Maritime
Association Faults Manager’s Claim On Ports’ Utilisation
The Association of Indigenous Importers and Exporters in
Niger Delta (AIIEND), has faulted a statement by the Port Manager, Port
Harcourt Port, Mr. Oladele Alabi that the Eastern Ports are not under –
utilised.
The Association had also declared as untrue his statement
that it is cheaper to import through the Eastern Ports than the Western ports,
describing the statements as misleading, false and un-true.
The President of the body, Mr. Somiari Prince Halliday made
this remarks while reacting to statements made by the Port Manager during the
visit of the House of Representative Committee on Marine Transports tour to the
port as part of their oversight functions recently.
Mr. Halliday said they are not surprised that such a
statement could come from Mr. Alabi, whom they alleged is happy seeing the
Eastern Ports crumble at the expense of the Western Ports.
According to him, the Port manager should be ashamed of
himself that he is in-charge of a Port without a tug boat nor pilot workers and
even security boat, pilot quarters, access road and other facilities to enhance
terminal operations for vessels to come to the Port, adding that the Port
lacked those facilities that attracts Port users friendly.
He noted that the statement was a calculated attempt to
render Eastern Ports redundant and make the economy boom for the Eastern ports
to depend more on the Western economy.
The Association however noted that the role of the Nigerian
Ports Authority (NPA) is to ensure the operation and function of all ports to
attract importers and Exporters alike, and also frowned over the non-uniformity
of duties and freight charges as some service providers at the Ports charges
higher than others, thereby encouraging Port users to look for where the
charges are low.
The President wondered also that if the operations of the
customs and Excise differs at different ports, and appealed to the new managing
Director of NPA, Alhaji Habibi Abdullahi to ensure that all Nigeria – bound
vessels are distributed equitable across board instead of the congestion at the
Eastern Ports.
The Association however called for the sacking of the Port
Manager of Port Harcourt Port for his inability to revive the Port as other
Ports.
It accused the former managing Director of NPA, Alhaji
Suleiman Umar of reducing the Eastern Ports to mere transit camps instead of
making them work at full capacity despite huge capital and lease fee by
operators, and urged the new management to rise up to the challenges by
ensuring that Eastern Ports work in full capacity.
“Most of the challenges faced in the Eastern ports were not
too difficult to address but were text un-attended because of Politics”.
“Issues such as access roads that are in state of disrepair, proper dredging of
the channels to allow bigger vessels to come in, the inability of NPA
management to rehabilitate Port Harcourt Port and other ports since inception
unlike Lagos Ports that are being rehabilitated on regular basis formed part of
the reasons the Ports in the East have been under- utilized”, Mr. Halliday
said.
The Association further alleged that ports in the East
suffered more redundancy under the administration of Suleiman Omar, despite the
fact that he served last as Port manager in the East before his appointment as
managing Director of NPA two years ago, and pledged their support and loyalty
to the new management.
Collins Barasimeye
The Nigerian Navy Forward Operation Base (FOB), Badagry, says its gallant officers have rescued nine women from the hands of suspected human traffickers.
FOB said the suspects have been handed over to the National Agency for prohibition of Human trafficking in Person (NAPTIP) for prosecution.
This was disclosed to newsmen in a statement by the Base Information Officer, Litunent B. Awodeyi, in Lagos.
Awodeyi said the first interception of the women was during a stop and search operation by the Quick Response Team (QRT) of the Command in a boat traveling to mile 2 and Panshi Jetty in Lagos State were five women between the ages of 19 and 32 were rescued.
The statement further said four women were also rescued by QRT two days later in a boat along Tongeji Island in Badagry, with the ages of victims ranging from 19 to 24 years.
Awodeyi said the rescued suspects were under investigation in line with the 2016 Harmonised Standard Procedures on arrest.
Although the names of the suspects were not made public by FOB, it insisted that the operation reflects Navy’s dedication to combating human trafficking and ensuring a secure maritime environment in line with the Chief of Naval Staff’s strategic directive 2023 and 2026.
The directive, Awodeyi said, is aimed at promoting safety in Nigeria’s waters and the Gulf of Guinea (GOG).
