Maritime – Page 14 – Eavesdropper online

12 Dec

Nigeria Customs Service Faces Challenges with B’Odogwu Trade Modernization Software

Esther Komolafe0 CommentsMaritime

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has launched a pilot phase of its B'Odogwu trade modernization software aimed at streamlining customs documentation and clearance processes. However, the initiative is facing challenges due to "human element barriers" undermining the good intentions of the management board . Key Challenges 1.⁠ ⁠Payment Processing Issues: Lack of integration of some banks, particularly those connected through Interswitch, and inadequate communication between bank headquarters and operational branches hinder payment processing on the Bodogwu platform . 2.⁠ ⁠Demurrage Concerns: Terminal operators' high demurrage charges pose a significant challenge, affecting trade facilitation and revenue collection . 3.⁠ ⁠Compliance Levels:…

12 Dec

NIMASA Honors Comrade Adeyanju as 2024 Man of the Year

Esther Komolafe0 CommentsMaritime

Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), has been recognized for his outstanding leadership and contributions to the maritime sector. Adeyanju's exceptional leadership has transformed the maritime industry, advancing the welfare of workers and fostering development. His commitment to driving positive change and progress within MWUN and the maritime community has earned him widespread acclaim. Achievements and Recognition •⁠ ⁠Elected President General of MWUN in March 2017 •⁠ ⁠Introduced scientific unionism into the Nigerian maritime sector •⁠ ⁠Eradicated labor strikes and increased productivity in the Nigerian port system •⁠ ⁠Secured N200,000 monthly salary…

12 Dec

Nigeria Customs Service Zone ‘A’ Welcomes New Coordinator

Esther Komolafe0 CommentsMaritime

The Nigeria Customs Service Zone 'A' Headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos, has a new leader. Assistant Comptroller General of Customs Charles Orbih has taken over as the Zonal Coordinator, effective December 10, 2024 . In his inaugural address, Orbih emphasized his commitment to strengthening the zone's operations through teamwork, innovation, and active stakeholder engagement. He aligned his objectives with the policy thrust of Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, focusing on consolidation, collaboration, and innovation . Orbih brings decades of experience to his new role, having served in various capacities, including Customs Area Controller for Imo/Abia Command and Zonal Coordinator…

12 Dec

Customs Spreads Joy, Empowers Future Leaders in Kebbi

Esther Komolafe0 CommentsMaritime

The Nigerian Customs Service has demonstrated its commitment to giving back to the community through a recent charity visit to Gwandu Emirates primary school in Kebbi State. On December 10, 2024, Comptroller Iheanacho Ernest Ojike, Customs Area Controller of Kebbi Command, donated writing materials and foodstuffs to over 1,700 pupils, emphasizing the importance of understanding the laws of the land and the impact of smuggling on the national economy. A Gesture of Support Malam Aminu Sani, the headmaster, praised the gesture as a form of support to the pupils, highlighting Nigeria Customs' compassionate and responsible nature. The representative of the…

11 Dec

NIMASA Celebrates Nigerian Dockworkers, Launches Reviewed Minimum Standards for Dock Labour

Esther Komolafe0 CommentsMaritime

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has commemorated the 2024 Day of the Dockworker, emphasizing the importance of workplace safety for dockworkers. Dr. Dayo Mobereola, NIMASA's Director General, declared that the safety of dockworkers is a fundamental right, not a privilege. Mobereola, represented by Mr. Jibril Abba, Executive Director of Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, assured stakeholders that NIMASA will create an environment that enables maritime labor to function according to international best practices. The Agency launched the Reviewed Minimum Standard for Dock Labour Industry booklet, which codifies the implementation of approved conditions of service and collective bargaining…

10 Dec

Anti-Smuggling Czar Takes the Helm: Salisu Shuaibu Assumes Duty as Ogun 1 Area Controller

Esther Komolafe0 CommentsMaritime

Salisu Shuaibu, a renowned anti-smuggling expert, has taken over as the new Area Controller of the Ogun 1 Customs Command. Shuaibu's rich experience in combating smuggling will undoubtedly strengthen the command's efforts to curb illicit activities in the region. During the handing over ceremony, Shuaibu pledged to uphold the values and mission of the Nigeria Customs Service while striving for operational excellence. He emphasized the importance of teamwork, innovation, and discipline in achieving the command's goals. As a seasoned anti-smuggling officer, Shuaibu is well aware of the unique challenges of border operations in Ogun 1 Command. He has vowed to…

05 Dec

Nigerian Stakeholders Slam Port Reforms, Cite Marginalization of Local Operators

Esther Komolafe0 CommentsMaritime

Stakeholders in Nigeria's maritime sector have come out swinging against the country's port reforms, accusing the government and foreign concessionaires of sidelining indigenous operators and undermining local content development. At the recent PortNews Summit 2024 in Lagos, stakeholders lamented the erosion of Nigeria's maritime legacy, citing the decline of Nigerian-owned vessels and bonded terminals. They argued that the reforms, introduced in 2006, have prioritized foreign interests over Nigerian operators, leaving them struggling to compete. Capt. Emmanuel Ihenacho, a former Minister of Interior, acknowledged that while the reforms brought efficiency and private investments, they were poorly implemented. "The landlord model has…

05 Dec

Port Reforms and Local Content: Nigeria’s Maritime Sector in Focus

Esther Komolafe0 CommentsMaritime

Nigeria's maritime sector has undergone significant reforms, but the impact on local content development remains a concern. The sector's contribution to the economy is substantial, accounting for 16% of GDP in 2023. However, indigenous players are being excluded from major activities, with foreigners dominating the scene. Experts argue that a deliberate policy is needed to promote indigenous participation in the sector. The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has been successful in increasing local content participation in the oil and gas sector, but a similar approach is needed in the maritime sector. The Cabotage Act, enacted in 2003, aims…

04 Dec

Customs Excellence Shines: CGC Honours Outstanding Officers at 2024 Awards Night

Esther Komolafe0 CommentsMaritime

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) recently celebrated its outstanding officers at the 2024 CGC Excellence Awards Night in Abuja. The event, hosted by the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, aimed to promote professionalism and recognize exceptional service within the Service . The ceremony brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Finance, the National Assembly, and law enforcement agencies. Dignitaries in attendance included the Representative of the Minister of Finance, Mr. Olawale Edun, and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun . CGC Adeniyi emphasized the significance of celebrating excellence within the Service, stating that positive reinforcement…

04 Dec

PORT REFORMS SUMMIT 2024: Stakeholders Seek Answers to Maritime Sector Challenges

Esther Komolafe0 CommentsMaritime

The maritime industry in Nigeria has witnessed a decline from its glorious past, prompting stakeholders to seek answers to the challenges facing the sector. This was the focus of discussion at the PortNews Summit 2024, where stakeholders gathered to proffer solutions to the anomalies in the industry. In his welcome address, Mr. Wale Oni, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of PortNews Newspaper, highlighted the achievements of the Nigerian maritime industry in the past. He noted that the industry flourished under the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), with the National Shipping Line (NNSL) having about 30 vessels in its fleet. However, Oni lamented…