodluck Jonathan, Monday declared open the 2014 edition of the Nigeria Maritime Expo (NIMAREX) at the new Expo Centre of the Eko Hotel and suites, Lagos with a commendation for the organizers of the event for their wisdom in choosing the theme to aptly reflect the mood of the nation. The event which had in attendance the who is who of the Maritime industry was chaired by a former Military President of Nigeria, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida. The two leaders who were both represented at the event however showered praise on the organizers of the event. While President Jonathan was…

Tony Anakebe is a foremost Freight Agent in the Nigerian Maritime Sector. In this interview with our correspondent, he bared his mind on the burning issues in the Maritime sector in Nigeria ranging from the freight forwarding associations, the Nigeria Customs Service, Maritime Advocacy and Action Group, CEFFN and a host of other issues. Excerpts; Your Perception of the various Freight Forwarding Associations. ANLCA (Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents) was formed in 1954 and they were formed to take care of the Freight Forwarding business entirely but along the line, some people felt that the power ANLCA is welding…

The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mallam Habib Abdullahi has said that the Authority is fully committed to the improvement of the health care of its entire workforce. Mallam Abdullahi made this assertion on Monday while flagging off the awareness programme against cervical cancer, targeted at screening, vaccination and treatment for female employees of the Authority. Represented at the flag off event which took place at the Corporate Headquarters, Marina, Lagos by the General Manager, Administration, Chief Michael Ajayi, the Managing Director commended the Medical department for its commitment towards embarking on awareness campaigns on various health issues…

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has pledged that it would continue to support the activities of the four pilotage districts within the authority to ensure their maximum performance. The NPA Managing Director, Malam Habib Abdullahi who gave this assurance in Lagos reiterated that the Authority would also provide all the operational requirements of the pilotage districts within budgetary provisions. Malam Habib who was speaking in his office at the beginning of a meeting with the leadership of the four pilotage districts commended the contributions of the members, consisting of mainly the finest nation’s master mariners, for their contributions to ensure…

On the wake of taking over of the Destination Inspection Scheme from the erstwhile Service Providers by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on December 1, 2013, the service discovered to its chagrin that the ousted service providers handed over to its custody over 99,000 (ninety-nine thousand) unprocessed Risk Assessment Report (RAR). Aware that there was no how the service was going to handle the unattended jobs left behind by the service providers since the takeover of the scheme came with it a new platform known as the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR), it had to get another option aimed at offsetting…