Maritime
NPA Removes Wrecks Along PH-Bonny Water Channels
Operators of Port Harcourt Ports and Ocean Liners heaved a
sigh of relief following the removal of five critical ship wrecks along the
Port Harcourt and Bonny water channels.
This is because with the removal of the wrecks vessels can
now make safer sail into the port and berth with ease.
The Port Manager, Mr. Oladele disclosed this in a press
statement issued from the office of the Chief Port Public Affairs Officer, Mrs
Barbra Ejeneh Nichery-Achukwu recently.
Mr. Alabi said the wrecks had been constituting greater
danger and challenges to the port users as it obstructs easy access of vessels
to the port.
According to him, “These wrecks on the water channels from
Port Harcourt to Bonny, were the ones that affected us in Berth eight of Port
Harcourt Ports,” adding that the move would assist in improving navigation in
and out of the berths.
He noted that although berth eight had not been strong
enough due to ageing that led to its collapsed last year, but noted that having
put the berth eight back to order, and the removal of the five major wrecks
that had been a major concern to the port users, he is optimistic that business
will bounced back.
The port manager commended the Federal Government and the
management of Nigeria Ports Authority
(NPA) for their commitments and support towards the project, saying, “it
has brought big relieve to operators and ocean liners as the berths are safer
for vessels to sail to these berths.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Alabi had disclosed that the operations of
its terminal operators since the concession policy is being accessed
technically by a crew of experts to ensure that they comply with the tenets of
the agreement reached before their operation.
The Port Harcourt port manager, however, rated the port
operators, Port and Terminal Operators Limited (PTOL) and BUA high and noted
that efforts were being made for the Port to bounced back to its former status.
Collins Barasimeye
Maritime
Hunger Protest Paralyses Port Activities In Nigeria
The ongoing hunger protests and EndBad Governance in Nigeria embarked upon by Nigerians have paralysed seaport activities across the six Seaports in the country.
Ports operational activities were shutdown at the six nation’s seaports: Tin Can Island Port, Apapa Port, Onne Port, Rivers Port Complex, Warri and Calabar Port.
Àgrieved Protesters took to the streets nationwide to demand an end to economic hardship and bad governance.
The #EndBadGovernance protests, which began in major cities across the country on Monday, August 1,2024, crippled socio-economic activities and forced shops, business centres and commercial activities to shutdown, including air and seaports.
Following the hunger protests, maritime activities were paralysed as all the busy seaports were deserted by port users.
Ships birthed at the ports were not discharging cargos, neither did trucks load consignment to their destinations and to the consumers.
Seagoing vessels with cargos were stranded at the sea as marine workers were not on duty to carry out their marine operations.
Heavy security presence was noticed at major ports, including Apapa, Tin Can, Onne, and Port Harcourt as operations were grounded to a near halt.
Aggrieved youths, students and civil society organisations stormed major streets in various parts of the country, demanding that President Bola Tinubu should, as a matter of urgency, review or discard some of his harsh economic policies, which have brought hardship to Nigerians.
The protesters armed with various placards chanted solidarity songs, defled heavy downpour to protest harsh governance and hardship in the country.
They called on the President Tinubu government to review its economic policies, saying many Nigerians have been subdued by poverty and frustration since the advent of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government.
By: Chinedu Wosu
Maritime
Nigeria’s Fish Import Bill Hits N138bn In Nine Months
The Federal Government has said it spent over N138 billion in fish import bill in nine months in 2023, saying its yearly fish import bill stands at 2.4 million metric tonnes.
Government said such import bill drains the country’s foreign exchange reserves.
Director, Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Wellington Omoragbon, stated this during a courtesy visit by the National Working Group on Gender and Blue Economy.
He called on government to tackle challenges facing fishery and aquaculture, including dredging activities.
To address the challenge, Omoragbon said government is launching initiatives to increase local capacity, including locally-designed technologies such as storage facilities and inclusion of women and youths in production.
The Director emphasised the need for state and local governments to prioritise fisheries projects, particularly in supporting women and youth as 70 per cent of the population lack necessary support in the fishing industry.
He highlighted the need for market and technology development to reduce reliance on fish imports.
“The government plans to intervene in the fishing sector, signing an MoU with the Ministry of Water Resources to utilise the country’s water bodies for fishing”, he said.
He acknowledged the skill gap in the sector and called for a need assessment to identify targeted issues across fishing communities.
Maritime
Corruption At Ports: Group Writes To Presidency
National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Lucky Amiwero, has charged the Federal Government to implement the Single Window Environment (SWE) to curb corruption-related problems at the nation’s seaports.
In a letter addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Amiwero noted that apart from curbing corruption-related problems at the seaports, implementation of the SWE has many other benefits.
The Council listed some of the benefits to include provision of standardised information, single entry point, and reduced malpractice associated with import-export and transit-related regulatory requirements.
NCMDLCA also added that “the SWE will help facilitate the accelerated flow of service in Customs release and Cargo clearance, enhance the availability and handling of information, and harmonise better sharing of relevant data across Government system.
“It will reduce malpractice associated with Import- Export and Transit regulated requirements, provide trade related government information and receive payment of duties and other charges”.
The Council added that the provision of Section (1a) of the Customs Act provide for lead agency and one stop-shop process under the control of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
The implementation of SWE is expected to simplify the administrative process, reduce costs, and enhance the availability and handling of information, making trading easier for both government and private sector stakeholders.
By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic
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