Maritimegistplus

...  As Jamoh Assures NIMASA will continue to prioritise safety, security on Nigerian waters The United States Coast Guard USCG, has offered Nigeria a three-year plan to work with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA for the removal of the Condition of Entry (CoE), placed on American-bound vessels from Nigeria. Cdr. Juliet Hudson at the USCG headquarters in Washington DC disclosed this during a peer review visit by a delegation from NIMASA. Hudson announced a bi-annual assessment of compliance level with ISPS implementation at Nigerian Ports working with NIMASA. In her words, “We will work with NIMASA to review the compliance level of Ports in Nigeria with the provisions of the ISPS Code. This will be done twice a year to enable us update the Port Advisory Security Portal in the White House after which a decision will be taken to completely lift the Condition of Entry. We commend NIMASA for ISPS implementation and please deliver this award to your DG,” ...

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it has successfully secured the conviction of two smugglers, Felarun Oluwasegun and Fakorede Jelili, on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The convictions, according to a press release from the National Public Relations Officer of the service, CSC Abdullahi Maiwada, stems from their involvement in assembling to contravene customs laws, possession of smuggled goods and assaulting Customs Officers with charms and horsewhips at Owoyele-Igbogila, Yewa-North Local Government, Ogun State in 2023. The statement stated "Felarun and Jelili have been sentenced to 2 years imprisonment with hard labor without the option of fine by Honourable Justice Demi-Ajayi of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta. The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, asserted that 11 suspects were convicted for committing offences of improper importation, assault of Customs officers, possession of Pangolin scales meant for export, among other...

The Minster of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Mrs Doris Uzoka-Anite, has charged the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) to double its efforts on trade facilitation. She gave this charge  at the launch of the Time Release Study (TRS) by the Nigeria Customs Service in collaboration with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) in Lagos on Thursday. The study, which is a systematic and internationally recognized tool developed by the WCO for the clearance of goods from arrival to the physical release of cargo will among other benefits improve and strengthen the efficiency of customs administration and other government agencies in the Nigerian Ports The Minister in her keynote address at the occasion said the NCS is the only agency in Nigeria saddled with three critical functions of Security, Revenue Generation, and Trade Facilitation so the service needs to redouble their effort especially in the area of trade facilitation which according to her will enhance trade volume there by increa...

In a bid to develop the aviation sector in the Nigeria, the SIFAX Group and its aviation partners, Changi Airports International from Singapore have opened discussions on strategic collaboration with the Federal Government and Lagos State government. SIFAX Group, through one of its subsidiaries, SAHCO Plc that is already a major player in the aviation ground handling space. However, the consortium is looking to explore more business prospects in the sector such as aviation terminal management, airline management and development and other ancillary services. In various meetings held recently with the Vice President, Kassiem  Shettima, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, the Group reiterated its commitment to the development of Nigeria’s aviation sector, explaining that the company has the capacity to contribute substantially to the growth of the sector, which will positively impact the nation in terms of job creation, tourism devel...

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), according to the Nation's report, quizzed and arrested Abubakar Ahmad Sirika, brother of immediate-past Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika over an alleged N8.06 billion contract fraud in the Federal Ministry of Aviation. The report have it that, of the contract sum, about N3.2 bn was traced to Engirios Nigeria Limited, owned by Abubakar Sirika, who is a Level-16 officer, a deputy director, in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources. It was learnt that four big contracts were awarded to Abubakar’s Engirios Nigeria Limited when his brother was in charge of the ministry. According to EFCC investigators, Abubakar Ahmad Sirika is listed as the company’s MD/CEO and also the sole signatory to the two accounts linked to the firm with two banks. The four contracts the ex-minister awarded to his brother which were not executed are listed as: *Construction of the Terminal Building in Katsina Airport (N1.3bn). *Fire Truck Maintenance and...

