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Award as public sector maritime icon excites Jamoh

Bashir Jamoh, DG, NIMASA

—- vows to work harder for Nigeria, humanity

 

Eyewitness reporter

Dr Bashir Jamoh, Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has described the Public Sector Maritime Icon Award given to him by Vanguard Newspaper as a challenge to work harder in the interest of Nigeria and humanity.

Dr Jamoh, who commended Vanguard Media Limited, publishers of Vanguard Newspaper for finding him worthy of the award, said he sees the recognition beyond an honour because for him it is a call to increase his level of service.

According to him, whatever was being done that attracted the accolades and honour to him and NIMASA under his leadership will be improved upon to make all Nigerians and Vanguard Newspaper proud while also justifying the honour.

The DG said the good works of NIMASA which have manifested in inter-agency and international collaboration against piracy and other maritime offences resulting in an all-time reduction in vessel and crew attacks will be redoubled.Dr Jamoh thanked members of the NIMASA board, Executive Management Team and all staff of the agency for their contributions to the success stories the nation’s foremost maritime administration has been associated with.

He assured that in months to come, NIMASA in the performance of its statutory functions would scale up its activities to achieve more for investors, professionals and all stakeholders in the nation’s maritime industry

” This calls for more work, more tasks, and more sustainable success. We have so many things in place, and God willing, within the coming months, we have to double up our efforts to justify this award.

“It is a challenge, and whatever we did before that impressed the selection committee, now we have to double our efforts. For me, I don’t see the award as just an award in name, but as a challenge.

“The essence of leadership wherever you go is to make a difference to the people and the society, so if your position of leadership cannot change dimensions, then the essence of leadership is far from being achieved.

“The Vanguard Newspaper recognised our efforts because there are some impacts and changes, but there are so many areas in which we need to do more, which we must be able to do in the coming months.

” So we need to double our efforts” he said shortly after receiving his award plaque and certificate.

Notable maritime stakeholders who witnessed the ceremony agreed that the NIMASA DG has worked hard within a short period to justify the honour.

Prominent shipowner, Mrs. Margaret Orakwusi, described Jamoh as a NIMASA DG who came with three decades of experience in the sector and sound maritime academic background which he has deployed to productive benefits for the Nigerian maritime sector.

Other stakeholders who identified with and commended Jamoh for the honour included Mohammed Bello-Koko, Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority; two former Directors General of NIMASA- Dr Ade Dosunmu and Dr Dakuku Peterside; Dr. Mkgeorge Onyung, President Nigerian Shipowners Association; Emmanuel Maiguwa, President Alumni Association of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria(AMANO) and Comrade Adewale Adeyanju President General of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN)

Since assumption of office, Dr. Jamoh has won several awards, including the 2020 Zik Prize in Public Policy.

Chairman, Selection Committee Zik Prize 2020, Professor Pat Utomi said the capacity of Dr. Jamoh to have extensively managed the restructuring, reformation and repositioning of NIMASA earned him the prestigious award.

Prof Utomi stated that “the Deep Blue Project and the Blue Economy initiatives Dr. Jamoh continues to champion have brought massive gains to the Agency and the nation’s economic diversification goals.”

The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) in its recent report, had disclosed that piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, which had in recent times become the global epicentre for sea piracy, fell to the lowest since Q2 2019 after the Dr. Jamoh started enforcing the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, also known as the Deep Blue Project.

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Freight Monitor

Freight forwarding business under threat as Customs Agents lament high cost of goods clearance at ports

We are diversifying into other businesses to stay afloat– ANLCA Chieftain cries out.

