Thursday, March 28Nigeria's Authoritative Maritime News Magazine
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Month: November 2017

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...
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...
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.”
I-N-C-R-E-D-I-B-L-E! Senate Holds on to Customs 2015, 2016, 2017 Budgets

I-N-C-R-E-D-I-B-L-E! Senate Holds on to Customs 2015, 2016, 2017 Budgets

Breaking News, Business, Maritime
The seeming face off between the Nigerian Senate and Customs helmsman Hameed Ali is taking a huge toll on anti smuggling drive and revenue generation efforts of the Nigerian Customs Service. And this may further hamper the ease of doing business at the ports. This has led to deliberate refusal of the Senate to appropriate capital funds to the agency which is the reason there is a shortfall in anti smuggling patrol vehicles and functional scanners at the nation's major entry points among other essential needs of the agency. The Nigerian Customs Service is the third highest revenue earner for the country. Hameed Ali and the Senate have been engrossed in an ego war for almost two years now on account of the Customs Chief refusing to appear in the red chambers donned in Customs uniform. ...

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...
10 missing after cargo ship sinks off Turkey

10 missing after cargo ship sinks off Turkey

Maritime
Ten seafarers have been reported missing after the Turkey-flagged general cargo ship Bilal Bal sank some seven nautical miles off the coast of Istanbul. A search and rescue operation for the missing crew members is currently underway, according to the Turkish Coast Guard. The 1974-built vessel sank shortly after it sent out a distress signal in the morning hours of November 1 while it was in the Black Sea. The cause of the sinking is still unknown. The coast guard deployed three vessels, one helicopter and a plane for the mission reports World Maritime News. At the time of the incident, the 2,999 dwt vessel was carrying a cargo of cast iron from the country’s Bursa province to Zonguldak, Reuters cited local media Reports World Maritime News.
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...
JUST IN: Oyo-Ita confronts Abba Kyari in Aso Rock over Fugitive Maina

JUST IN: Oyo-Ita confronts Abba Kyari in Aso Rock over Fugitive Maina

Politics
Head of Civil Service of t‎he Federation (HoSF) Winifred Oyo-Ita was seen visibly angry with the Chief of Staff to the President Abba Kyari inside the council chambers of the presidential villa, Abuja. Members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) were already seated waiting for the commencement of the weekly council meeting where the 2018 Nigerian Armed Forces Remembrance emblem and fundraising programme was being launched. Kyari was seen to have first started the confrontation, apparently intended to intimidate Oyo-Ita who also did not take it lightly. The chief of staff, who was already seated before Mrs Oyo-Ita entered the chambers was seen pointing ‎fingers, warning her over an issue that may not be unconnected with the recently leaked memo over the reinstatement of the embattl...
BREAKING: I don’t have N1bn to give Jonathan, Metuh tells court

BREAKING: I don’t have N1bn to give Jonathan, Metuh tells court

Politics
Embattled former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja not to set aside the subpoena it issued to compel former President Goodluck Jonathan to appear as a witness in his ongoing trial. Metuh further challenged Jonathan’s insistence that the defendant must deposit with the court, for and on behalf of himself, the sum of N1billion in line with provisions of Section 241(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, before he would mount the witness box. Jonathan had in a motion his lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, moved before the court on Wednesday, urged trial Justice Okon Abang to compel Metuh to pay the N1bn to cover travelling expenses for himself and his security personnel from...