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Public hearing on Nigerian Shipping bill holds, not postponed- Abdussamad Dasuki

Tajudeen Abbas, Speakers House of Representatives.

–as House Committee on Shipping Services tackles Port and Harbour Committee over purported cancellation

Funso Olojo

There is an intense intrigue to frustrate the bill that seeks to give legal backing to the Nigerian Shippers’Council as the economic regulator of the maritime industry.
After many years of wearing the toga of an economic regulator devoid of legal powers, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, sponsored a bill to repeal the NSC Act (Cap N133, LFN 2004) and 2010 and enact The Nigerian Shipping and Port Economic Regulatory Bill that will empower the Shippers’Council to regulate the services of service providers in the industry.
The Committee on Shipping Services, which is handling the bill, therefore called and fixed a public hearing on the bill for Monday, May 27th, 2024, thus sending invitations to all the relevant stakeholders to attend the session.
Curiously, about 48 hours before the event, another committee in the House, the Committee on Ports and Harbour, announced that the event, which it was not the major convener, had been postponed indefinitely.
In its letter of postponement written to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola,  the Clerk of the Committee, Delupe Abiodun Suraj, said the postponement was due to another national engagement which the committee has the same day.
However, our reporter gathered that the purported letter was a clear game plan in the series of political intrigues meant to frustrate the bill seeking to empower the Shippers’Council as an economic regulator with the force of the law.
It could be recalled that since the Council assumed the role of economic regulator, it has been struggling to enforce the rules of engagement with the service providers without success due to lack of legal powers.
However, the Chairman of House Committee on Shipping Services, who convened the public hearing, has said that the event will still hold on Monday, May 27th, 2024.
Sources in the Shippers’Council, also confirmed the position of the lawmaker, saying the event will still go ahead as scheduled and the Council is on ground to attend the public hearing on Monday, May 27th, 2024.
Prince Olayiwola Shittu, another visible stakeholder and former National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) said the purported postponement was not true as relevant stakeholders are already in Abuja as at Sunday, May 26th, 2024 to attend the public hearing.
“It’s not true, Sir( the purported postponement). The program is going on. We’re already in Abuja” he declared via Whatsapp message.
However, sources in the industry accused those who ” are threatened by the legal powers that the bill seeks to give the Nigerian Shippers’Council” of being behind the efforts to truncate the bill.
“We know them.  They are threatened by the bill which will transform the Council from a toothless bulldog they usually call the agency to a biting dog”  But we are not perturbed by their antics”
The source declared that the bill presents a unique opportunity for genuine stakeholders to attend the public hearing in order to make the Council a formidable force that will effectively regulate the services of the service providers.
He allayed the fears of those who are threatened by the bill that the powers being sought for the council under the proposed Act are to regulate the services and not the organizations.
Another source queried the legality of the Committee on Ports and Harbour to issue a postponement of an event it did not convene.
“It was the Chairman of the Committee on Shipping Services, Abdussamad Dasuki, who invited the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola to the event.
” What justification did a clerk of the Committee on Ports and Harbour have to write to the same minister, canceling the invitation” the source queried.
However, a source close to the Minister said the ministry has no position on the controversial letter.
” It is an issue between two committees in the House which they have to resolve.
“As you know, the legislature is independent of the Executive so we don’t have any position,” the ministry source said.
A source in the Shippers’Council also agreed with the position of the ministry source over the independence of the two arms of government.
” Even if the Minister doesn’t appear at the hearing, it won’t stop the event from being held because the Minister is just one of the stakeholders invited, and if the committee discovers that there is a reasonable attendance of stakeholders, they will conduct the hearing. They are independent of the legislature” he noted.
Another source said if there was going to be any postponement, it should come from the Speaker of the House who sponsored the bill or the Chairman of the Committee on Shipping Services, Abdussamad Dasuki, who invited the minister and not the Clerk of Committee on Ports and Habour.
It could be recalled that a group called Maritime Advocacy Foundation has stated its opposition to the bill, saying, if passed into law, it will run counter to the interests of Nigerian shippers.
Another group which called itself Marine and Blue Economy Integrity Group, has countered the position of the MAF, calling it self-centered and mischievous.
The two opposing groups have further lent credence to the notion that there are some entrenched interests who are threatened by the emerging powers of the NSC and are hell-bent to truncate it.
”They are simply mischious. These are the same people who always said the Council lacks powers as economic regulator. Now it is the same people who are trying to truncate the process to make the council acquire the nececcesry legal backing as economic regul1ator”, another industry stakeholder observed
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Headlines

May Day: Mobereola salutes maritime workers for passion, dedication to building virile industry 

Gloria Odion,  Maritime reporter 

The Director – General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, has saluted the courage , passion and dedication of maritime workers to building strong and virile industry.
In his message at the Workers’ day on May 1st, 2026, the NIMASA DG extolled the virtues of workers and acknowledged the distinguished service of various stakeholders whose efforts he noted continue to significantly contribute to the development of the Nigerian maritime industry.
Dr. Mobereola, while wishing stakeholders a Happy Workers’ Day said “to all the amazing officers and stakeholders in the maritime sector who bring their passion and expertise to work daily.

“Thank you for your dedication and invaluable contributions”.

He emphasized that as a regulator, the Agency remains committed to its oversight function of regulating maritime labour activities in the industry in line with extant instruments and the expectations of the theme of the 2026 Workers’ Day, which focuses on safety, dignity and productivity.

