Headlines

Jamoh admonishes Marine Surveyors to embrace integrity, professionalism for enhanced maritime safety.

Eyewitness reporter

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Bashir Jamoh, has advised marine surveyors in the industry to shun any form of compromise in the discharge of their duties but embrace integrity and professionalism that will enhance maritime safety.

Dr Jamoh gave the advice Wednesday in Calabar, Cross Rivers State capital while declaring open a two-day Marine Surveyors meeting/ workshop.

The NIMASA DG, who was represented by Engr. Olu Aladenusi, Head of Maritime Safety and Seafarers Standard Department, noted that marine surveyors both from the flag and classification societies form an important part of the fundamental resources required to ensure the sustenance of maritime safety and environmental protection within the industry.

“As you focus on conducting effective flag and port state inspections within the provisions of our enabling Acts, Regulations. Guidelines, I encourage you

all to always demonstrate undiluted integrity and professionalism, avoid unreasonable compromise and encourage practical knowledge transfer and appropriate mentorship/succession planning within the marine surveying profession”

“It is crucial for us to remind ourselves that International Shipping has remained a highly competitive and profit-driven business that needs

to always comply with safety and environmental protection standards.

“Maritime safety standards must always be adhered to and there should be no compromise from ships, seafarers, vessel managers or operators etc.

“Maritime safety standards must always be adequately considered from the design stages of a vessel to the construction

stages, the competency of seafarers manning the vessels and down to operational stages and also in the decommissioning stage of the vessel”

“We should always ensure we work with integrity and endeavor to improve the quality of our surveys by applying available technologies.

“Our collective determination and the way we go about our inspection/survey activities must earn us a positive image globally.

“We all have a mandate to promote safe, secure and reliable shipping, so let us do it together, he declared.

Dr Jamoh warned that without credible and integrity-driven flag and port state inspections, “companies may want

to operate their ships at levels below the internationally acceptable standards and this, we all know could have unredeemable

consequences, such as; equipment failure, loss of lives, fatalities and even massive marine pollution amongst others”

“To avoid such unredeemable consequences, an effective maritime safety administration is highly necessary to attain and maintain

accepted standards”, the NIMASA DG noted.

He however commended the marine surveyors for sustaining the conduct of ship inspection/ survey in accordance with maritime safety standards as well

as the digitization of processes to promote sustainability, accountability and professionalism.

He noted the importance of the workshop which he said aligns with NIMASA’s drive to actualize the maritime safety arm of the agency’s tripod-S management strategy (Maritime Safety, Security and Shipping Development) which is currently boosting the growth of the Nigerian maritime industry.

The NIMASA DG, therefore, assured the marine surveyors of the agency’s continued support to perform their duties effectively.

“I would like to mention that the current management will continually strive to build the required technical capacity to meet the Agency’s maritime regulatory obligations in order to make our waterways safe and devoid of pollutants from vessels.

He asked the surveyors to therefore take advantage of this opportunity by continually working with the agency’s Training Unit in

achieving this feat.

Meanwhile, the Head of Maritime Safety and Seafarers Standard Department, Olu Aladenusi expressed hope that participating surveyors at the workshop will find the technical sessions highly valuable in implementing their port and flag state duties.

“I am also sure that the interactive sessions and shared experiences will be most rewarding as we continuously strive to improve Nigeria’s maritime safety regime.

Mr Shehu Ahmed, Executive Director, Marine Operations, disclosed that the technical forum of marine surveyors was last held in

July, 2021 during the COVID 19 era.

He noted that Nigeria as a nation accounts for a significant volume of domestic shipping activities and seaborne trade within the West African Region.

“Our nation is and has remained potentially a great maritime nation.

“The Nigerian maritime domain also has a lot of offshore activities via the operation of FPSOs, FSOs, FSUs and other specialized offshore vessels with some of these vessels currently ageing and operating beyond the design

life span.

“Surveyors must endeavour to have adequate regulatory frameworks for key maritime-related subject matters and

ensure they work within appropriate enabling laws and regulations.

“For effective Flag and Port State Control, relevant IMO Conventions must be ratified and an efficient Maritime Safety Administration capable of discharging its responsibilities as a Safety Administration is very pertinent.

“Presently, this dispensation has sustained the drive to domesticate all ratified conventions and the enabling Acts that empower us to regulate the maritime industry are currently in the National Assembly, which some of us are aware of.

“As a Safety Administration, we will continue to put structures in place to effectively regulate the maritime industry and also build capacity, digitize our processes and engage with our stakeholders

“The gains of this workshop to all delegates here will make a remarkable impact in our maritime safety domain and this

will usher us into a new era for socio-economic growth and development within the maritime sector” he declared.

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Customs

Tinubu celebrates Adeniyi on his 59th birthday

–lists his achievements

Funso OLOJO

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has joined millions of well wishers across the globe to celebrate Adewale Adeniyi, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi as he turns 59 years on Sunday, January 19th, 2025.