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), led by its President-General, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, has announced plans to embark on a nationwide strike, if the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) fails to pay nine months of salary arrears owed its employees.
Adeyanju said the affected workers are members of MWUN, and accused CRFFN management of neglecting its financial responsibilities.
MWUN in a statement by its Head of Media, Comrade John Kennedy Ikemefuna, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the actions of the CRFFN’s Acting Registrar.
The statement noted that MWUN had exhausted all available options for negotiation, including issuing several ultimatums, but that the efforts were ignored by the management of CRFFN.
“The most recent attempt at mediation occurred in Abuja on September 18, 2024, yet no progress was made in resolving the matter”, it said.
The statement criticised CRFFN for disregarding a crucial resolution reached during the mediation meetings.
According to Ikemefuna, one of the resolutions stipulated that when funds become available to the CRFFN, the payment of employees’ salaries should be prioritis ed.
The statement further noted that CRFFN diverted available funds to conduct what it described as a “kangaroo” training programme for select staff members, leaving the issue of unpaid salaries unaddressed.
“This is a clear violation of the agreements reached”, it emphasised.
The Union said CRFFN’s actions have deepened the financial challenges faced by its members, hence MWUN expressed disappointment that, despite their willingness to cooperate with the CRFFN management, the regulatory body has continued to act in a manner that undermines the rights and welfare of its members.
The workers union, therefore, insisted that it would no longer tolerate the perceived impunity of the CRFFN and declared that if the outstanding nine months salary arrears are not paid, it would have no choice but to initiate a total withdrawal of its members from services.
“This action would impact key sectors of Nigeria’s maritime industry, including the Nigerian Ports Authority, dock labour, shipping and freight forwarding agencies, as well as seamen working across all ports, jetties, terminals, and oil and gas platforms”, Ikemefuna stated.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Command, has thwarted a smuggling attempt of N1.1billion illicit drugs in four containers at Apapa Port.
The four seized containers were filled with narcotics valued at N1,183,915,500.
The Command’s Area Controller, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, disclosed this to newsmen through its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abubakar Usman.
The seizure involved 236,783 bottles of cough syrups containing codeine and Barcadin, packed in a total of 2,174 cartons from two terminals under the command’s jurisdiction.
Three other seizures were made at APM Terminals, while one was intercepted at Kachicares Bonded Terminal.
Comptroller Olomu explained that, “On October 11, 2024, during a joint inspection of a 1×40 container, number MRKU0377493, our officers discovered prohibited CSP cough syrup—34,800 bottles packed into 174 cartons, each containing 200 bottles.
“The shipment was expired at the time of interception”.
The statement said on the same day, another 1×40 container, number TGBU8886020, was found with 39,700 bottles of DSP cough syrup, packed in cartons containing 100 bottles each.
Additionally, a third container (TCKU6800526) examined on October 15, 2024, at APMT Terminal, labelled as containing essential goods, revealed 19 cartons of concealed CSJ cough syrup for throat and chest with codeine, packed in 200 bottles per carton.
Another major seizure was recorded on October 15, 2024, at Kachicares Resources Terminal: A 1×40FT container, number SUDU8579006, declared as containing kitchen wares, was found with a concealed stash of Barcadin cough syrup in 1,584 cartons, along with 83 loose bottles.
Comptroller Olomu described the seizures as part of the NCS’ zero-tolerance policy toward smuggling.
Apapa Command, he said, “is committed to efficient trade facilitation while maintaining strict controls on revenue collection and anti-smuggling activities.
”I urge those engaged in illegal trade to avoid Apapa Port. Our vigilant officers, using intelligence, technology, and experience, are poised to detect and intercept any smuggling attempts”.
He insisted that Codeine abuse has been linked to severe side effects, including drowsiness, confusion, and increased susceptibility to criminal behaviors.
“The Nigerian government banned the importation of codeine-containing cough syrups in 2018 after widespread misuse among youth”, he noted.
The Comptroller said further investigations are underway to identify and apprehend the individuals behind the smuggling attempts.