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Customs

Kaila, Seme Customs CAC, seeks collaboration with stakeholders to achieve seemless trade along border corridor 

Funso OLOJO, Editor
The new Area Controller of the Seme Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller Abdullahi Kaila, has  reached out to traditional rulers and  sister agencies at the border communities to ensure the achievement of his mandate of detection, determent of smuggling, revenue generation and trade facilitation along the border corridor.
To achieve these objectives, Comptroller Kaila went on tour of the communities within the border corridor where he met and sought for the support and cooperation of major critical stakeholders, including the traditional rulers and sister agencies.
According to him, his objective was to eradicate trade hindrances affecting free movement of goods and services along the Lagos-Abidjan business corridor.
Speaking at the Palace of Oba Akran of Badagry Kingdom, the Customs Area Controller condoled with the royal family and entire people of Badagry kingdom on the passing away of HRM De Wheno Aholu Menu Toyi I who was a well recognized traditional ruler across the border communities.
“”The purpose of my visit is to introduce myself as the Area Controller of Seme Command and to equally seek your royal blessing and support to achieve the core mandate of the service.
“Our priority remains to generate revenue, facilitate trade, and suppress smuggling.
“And we in the Customs believe that without due support and co-operation from traditional rulers, we can not have effective performance of our functions as Customs officers” he said
 The King Regent, Chief Abel Ogunbiyi, who described Kaila as the son of the soil, added that “We have listened to your request.
” Know that Badagry is a very peaceful town, and we will keep collaborating with you in safeguarding our borders and in promoting legitimate trade, ” he stated.
Comptroller Kaila also visited the Onibereko of Ibereko Awori-Kingdom, where the monarch, Oba Israel Okoya, signifies his commitment to fostering the service relationship with residents living within the border  communities
“I welcome you to Badagry and be rest assured that I will always talk to my people whenever the need is required.
” In our town, our youth does not engage in illegalities as I have no other choice than to assist you in achieving the government mandate, ” he mentioned
While at the Palace of Alapa of Apa Kingdom, the king HRM Oba Oyekan Ajose Ilufemiloye commended and described the CAC, Comptroller Kaila as a professional, seasoned and well respected officer as described by indigenes of border communities.
“I promise you that I will always assist you in my area for anything that you need.
“Our border here has been peaceful because our youth always listen to the elders, and I know with your presence here, things will change for the better, ” he said
In his efforts to consolidate on existing synergy between sister security agencies, Kaila also visited Headquarters of 653 Nigerian Air force base, Ahanve-Badagry.
The  Commanding Officer, Group Captain Hungruy  Medugu,expressed the  readiness of the formation to always support the command in achieving its mandate.
“Our collaboration has been key to various successes we have recorded in our area of responsibility.
” Your presence here strengthens existing bonds of inter-agency collaboration between both Services, and we will not take it for granted ,” he said
The Area Controller then ended his familirisation tour with seeking for mutual cooperation with a visit to the Republic of Benin Police office, showing his readiness to eradicate hindrances affecting the free movement of goods and services across the border.
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Headlines

Opeifa decries encroachment on NRC properties across the country 

— praises collaboration with Abia, Enugu govts.
Funso OLOJO, Editor 
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa, has reiterated his displeasure over the widespread practice of encroachment on the properties of the Nigerian Railways Corporation across the country, warning that such action would not be tolerated by his administration.
Opeifa was speaking during the separate meetings he recently had with the governments of both Abia and Enugu states.
Represented by the Railway District Manager, Eastern District, Mr. Agwonye Francis Ejike, the NRC boss quickly condemned the occupation of the Corporation’s right- of – way by squatters in Umuahia, while correcting the wrongly- held belief that the Railway is defunct.
Opeifa however applauded the cordial and collaborative relationship between the Corporation and the governments of both Abia and Enugu.
According to him, such productive harmony can only yield even greater positive results for the benefit of the people.
During the Umuahia meeting, Dr. Opeifa strongly praised the Abia State Government for its crucial assistance in clearing the NRC’s right-of-way within Umuahia.
 He reiterated unequivocally that no one is permitted to build any structure on railway property without obtaining express approval from his office.
Appealing directly to the public, he urged for greater patience, stressing that the plans for the critical track extension from Aba, through Umuahia to Enugu and beyond, remain very much on course.
Responding on behalf of the Abia State Government, Mr. Kingsley Agomoh stated that the State Government is actively engaging all stakeholders by providing alternative, seamless locations for those currently conducting business on the railway right-of-way.
 He further revealed that the state government has already finalized plans to plant trees along the route, creating a leisurely and aesthetically conducive environment for relaxation, replacing previous commercial activities.
The high-powered team then embarked on an extensive inspection of the alternative relocation site for displaced persons; the demolition site where iron barrier installation is progressing; the Umuahia Central Bus Terminal; the site for the new Umuahia Railway Station; and the route for the proposed link road passing through the existing railway station.
The meeting also explored the provision of a temporary location for the Railway Police and the PTO, pending the construction of the new Umuahia Station, which is designed to include a police station and other NRC offices.
The same impactful message was delivered to Enugu State, where the Commissioner of Transportation, Dr. Obi Ozoh (representing the State Government), equally assured the NRC MD of the Enugu State Government’s unwavering commitment to collaborating with the Corporation to achieve its aims and objectives.
Describing Dr. Opeifa as a personal friend from their private sector days, Dr. Ozoh lauded him as a leader who “knows perfectly well what he is doing.”
He further assured the NRC that the Enugu State Government will actively assist in demolishing any obstruction on the Corporation’s right-of-way, stressing that the state eagerly awaits the flag-off to recommence construction of the rail line from Aba to Enugu and beyond.
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