Maritime
Dikko, Stakeholders’, Seek Cooperation To Lift Nigeria’s Shipping
The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Dr. Abdullahi Inde Dikko has laid bare his organisation’s strategy to achieve seamless import processes in the country.
Speaking at a colloquium tagged, “Seamless Shipping in Nigeria: Prospects and Challenges” organised by the Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON) in Lagos, the Customs boss said the service has developed a Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) mechanism to eliminate bottlenecks in the nation’s import system.
Presenting a paper titled, “Pre-Arrival Assessment Report: An Initiative for Trade Facilitation and Enhanced Cargo Security”, the Comptroller General said even though progress had been made by concessionaires and service providers in their efforts to reform and modernise the nation’s shipping processes, adding that the full potentialities of trade facilitation as envisioned under the Revised Kyoto Convention were yet to be realised.
Dr Dikko, who was represented by the ,Public relations Officer of Customs, .
Deputy Comptroller Wale Adeniyi, assured that the P AAR mechanism would entrench a regime of cost-effective and timely clearance of consignments.
His words: “It is gratifying to note that we now have in place a robust platform and a fully automated application system to build on. With its capacity for shared intelligence and risk management, the development of the P AAR application system will signal the dawn of a new era in fostering compliant trade in a secure environment.”
Time, he said, had come for stakeholders in the sector to work together with a view to delivering on the initiative.
“Our experience in implementing the 48-hour clearance of cargo has shown that only a seamless operation, involving all stakeholders collaborating and complementing themselves, can deliver the much-needed objective of cost-effective and timely clearance. No matter the advances recorded by Customs in automation, for instance, the marginal value will be insignificant if not complemented by similar developments in other stakeholder sectors. The entire shipping sector constitutes a long chain of which Customs is only but a part. As the saying goes, a chain is as strong as its weakest link,” the Customs boss said.
The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Dikko disclosed, had given her consent for the test-run of the PAAR initiate to commence.
The Customs chief insisted that his men and officers were fully equipped to handle the transformation of the sector. To demonstrate their readiness for the PAAR system, two customs officers- employed in 2011, Yaro Abdullahi Ibrahim and Bukola Omoniyi were assigned to do a presentation on the workings of the P AAR mechanism.
In their presentations, the officers explained that the mandate of Customs in the shipping sector was in the area of striking a balance in trade facilitation, security and revenue generation.
The P AAR mechanism, they added, as a one-stop shop for importers, clearing agents and other stakeholders to interact in a seamless way for the clearance of consignments.
The platform allows importers to submit all their import papers to all regulatory agencies through a single window and ensures that consignments are cleared before arriving the shores of the country, Customs explained.
Earlier in his welcome address, President of the Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria, Ismail Aniemu regretted that though much had been said in the past about improving
the imports and shipping system of the country, nobody was ready to take concrete steps in that direction.
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.
