11092019 - BAILOUT: Pressure on states as FG starts deductions

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4 Terminals & Ships WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2019 maritimerepor6005@gmail.com NAFDAC to automate payment for cargo inspection By Oko Ebuka & Gideon Nnaemezie THE National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has automated the payment process for its cargo inspection in order to reduce delays in cargo clearance. Speaking on this development, Director, Ports Inspection Directorate, PID, NAFDAC, Professor Samson Tunde Adebayo, said that the automation exercise is the only panacea to the problem of consignment delays in the port. Adebayo, who disclosed this while receiving members of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA, Western Zone Chapter, on a courtesy visit, added that mechanisms are being put in place presently to automate all processes in NAFDAC, which is one of the core agenda of the Director General, NAFDAC, Mojisola Christiana Adeyeye, in order to drastically reduce human interfaces and minimize corruption at the Agency. He stated: “The process is automated to the extent that once all payments and queries are attended to, the consignment is automatically released. What is likely to cause delays, may be some administrative procedures that were not perfected before expecting releases.” Responding, the Zonal Coordinator, Western Zone Chapters of ANLCA, Comrade John DanKatsina Ofobike, praised NAFDAC as they make efforts to reduce the hardships encountered by the members of the association as he assured their readiness to facilitate the execution of NAFDAC’s mandate in checkmating the inflow of illegal drugs and unwholesome substances into Nigeria. By Oko Ebuka THE Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria, CRFFN, has denied inserting the feasibility study of Ozubulu Bonded Terminal in the 2019 appropriation budget. The proposed study for the development of the terminal •L-R: Prince Bola Ajibola, Chairman, Senior Citizens Care Foundation; Oba Olusanya Dosunmu, Olowu of Owu and Chairman, SIFAX group; Barr (Dr.) Taiwo Afolabi (MON), Group Executive Vice Chairman, SIFAX Group and Jide Taiwo, Executive Director, Senior Citizens Care Foundation during the induction of Afolabi as an Ambassador for the Rights and Care of Elderly in Nigeria by the foundation in Lagos. Shippers’ Council checkmating shipping companies, terminal operators — Hassan Bello By Godfrey Bivbere EXECUTIVE Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers Council, NSC, Hassan Bello, has said that the Council was working hard to checkmate shipping companies and terminal operators against unfair and unauthorised charges that added to the cost of shipping in the country. He made the remarks in statement at the just concluded summit on unfair surcharges and high local shipping charges levied by multinational shipping companies. Bello noted that though there has been some level of success, the Council’s efforts have been met with some challenges also. Noting the importance of the summit, he said it was for the Union of African Shippers Council, UASC, member states to have a deep reflection on these arbitrary charges with a view to determine how it can technically address the unwholesome practices and subtly reverse the trend. Bello stated: “I believe we are all very enthusiastic about our gathering here today, because our discussion bothers on reducing cost of doing business at out ports to the minimum for healthy competition with ports all over the world. “The UASC member states must collectively work as a bloc to remove unfriendly policies or circumstances that the shipping companies relied upon for arbitrary increases of their charges. Some of the identified surcharges have been prevalent in the subregion under various nomenclatures such as the peak season surcharge and war risk surcharge to mention a few. “According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, UNCTAD, surcharges are supposed to be temporary measures by shipping lines involved in the shipment of goods worldwide to address peculiar challenges of shipping at their destinations which are subject to removal when the situation normalizes. “The Nigerian Shippers’ Council has been checkmating the shipping companies operating in Nigeria on the move to impose charges without due consultation with relevant stakeholders in the port industry in Nigeria. We have a pending case in court because we asked the shipping companies to revert to an agreed negotiated rates of some services, after they had unilaterally increased the charges. “We are not opposed to alternative dispute resolution CRFFN disowns N100m budget for Ozubulu bonded terminal feasibility study which will cost N100 million was added in the 2019 appropriation budget with Code number ERGP90101727. The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, CEO, CRFFN, Samuel Nwakohu, said the Council was not aware of the provision in the 2019 budget and vowed not to execute the project, on grounds it could be an error. He stated: “I know what you are talking about, have you ever made a mistake in your life? I’m sure whoever put it there, put it there in error because it has nothing to do with