Business – Page 6 – Shipping World News Magazine

Oct202017 by Our EditorNo Comments

TAX HOLIDAY: NIMASA Appeals Against Enforcing Judgment

Business, Law

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has appealed the judgment of the Federal High Court Lagos in the matter between Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), Attorney General of the Federation, Global West Vessels Specialists Ltd and NIMASA. The Agency filed the appeal with an application to stay the execution of the judgment and restrain NLNG, pending the determination of the appeal. The appeal and stay was filed even before receiving the Certified True Copy of the judgment 14 days after the judgment was delivered in line with legal provisions. This proactive step of the Agency was taken to forestall any negative action, yet the NLNG ignored this court action and commenced a media trial. In the grounds of Appeal by NIMASA’s legal team, the Agency complained ...

Oct202017 by Our EditorNo Comments

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 ...

Oct202017 by Our EditorNo Comments

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...

Oct192017 by Our EditorNo Comments

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....

Oct192017 by Our EditorNo Comments

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...

Oct192017 by Our EditorNo Comments

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 ...

Oct192017 by Our EditorNo Comments

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...

Oct182017 by Our EditorNo Comments

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...

Oct172017 by Our EditorNo Comments

SIFAX Group Wins West Africa’s Innovative Shipping Award

Business, Politics, Port News

SIFAX Group has won an award at the just concluded 7th edition of the Nigeria Brand Awards. The Group is a multinational corporation with diverse interests in maritime, aviation, haulage and logistics, oil and gas and hospitality, The award is an annual event designed to reward deserving brands that have shown diligence, innovation and excellence in different business areas. SIFAX Group was awarded the ‘Most Innovative and Impactful Shipping and Cargo Company in West Africa’ in recognition of its customer-centric focus, innovation and excellent service delivery in the maritime industry. General Manager, SIFAX Off-Dock Nigeria Limited, Mr. Oliver Omajuwa, who spoke shortly after receiving the award on behalf of the Group, said the award is a validation of the hard work, cre...

Oct172017 by Our EditorNo Comments

More trouble for Intels as FIRS accuses company of tax default

Business, Port News

One week after the Integrated Logistics Services (Intels) made the headlines over the termination of its pilotage agreement with the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), the company is in the news again. This time around, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has accused the organisation co-founded by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Gabriele Volpi, an Italian national, of not paying taxes. On Monday, FIRS officials pasted a non-compliance sticker on the headquarters of the company in Onne, Rivers state. The action led to reports that the company had been sealed but an official of the tax agency told TheCable that such stickers are pasted on companies which have not been complying with tax obligations. “FIRS did not carry out any enforcement on Intels. Our team only p...