Tuesday, March 11Nigeria's Authoritative Maritime News Magazine
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Author: Our Editor

Fashola in Pains Over Apapa Gridlock

Fashola in Pains Over Apapa Gridlock

Business, Law
The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, SAN, Thursday said that he was deeply concerned about the Apapa gridlock, adding the problem has given him with sleepless nights. Fashola who spoke during a stakeholders meeting said he was even more worried now as Christmas approaches. He said that his concern has to do with the amount of suffering that many companies, residents and other individuals have been facing as a result of the gridlock. He said that importers and exporters need to understand the pain they cause people of Lagos as the current road repair is being carried out, adding that they ought to think of what can ease the pain. He suggested other ports outside Lagos, including Calabar and Warri, but noted that these seaports may not be convenient. Fashola ...
Intels’ Boss Apologises to NPA, Says Company Will Comply with TSA Policy

Intels’ Boss Apologises to NPA, Says Company Will Comply with TSA Policy

Business, Politics, Port News
Says firm remains committed to Badagry deep seaport By Eromosele Abiodun The founder and majority shareholder of Intels Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s oil and gas logistics giant with operations in Onne, Rivers State, Warri, Delta State and Lagos, Mr. Gabriele Volpi, has apologised to the federal government and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) over the spat that led to the termination of the Pilotage Agency Agreement between his company and NPA. Speaking exclusively to THISDAY Thursday evening, the normally reticent Volpi, who holds dual Italian and Nigerian citizenship, said he was not involved in the negotiations between his firm and NPA over the disagreement on the pilotage agreement but was apologetic for the misunderstanding that had taken place. He also resolved to ensu...
PSG May Snatch Mourinho from Manchester United

PSG May Snatch Mourinho from Manchester United

Sports
Even with speculations from the UK Sun that Paris Saint-Germain are targeting Jose Mourinho, Manchester United are reportedly not in a hurry to renew the contract of its manager. The English tabloid newspaper had reported that Mourinho is a target of the French league side which recently splashed record-breaking fee on Neymar to switch from FC Barcelona. It is further speculated that the fee that would be offered to lure Mourinho out of Manchester United will be very tempting. Mourinho is also reportedly fuelling the speculations after he admitted to Telefoot that he did not plan to end his career at Old Trafford, whilst talking up football in Paris. But Manchester United are not panicking, however, with ESPN claiming initial talks have been held over the former Chelsea boss extendin...
NPA-INTELS Pilotage Service Contract Does Not Violate Constitution, Says Importers Association

NPA-INTELS Pilotage Service Contract Does Not Violate Constitution, Says Importers Association

Business, Law, Politics
Amiwero: NPA has no right to terminate contract Maritime workers fell FG to resolve face-off now Termination of contract will impact negatively on revenue, efficiency at Onne port The Nigerian Importers Integrity Association (NIIA) has weighed in on the controversy trailing the termination of the pilotage service agreement signed between oil and gas logistics giant, INTELS Nigeria Limited and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) arguing that the contract is legal, constitutional and similar to the joint venture agreements signed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) with the International Oil Companies (IOCs). NIIA President, Godwin Onyekazi, also said that termination of the contract will impact negatively on government revenue and on efficiency at Onne Port....
Erring Banks, Firms Return N140bn over Customs Revenue Fraud, Says Senate Committee

Erring Banks, Firms Return N140bn over Customs Revenue Fraud, Says Senate Committee

Business, Law, Port News
The Chairman, Senate Joint Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff and Marine Transport, Senator Hope Uzodimma Wednesday said that erring banks and firms who were involved in the revenue leakages in the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) over the years have returned N140bn. The Senate Committee which raised the allegation of trillions of Naira fraud in customs revenue involving banks and firms in the ports is also investigating the matter. Uzodinma while giving an interim report said the money had been paid to the Central Bank by the erring banks and firms through remittances. He disclosed that the Senate has also granted 8-week extension to the committee. He said, “As a result of this exercise, some collection banks have made additional remittances to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), t...
House Members Want NPA-INTELS Pilotage Monitoring Imbroglio Probed

