Sunday, August 16Nigeria's Authoritative Maritime News Magazine
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Apapa Gridlock Conduit Pipe for Extortion By Taskforce – Survey

Apapa Gridlock Conduit Pipe for Extortion By Taskforce – Survey

Breaking News, Business, Law, Maritime, Port News
Backdropped against the decision by the Lagos State government to institute a joint security task force, it has become apparent that some selfish personnel are taking advantage of their new status to extort the people. As trailers and tankers jostle for space to inch towards the ports or tank farms, a syndicate operating within the "chaotic axis" is busy extorting money from the drivers to pay their way through the logjam. Investigations carried out by Shipping World reveal that drivers pay as much as #50,000 to #100,000 to be allowed to shunt the queue and head straight under escort into the port for business. This often takes place at night when Lagos is asleep. It is not clear if this syndicate has the backing of the authorities in Alausa but there are concerns that the unsavoury...
Tin Can Port Impounds Container of Illicit Drugs

Tin Can Port Impounds Container of Illicit Drugs

Breaking News, Law, Maritime
The Nigeria Customs Service has reiterated its desire to continue to build on the existing inter-Agency cooperation with all concerned regulatory Agencies, to ensure that illicit and uncustomed goods are intercepted at the Ports, for the good of the Nation’s Economy and Nigeria as a whole. The Customs Area Controller, Tincan Island Port, Lagos, CAC Yusuf Bashar stated this while handing over a 40ft container with number MRKU 519445/3 containing cartons of Spectradol (Tramadol) Capsules of various milligrams, Spectra-Doxycycline Capsules of various milligrams as well as Jinart Tablets. Other drugs seized are Clarinthromycin Tablets of five hundred milligrams and Jincold-Extra Strength Capsules of various milligrams. Speaking on the negative effect of the drugs on the teeming Nigeri...
INTELS: The End of the Road

INTELS: The End of the Road

Breaking News, Business, Law, Maritime, Opinion, Politics
by Sylvania Ekpo The sledgehammer seems to have come down hard on the integrated logistics limited, Intel's and her subsidiaries with the revocation of the residence permits of their expatriate staff by the federal government. According to a statement by the Nigeria immigration service, NIS, the decision was taken after the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority, OGFZA, withdrew the operational licence. The affected staff are expected to leave Nigeria by November 30, 2017 failing which they might be deported by the ministry of interior. Intels, a company owned by the former vice-president and chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, Atiku Abubakar, was in the news early in October when it was reported that the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) had terminated its pilotage contract in Onne, ...
Ports: FG, Lagos Set Up New Joint Task Force to Address Apapa Gridlock

Ports: FG, Lagos Set Up New Joint Task Force to Address Apapa Gridlock

Business, Law, Maritime, Politics
As Apapa local government seeks partnership with NIMASA on tackling logjam The federal government and the Lagos state government Wednesday set up a new Joint Security Task Force that will tackle the Apapa gridlock. This was as the state government hinted of plans to enforce the 2012 Lagos Road Traffic Law. The new move followed the current menace of tankers and trucks that have made traffic unbearable for residents and people doing business in Apapa. The decision to set up a Task Force was reached during a Security Council meeting held Wednesday and chaired by the state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode. Among those who attended the meeting were Lagos Commissioner of Police, Mr. Imohimi Edgal: Commander of Ikeja Cantonment, Brig Gen. Elias Attu; Commander of NNS Beecroft, Commodore Mur...
Ten Bulker Crew Members Saved from Pirate Hands off Nigerian Coast

Ten Bulker Crew Members Saved from Pirate Hands off Nigerian Coast

Business, Law, Maritime
Armed pirates boarded a drifting bulk carrier around 17 nautical miles south-southwest (SSW) off Bonny Island, Nigeria on November 11 and kidnapped ten of its crew members. The pirates reportedly entered the bridge and fired their weapons damaging the bridge windows. “They stole ship’s properties, crew personal belongings, kidnapped 10 crew and escaped in their boat,” according to a report from ICC IMB. The UK-flagged bulker has been identified as the 2012-built Venus Bay owned by Pioneer Marine, but the company is yet to confirm the attack to World Maritime News. As informed, the ship was on its way toward the Nigerian port of Onne when the attack occurred. Due to a prompt reaction from two Nigerian navy vessels, the pirates were intercepted and the kidnapped crew released. Fi...
Breaking: Many feared dead as train derails in Agege, Lagos