In his birthday message made available through his Special Adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu lauded the innovative and inspiring leadership of Adeniyi which he noted has impacted greatly on the image and performance of the service.

While listing the achievements of the customs in terms of revenue generation, trade facilitation, automation and digitization of the service, anti- smuggling activities as well as bolstered staff morale under the dexterious guidance of Adeniyi, President Tinubu wished him divine wisdom, robust health, and continued strength as he serves the nation.

“Under his guidance, the agency has witnessed significant progress through the steady digitalisation and automation of its operations, a renewed commitment to professionalism, and an uplift in officers’ morale, enhancing high performance.

“His leadership has enabled the NCS to surpass revenue targets substantially and bolstered trade facilitation, yielding widespread positive effects on the national economy.

“President Tinubu applauds the innovative anti-smuggling strategies initiated by the Customs Chief.

“These strategies encompass equipping the youth with new skills for alternative livelihood opportunities, fostering engagements with traditional institutions, and nurturing a culture of effective communication and mutual respect.

“The President recognises the Comptroller-General’s other notable achievements, including the remarkable seizures of arms and ammunition and the revitalisation of the Comptroller-General’s Annual Conference, which aims to assess and enhance the agency’s operations.

“President Tinubu affirms that Adeniyi’s extensive experience of over 30 years in service and adaptability to change has greatly enriched the Customs Service.

“The President offers prayers for divine wisdom, robust health, and continued strength for Comptroller-General Adeniyi as he serves the nation.

Headlines

EFCC discovers Yahoo training school in Benin city

-arrests 25 students undergoing training in cybercrimes

Funso OLOJO

The operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) has on Thursday January 16th, 2025, uncovered a Yahoo academy in Benin city, Edo State, where young Nigerians are undergoing training in the act of internet fraud.

During the raid, the anti- graft agency arrested 25 suspected internet fraudsters in the cybercrimes training centre

The suspects’ arrest at their hideout was triggered by credible intelligence that indicated the apartment being used as a yahoo academy or training school for internet-related fraud and other fraudulent activities.

Items recovered from the suspects include six exotic cars, laptops and phones.

The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

Customs

Onyeka, Tin Can CAC, set to pursue revenue generation aggressively

— vows to surpass 1 trillion naira revenue record

Funso OLOJO

The Area Controller of the Tin Can island command of the Nigeria customs service, Comptroller Frank Onyeka, has set an ambitious goal of meeting and surpassing the one trillion naira revenue mark achieved last year by his predecessor, ACG Dera Nnadi.

It would be recalled that the command was given a revenue target of N1.4 trillion in 2024 while it realized a little about N1.226 trillion ,an unprecedented record that was never achieved in the history of the command.

Meanwhile, Comptroller Onyeka, has vowed to sustain the revenue momentum as he would aggressively pursue revenue collection.

Speaking while playing host to the Executive council of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria(MARAN) which paid him a courtesy visit in his office on Friday, January 17th, 2025, the Customs chief disclosed his strategy to carry out his assignment.

According to him, he would facilitate legitimate trade, ensure 100 percent examination of all imports while he would energise his men and officers to key into his vision.

“I’ll facilitate trade, but it has to be legitimate trade. That’s what I feel I should do in the strict sense.

“You know, I’m coming from the aspect of revenue. So, it is my prayer and my hope to meet my target and surpass it.

“But principally, what I am going to fight is the ability to do this job without examination.

“I have appealed to my officers, whatever it is they have to do, let them see the containers, once we’ve examined them, everything should be on cruise control because if you examine, you’ll now know if it’s supposed to go out or not.

“I’ve involved Customs Intelligence Unit, CIU, I’ve involved Valuation Unit, I’ve spoken to all relevant Units and it’s my prayer, by the grace of God, that all of us will be on the same page to make sure that the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is brought to fruition” he noted.

He was full of gratitude to the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi , for the confidence reposed in him and vowed never to disappoint him.

“I also appreciate the fact that our indefatigable Comptroller General Of Customs, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi to whom I’m very grateful.

“He needs to be made to know that he didn’t make any mistake for him to have brought me here.

“I am very grateful to him and his management team, and I need to make him proud” he enthused.

Comptroller Onyeka also vowed to build on the foundation that has been laid by his predecessor, Assistant Comptroller General Dera Nnadi.

“In anti-smuggling, he did well. In revenue generation, he did superbly well, same goes for infrastructure development.

“His Public Relations was top-notch, which I’m going to leverage.

“He was fortunate to have what I consider a very fantastic rapport with the media because that’s his background. I intend to leverage that. I intend to do better in that aspect” he added.

Earlier, in his address, the President of MARAN, Mr Godfrey Bivbere expressed the willingness of the association to partner with the CAC and the Command to achieve the target ahead of the command.

He reiterated the firm resolution of the association to accord Comptroller Onyeka the same support accorded to his predecessor.