Funso OLOJO 
This is not the best of times for freight forwarders who ply their trade at the Nigerian ports.
This is because their cherished trade is under threat due to the astronomical increase in the cost of clearance of goods at the ports.
Due to the plethoral of charges slammed on importers/ Shippers at the Port, most of them could not afford to bring in as many containers as before while others have outrightly stopped the importation business.
This development, our reporter gathered, has therefore put the freight forwarding business on the brink of collapse due to lack of patronage.
According to the cost analysis of cargo clearance procedures at the Port, an average importer, using the Nigerian ports, pays more than six different exorbitant charges apart from customs duties.
For instance, before an importer could exit his goods from the ports, he pays the following charges.
a. N500,000 NAFDA Certification
b. N500,000 SON Certification
c.45 per cent( up from 30 per cent) terminal operators and shipping companies service fees/ charges
d. N 150,000 to N200,000 NESREA/ other Environmental Agencies charges
e. N45,000 per day demurrage on 20- footer container
f.N68,500 per day demurrage on 40- footer container
g.20 million Customs duty on 20- footer container
h.26 million Customs duty on 40- footer container.
In addition to these charges, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has recently increased its tariff by 15 percent.
It could also be recalled that the Nigeria Customs Service only recently put on hold the 4 per cent Free on Board (FOB) charge on imports due to the outcry of freight forwarders .
However, the FOB charge would eventually be reinstated later after sufficient consultations and sensitization are carried out by the customs.
Alhaji Mukaila Abdullaziz, the former Sole Administrator of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents(ANLCA) said the listed bills are more than that.
“What you have just listed was an average cost, they are more than that” he declared with a hint of bitterness in his voice, when asked to confirm the cost analysis as the foremost freight forwarder in the industry.
” The Customs’ Federal Operations Unit(FOU) is still there.
“Their officers will lay siege on the road for a container that have already paid the exorbitant fees you have mentioned.
“They too will slam their panthom charges on the already exited container and if you don’t pay, they will impound it and take it to their office” the ANLCA Chieftain declared.
When asked how freight forwarders break even in the face of these multiple charges, Abdullaziz retorted;
” We are not breaking even .No agent is breaking even except the dare- devil ones who are ready to do anything to break even.
“But for some of us who are old hands on the job and have names to protect, we are not breaking even because we are not ready to compromise the system”
“That is why most of us have diversified into other businesses to stay afloat”.
“The freight forwarding industry is dead” he said with a hint of regret in his emotion – laden voice.
Our reporter could confirm that most of the old hands in the freight forwarding business have diversified into hospitality business as they are owners of choice hotels spread across Lagos and other commercial cities in Nigeria.
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Headlines

Dantsoho,NPA MD, plays host to Japanese agency, Vicky Haastrup for strategic collaborations

Funso OLOJO 

In continuation of his strategic engagements with institutions and individuals that would drive the operational efficiency of the agency, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Abdulahi Datsotho, has played host to Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Mr. Yuzurio Susumu at the NPA Headquarters Marina.

The meeting focused on harnessing the technical and allied synergies necessary to actualize the Dantsoho-led Management team’s quest to deepen the eco-friendliness of Nigerian Ports through renewable energy and increased automation.

JICA  is an implementing agency of Japanese Official Development Aid (ODA) for the purpose of supporting the socioeconomic development and economic stability of developing regions.,

Similarly, Dr Dantsoho received in audience Olori Vicky Ayodele Haastrup, the wife of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Clement Adesuyi Haastrup, Ajimoko III, Owa Obokun Adimula and Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland at the NPA Headquarters.

Princess Vicky Haastrup, who is also Chairperson Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN) pledged the institution’s support for the Dantsoho-led management team’s renewed effort at advancing the frontiers of trade facilitation.

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Customs

Apapa Customs concludes three-day refresher training for promoted senior officers

Funso OLOJO 
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Apapa Area Command has concluded
a three-day refresher training programme for its newly promoted Deputy Controllers (DCs) and Assistant Controllers (ACs).
Declaring the training open on Monday, 10 February 2025, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, emphasised the Command’s commitment to continuous professional development.
“For newly promoted DCs, you are captains of vital entry and exit points and responsible for overseeing all operations, among others.
” Your leadership skill must be instrumental in optimising efficiency and maintaining the highest standards of professionalism within your terminals”, the CAC stated.
He also highlighted the newly promoted Assistant Comptrollers’ crucial role.
 “Similarly, for the ACs, you are gatekeepers responsible for the final checks and approvals that allow goods to move in and out of the port.
“Your attention to detail and understanding of regulation, among others, is paramount in preventing revenue leakages and ensuring national security”, he added.
Comptroller Olomu described the training as an interactive forum for sharing best practices, addressing challenges, and clarifying any ambiguities in Customs procedures.
He assured of the Service’s management team’s commitment to providing the necessary tools and support required for the success of personnel.
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