House Members Want NPA-INTELS Pilotage Monitoring Imbroglio Probed

Business, Politics, Port News
Members of the House of Representatives Wednesday called for a probe of the current face-off between the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Intels Nigeria Limited leading to the termination of the Pilotage Monitoring Agreement with the oil and gas giant. A motion for the investigation of the matter was moved by Diri Douye (PDP, Bayelsa) who drew the attention of the House that the matter was of urgent national importance. Douye had told the House that the probe had become necessary since Intels had carried out logistics operatrions in Apapa, Onne and Warri ports for 17 years, adding that it was surprising that its contract on pilotage monitoring agreement could be terminated considering that the contract runs for 25 years. Besides, he argued that the termination could lead to mass sack ...
Transport Minister Frowns at Increase on Port Charges by NPA, Shipping Companies

Transport Minister Frowns at Increase on Port Charges by NPA, Shipping Companies

Business, Port News
The recent decision by the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to increase its port charges may not have gone down well with the Minister of Transport, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi. A source close to the Ministry of Transport told SHIPPING DAY that the Ministry is particularly concerned that the increase has led to a similar increase on port charges by some shipping companies. It was gathered that the Minister was informed by officials that the increase was done by NPA without notifying the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) as the Ports Economic Regulator. Our source said that the Council had drawn the attention of the Ministry to the decision of the NPA, expressing worry that the review had prompted some shipping companies to also raise their tariff. According to the source, the Cou...
Crocodile Smile: IYC Blasts Military over attack on Ijaw Community in Edo State

Crocodile Smile: IYC Blasts Military over attack on Ijaw Community in Edo State

Law, Politics
-  Urges Aladja, Ogbe-Ijoh youths to embrace Peace The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has condemned the invasion of Ajakurama Community of Egbema Kingdom in Edo State leading to the burning down of 15 homes. The National Spokesman of the IYC Daniel Dasimaka expressed the disappointment of the IYC over what he describes as a systematic assault on Ijaw people in recent times. “For the avoidance of doubt we want the world to know that the IYC is totally against the current wave of unwarranted systematic assault on Ijaw people of recent. Just this year alone not less than five Ijaw communities have been invaded by the military. Not long ago Soldiers invaded and burnt down Ajakpa community, an Ijaw community in Arogbo clan in Ese-Odo local government area of Ondo state. Now it is the ...
Stakeholders raise alarm over NPA’s 2017 Budget

Stakeholders raise alarm over NPA’s 2017 Budget

Business, Port News
Discordant tunes have greeted the over N270b budget of the Nigerian Ports Authority approved by the Senate last week. Maritime Stakeholders have raised questions about the justification over the expenditures which they want the NPA management to provide answers to. In the budget approved by the upper house last week, the total receipts for the agency in 2017 was given as about N280b as against an expenditure estimate of N270b . Asked a stakeholder who sought anonymity . ' Is NPA telling telling us they have just a N10b ' change' left for the Federal Coffers after spending all they would realise this year? Why would NASS approve such a budget ? This is unthinkable and we must get to the bottom of this' he argued. Speaking on the NPA budget , Dr Eugene Nweke , said he was not impressed...
Buhari’s silence over Misau-IGP face off worry CSOs

Buhari’s silence over Misau-IGP face off worry CSOs

Law, Politics
IG of Police Mr  Ibrahim Idris ... Calls for impartial, exhaustive investigations The joint Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have frowned at the failure of the Federal Government to address the serious allegations of grand corruption made by Senator Hamman Isa Misau, representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District against the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris and the Chairman of the Police Service Commission Mr. Mike Okiro, respectively. The CSOs in a press release issued in Lagos yesterday and signed by Okechukwu Nwanguma of NOPRIN Foundation, Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri of Spaces for Change and eighteen others recalled that in the past three months, through interviews in the media and on the floor of the Senate, Senator Misau had consistently accused the IGP of grand c...