Breaking: Many feared dead as train derails in Agege, Lagos

Law
Several persons are feared dead at Abattoir area of Agege outskirts of Lagos when a train derailed this morning. Lagos State police spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole who confirmed the incident noted that the train also rammed into a Trailer, injuring many and leaving unconfirmed number of victims feared dead. According to Famou- Cole who confirmed the incident in a telephone call, “We just got the information. Our policemen and those attached to the railway command are in control of the situation. I cannot confirm any death, but i can tell you that some persons were injured. ” We shall be able to furnish you with details later please.”

Christmas: Customs Partners Security Agents to Tackle Insecurity

Law
The Anti-smuggling unit of the Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operating Unit (FOU) Zone “A” is collaborating with sister security agencies to combat smuggling activities and generated revenue for the federal government as the Christmas celebration draws closer. Speaking in a press conference in Lagos, the Controller of the Unit, Comptroller Garba Uba Mohammed, stated that the task of tackling smuggling activities in the country cannot be effective without the cooperation and support of other security agencies. According to him, the Nigeria Customs Service is always holding meetings with other security agencies such as the Department of States Security, DSS, the Nigeria Army, NA and the Nigeria Police Force. Mohammed stated this when he hosted members of the Maritime Reporters Associat...
Customs Storm Auto Shops in Ikoyi, FESTAC, Seize Bullet Proof Cars, Others

Customs Storm Auto Shops in Ikoyi, FESTAC, Seize Bullet Proof Cars, Others

Business, Law
Men of the Federal Operations Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service Ikeja weekend took their fight against Car smugglers to the door steps of auto dealers when it raided auto marts in Festac and Ikoyi , Lagos . By the time the Operation was done 59 assorted vehicles with over 40 of them 2017 models were impounded. Customs helmsman of FOU Ikeja, Uba Muhammed who briefed journalists in Lagos Wednesday said the vehicles included Toyota Prado jeeps, Lexus jeeps, Toyota hilux, Toyota Camry , Toyota Camry and Hiace buses, among others. The cars are valued at over N1b. He said the car dealers have a one month period of grace to show proof they were not smuggled into the country through our land borders. Importation of vehicles through Nigeria's land borders is prohibited. Mohammed said some o...
Why Nigeria Needs A Functional Coast Guard – Amaechi

Why Nigeria Needs A Functional Coast Guard – Amaechi

Breaking News, Business, Law
Transportation Minister Rotimi AMAECHI, took a retrospective look at the challenges facing Nigeria's Maritime Security architecture and concluded that there could be no better time than now to have a functional Coast Guard. AMAECHI made the disclosure while contributing to a lecture titled " Ensuring Safe and Secure Water ways Transportation " presented by Rear Admiral AA Oshinowo. Amaechi was speaking at the World Maritime Day which held Monday at Eko Hotel and Suites Lagos with the theme "Connecting Sips, Ports and People. The minister explained all stakeholders must come together and agree on the methodology to create an enabling environment for a full fledged Coast Guard. Said AMAECHI, " We cannot call the present collaboration between NIMASA , the Navy and Air force as a Coast G...
INTELS in fresh crises with OGFZA

INTELS in fresh crises with OGFZA

Business, Law, Port News
Oil and gas logistics giant and port concessionaire, INTELS Nigeria Limited (INL), is in fresh trouble as the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA) has ordered a comprehensive audit of a decade of its operations (2006-2016).The development came as INTELS, a company largely owned by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, began to feel relief from a similar rift with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). OGFZA, in a letter to the Managing Director of INTELS, Simone Volpi, obtained by Our Correspondent yesterday, said it had appointed a team of auditors to carry out the compliance audit of the embattled firm, a concessionaire of NPA, over alleged “serial violation” of the laws and regulations governing operations in the free zone. The Managing Director of OGFZA, Umana Okon Umana, said t...