us. “It is not part of our mandate, I know nothing about it, we have seen it and we have discussed it and we will definitely ignore it. We are not going to award it. Another way to ignore it is what we call “corrigendum”, which is a long process and I don’t want to go that way. “Some people have even called me names that I’m a fraudster whereas I know nothing about it.” mechanisms to ensure that there is continuous cordial business relationship. The shipping companies capitalize on the absence of indigenous shipping companies in most West and Central African Countries to unilaterally fix rates that are only convenient to them without considering the adverse effects these arbitrary charges have on the economy of their host countries. Arbitrary charges “The Shippers’ Councils of member States are expected to negotiate any increase of any charge with the service providers before they are implemented, but it is obvious that the shipping companies do not follow this procedure.” Bello urged participants at the event to strategize on all the measures that can be put in place to address this trend that is not only injurious to our economies, but also leading to high cost of doing business at our ports and limiting the growth of our indigenous shipping companies. The NSC boss pointed out that concrete resolutions would be adopted on how to address the unfair and high charges of shipping companies at our ports in the interest of our maritime industry.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2019 maritimerepor6005@gmail.com Customs & Imports 5 OPERATION EX-SWIFT RESPONSE Customs boss under fire for alleged demeaning Customs’ hierarchy By Eguono Odjegba COMPTROLLER General of Customs, CGC, Col. Hameed Ali (retd) has come under criticisms for allegedly cheapening the hierarchy of the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, against the military. The criticisms come on the heels of the ongoing joint customs-military-para military operations at the nation’s land borders, in which the Customs boss deployed assistant comptroller generals into the field, to work with military middle level officers, considered to be of the equivalent rank of deputy comptrollers of Customs. The decision, they contend, amounts to a deliberate effort to demean the Nigeria Customs Service, arguing that Ali’s military background has made as I speak with you. If you know ACG Abubakar well, you will appreciate that he is a stickler to due process and not somebody to go outside the schedule of the CGC.” Meanwhile, the assignment code named ‘Operation Ex- Swift Response’ according to official explanation has been designed to checkmate entry of foreign rice, illegal migration, arms and ammunition into the country. The operation has been dogged by controversy as Nigeria has since come under ECOWAS sub regional scrutiny over her alleged unilateral decision to partially or totally close a sub regional border without recourse to ECOWAS member states; believed to have been caught panting under the circumstances. A security expert who prefers to remain anonymous described the border joint operation as a case of executive rascality and sheer official overzealousness. He said: “I was listening to their explanation on television, where the Customs spokesman said the operation was coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, and I began to wonder when the ONSA became the commander-in- continued to reflect in his handling of the Customs. Critics said this accounts for the lowering of morale in the Service. A retired Customs comptroller who spoke under condition of anonymity said: “The greatest challenge in the Customs service in recent time is the attempt to degrade the Service against the military. It is killing motivation, killing efficiency and productivity. “Don’t take my words for it; carry out a survey as a journalist. There is a design to make Customs function beneath the military. Just imagine deploying assistant comptroller generals, equivalent to army major generals to the field to work with officers of the rank of Colonel, Navy Captain and Commodore. That is demeaning because they are equivalent to Border closures gain traction in the North West Customs command By Eguono Odjegba CONTRARY to raging debates on the partial closure of Nigeria’s land borders nationwide, the border stations in the North West may have stepped up compliance, with cargo and human traffic being subjected to thorough checks. Information at the disposal of Vanguard Maritime Report indicates that the sector led by the Coordinator of Customs Zone B, Assistant Comptroller General Abubakar Bashir, held strategy review meetings last week in Katsina to appraise performance so far. Sources close to the office of the coordinator said: “They meet regularly to evaluate their performance, fashion out more friendly strategies to continue to implement their mandate, with zero tolerance for failure.” But asked what major or significant seizures have been made since the beginning of the exercise, the source said: “The assignment is not focused on seizure, it is focused on blocking economic sabotage such as bringing in foreign rice, and in checkmating entry of arms and ammunition. “Of course seizures have been made and still