... Promises to Boost Staff Welfare The Comptroller-General of the Customs, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, presented the Service's 2024 budget on 5 February 2024 to the Nigeria Senate Committee on Customs at the National Assembly. The CG, while defending the 2024 budget of 706.43 billion naira, focused attention on consolidating carried-over projects, increasing staff welfare by improving and motivating officers' performance, and integrating technologies into Customs processes. Regarding Officers' welfare, The CG  mentained that Officers will be encouraged in various ways to increase efficiency and improve their well-being. He stated that this would be done through awards, promotions, and payment of allowances. oo Additionally, the Comptroller General pledged to surpass the revenue target of 5.079 trillion naira in 2024. According to him, the revenue target for 2024 is 27.75 percent higher than the target of 2023. Furthermore, the Comptroller-General outlined strategies to...

... A s Winners Take 190 Vehicles in PTML Command The Customs Area Controller of PTML Command, Comptroller Saidu Abba Yusuf has reiterated the command's readiness to facilitate easy release of vehicles and containers won by bidders in the ongoing-electronic auction process of overtime cargoes. Comptroller Yusuf who described the process of auctioning through the online portal "https://auction.nigeriatradehub.gov.ng" as very seamless added that the system is very robust and under-utilised as it is efficient enough to accommodate more entries online. Speaking on the safety of vehicles in PTML, the Customs Area Controller according to a press release  signed by the command's Public Relations Officer, CSC Muhammad Yakubu said operators of the terminal places high priority on security and that winner are assured of getting their vehicles the exact way they were imported into the country as there are zero incidences of vandalism and theft in the terminal Comptroller Yus...

… Declares 2024 Comptrollers Retreat Open The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, has tasked Comptrollers to remain resolute in streamlining operations building trust with stakeholders in their formations, as essential steps for impactful Customs management. CGC Adeniyi made this call on Tuesday, 30 January 2024, at the Ahmad Makarfi Conference Hall of the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College (NCCSC) Gwagwalada, Abuja, while delivering his paper presentation to the Comptrollers. The CGC, whose three major agendas to improve the performance of NCS remain collaboration, consolidation, and innovation, described establishing strong mutual relationships with stakeholders as ‘important for NCS’, urging that they be carried along. He expressed optimism that the Service can achieve great milestones by forming new collaborations, adding, “The service needs to work with other agencies of government to see the amazing revolution that we are ...

The Western Marine Command of Nigeria Customs Service, in its continued efforts to purge the Western Waterways of the offensive activities of smuggling, has intercepted and seized 51 sacks containing 4,070 parcels of Cannabis Sativa in January 2024. The command, which is headed by Comptroller Odaudu Salefu in a press statement signed the the command's Public Relations Officer, SC Magaji Mailafiya informed that  on Friday, 19th January 2024, at exactly 1206hrs, a Joint Patrol Team of the Command received credible Intelligence of the movement of a wooden Boat around the Moba Seashore axis of the Command suspected of transporting offending goods. After a hot pursuit of the identified boat by the officers, the smugglers dived into the Creek, abandoning the boat fully loaded with the goods. The statement went further to reveal that the wooden boat, which is powered by Two (2) 40 horsepower (HP) engines was towed back to the Command HQ at Ibafon Apapa and after careful examination, it ...

... Resolves To Deliver on It's 2024 Target Of 87.5 billion. In keeping with its growing role as a critical trade hub amongst the maritime commands in Lagos, the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal Area Command (KLTC) of the Nigeria Customs Service recorded significant achievements in 2023  and is determined to deliver on its responsibilities to its stakeholders and the nation in the new year. The Command under the leadership of Comptroller Martina Tilley-Gyado, as the Customs Area Controller in a statement from the Public Relations Officer of the Command, SC Tunde Ayagbalo said the command through dedication, innovation, and strategic partnerships overcame its operational challenges to generate a record-breaking fifty-three billion, four hundred and twenty-nine million, six hundred and fifteen thousand, six hundred and fifteen Naira(=N=53,429,615,615) in 2023 showing a 19% increase in revenue generation for the same period in 2022. Though not operating at full capacity, the Command is d...