being chief of the Armed Forces. “You see, there is a procedure for security operations, much more an important one that affects border closure. Border closure is a big deal, do you know what it is to close a sub regional border? Sovereign states are involved; international trading countries are involved, it is not what you Aminu Dahiru Customs Assistant Comptroller General in charge of Enforcement, Investigation and Inspection with Col. AM Haruna of Nigerian Army during a visit to Ilesha Ibaruba Chikanda Border axis of Kwara state as part of “Operation Ex Swift Response” aimed at strengthening border security nationwide just wake up and you fancy you need to do this, no. The president and commander-inchief of the Armed Forces must be adequately communicated and his consent gotten. There are those who will argue that President Buhari was carried along, I have my reservation that he was adequately carried along.” deputy comptrollers of Customs.” Also speaking on the CGC’s perceived disregard for the Customs hierarchy, a maritime analyst who also declined to be mentioned said: “In the military and para-military services, management chiefs don’t operate on the fields. They engage on visitation and oversight assessment of specific assignments. Certain ranks are reserved for field operations and certain ranks for management roles, there is no basis to mix them up. “The Customs boss is doing what he is doing because he has no regard for the Customs hierarchy. I am not saying he hates the Customs, I am saying he lacks respect for it and this assignment has clearly demonstrated that. Show me in any military collaborations in which a major general works with a deputy comptroller of Customs, Immigration or Prisons?”, he asked. ETLS aimed at elimination of Customs duties, taxes —Ministry By Naomi Uzor THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has said that the objective of ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme, ETLS, is to establish a Customs Union among all Member States aimed at total elimination of Customs duties and taxes of equivalent effect, removal of tariff barriers and the establishment of common customs polices without barriers to promote trade and seamless movement of goods and services within the West African region. Speaking at a one day sensitization workshop on ETLS organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mustapha Suleiman, said the Ministry viewed the ETLS as a very critical mechanism in achieving sustainable integration and development in the sub-region. The Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Sanwo-Olu, said the workshop could not have been more apt as it should open corps of Lagos entrepreneurs to the opportunities inherent in the free trade. Sanwo-Olu who was represented by the special adviser on Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Hon. Oladele Ajayi, noted that the ETLS was important as it not only encourages entrepreneurial development in the ECOWAS region, but also increases intra-regional trade, boosts economic activities, increases West African competitiveness on the global market and increases GDP of members states for the better welfare of citizens. “Undoubtedly, our dear Lagos State and Nigeria would benefit tremendously when all indigenous businesses thrive. I am, therefore, glad to assure all our resilient entrepreneurs of the state government’s support in ensuring that you continually receive necessary support towards maximizing the potentials and benefits of the ETLS” he said. The President of LCCI, Mr. Babatunde Ruwase said with the recent global developments around trade issues, as well as the recent developments regarding the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, AfCFTA, which Nigeria has already signed, it has become necessary for all stakeholders to come together and discuss on the progress made so far on ETLS as well as the challenges facing its implementation within the region. “You will agree with me, therefore, that a forum such as this is not only necessary but very timely, bearing in mind that the AfCFTA fully recognises regional trade agreements like the ETLS and also rides on such agreements for its successful actualisation. Lessons learned from our experience with the ETLS would be very useful as we progress with the AfCFTA” he said. Ruwase who was represented by Mrs. Toki Mabogunje noted that LCCI believes strongly that Nigeria stands to benefit from the ELTS if member states within the region work towards its successful implementation. “This is a major justification for a forum like this, which provides the opportunity for stakeholders to assess the scheme, highlight current challenges or constraints and proffer possible suggestions that can make the scheme work better to benefit the nation and the entire member states within the sub region. “It is, therefore, my hope that the outcome of our deliberations at this forum will help contribute towards the attainment of the goal of deepening intraregional trade within ECOWAS and laying a solid foundation for the AfCFTA” he said.
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11092019 - BAILOUT: Pressure on states as FG starts deductions

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