OT Africa Line Service
Brochure
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For comprehensive details highlighting our service from Nigeria
please see our latest service
brochure.
Lagos
Port Information
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Port Infrastructure
Until 1975 Lagos was the capital of Lagos state, and
until December 1991 it was the federal capital of Nigeria. Ikeja replaced
Lagos as the state capital, and Abuja replaced Lagos as the federal
capital. Lagos, however, remained the unofficial seat of many government
agencies. The city's population is centred on Lagos Island, in Lagos
Lagoon, on the Bight of Benin in the Gulf of Guinea. Lagos is Nigeria's
largest city and one of the largest in sub-Saharan Africa.
Lagos is the principle port of Nigeria situated on the Gulf of Guinea.
The port is split into three main sections: Lagos, Apapa and Tin Can
Island. The creeks and lagoons are plied by small coastal craft.
The city is the western terminus of the nation's road and railway
networks, and the airport at Ikeja provides local and international
services.
NPA = Nigerian Ports Authority: This
government parastatal owns and operates the Nigerian ports. In Apapa,
NPA charges and collects
quay rent and other ancillary costs from consignees as they own the
import terminals. All the outside bonded/ satellite terminals linked
to Apapa port also work in partnership with NPA.
NMA = Nigerian Maritime Authority: This government parastatal is involved
in protecting the country's maritime interest. Consignee's do not pay
any amount to NMA during the clearing process as all NMA charges are
paid by shipping lines that call Nigerian ports. The increase of NMA
charges in 2003 led to the introduction of the freight tax surcharge
added onto all Nigerian freights. The Federal Government announced
in Dec 2004 that all NMA charges payable by shipping companies will
be scrapped as from Jan 2005, following recommendations from the World
Bank. However, this policy is yet to be implemented.
Apapa is Nigeria's largest port and contains a number
of wharfs. A range of commodities are handled at Apapa and include
dedicated facilities for the discharge and loading of wheat, cement,
oil, petroleum, fish, dry cargo and containers.
The container terminal is located at the Third Apapa Wharf extension
and covers and area of 44 hectares. Maximum capacity of the terminal
is 22,000 TEU and served by 6 designated container berths with a quay
length of 950 metres. There is 6,400m2 of covered storage space.
Through OT Africa Line close relationship with its stevedore
company we are able to offer a dedicated cocoa warehouse within the
port. This
enables OT Africa Line to effectively handle all cocoa shipment in
a safe and reliable manner. We also have dedicated storage and warehouse
space
on and off quay and ours agent has extensive knowledge of the
port and is able to provide a high standard of service.
Tin Can is a self contained port entered through Badagry
Creek via a 200m wide channel which has been dredged to 8.5m. Tin Can
provides 11 berths including seven break-bulk general cargo berths,
one dry bulk cargo berth and two dedicated roro berths (numbers 9 and
10).
Total length over the quays is over 2000 meters and has a maximum
draught of 10 metres - up to 13 vessels can be accommodated at a time.
Berth No 9 has special ro-ro ramps to work the ro-ro vessels. There
are five transit sheds and three warehouses offering a covered storage
area of 54,000m2 and an open storage area of 125,000m2. There are also
5 vehicle parks - each able to accommodate 6000 cars at a time.
To ensure efficient service the port has its own electricity supply
power station with seven sub-stations throughout the port. To maintain
tight security the port has a separate security system with a police
station manned by the Nigeria Police Force backed up by private security
organisations.
Tin Can is linked to Apapa by a road bridge.
Draft at Berth
10m
Draft
at Harbour Mouth
8.5m
No of Deepwater
Quays
11
Total Length
of Quay
2.5km
Cranes
6 electrical portal cranes of 8-10 tonnes with
an outreach of 25-28m
6 mobile cranes of 8-10 tonnes each
Rail Connections
None at Tin Can Island. Only Ijora Wharf (Iddo
Island) and Apapa are connected to the general railway system.
Port town and capital of Rivers state, southern Nigeria, Port Harcourt lies along the
Bonny River (an eastern distributary of the Niger River) 41 miles (66 km) upstream from the Gulf of
Guinea. Founded in 1912 in an area traditionally inhabited by the Ijo people, it began to serve as a
port (named for Lewis Harcourt, then colonial secretary) after the opening of the rail link to the
Enugu coalfields in 1916. Now one of the nation's largest ports, its modern deepwater (23 feet [7
metres]) facilities handle the export of palm oil, palm kernels, and timber from the surrounding
area, coal from Anambra state, tin and columbite from the Jos Plateau, peanuts (groundnuts) from the
northern states, and, since 1958, petroleum from fields in the eastern Niger River delta. Port
Harcourt has bulk storage facilities for both palm oil and petroleum. In the 1970s the port was
enlarged with new facilities at nearby Onne.
Port Harcourt is one of Nigeria's leading industrial centres. The Trans-Amadi
Industrial Estate, 4 miles (6 km) north, is a 2,500-acre (1,000-hectare) site where tires, aluminum
products, glass bottles, and paper are manufactured. The town also manufactures cigarettes, steel
structural products, corrugated tin, paints, plastics, enamelware, wood and metal furniture, cement,
concrete products, and several other goods, and it has truck and bicycle assembly plants. Nigeria's
first oil refinery (1965) is at Alesa-Eleme, 12 miles (19 km) southeast. Pipelines carry oil and
natural gas to Port Harcourt (where there also is a refinery) and to the port of Bonny, 25 miles (40
km) south-southeast, and refined oil to Makurdi in Benue state. Port Harcourt is the site of
traditional boatbuilding and fishing industries and has fish-freezing facilities.
The University of Port Harcourt (1975) and Rivers State University of Science and
Technology (1971, university status 1980) serve the town, and nearby Onne is the site of the Nigerian
Naval College. Port Harcourt is the starting point of the eastern branch of the Nigerian Railways main
line and also of the trunk highway network serving eastern Nigeria. There is an international airport
located 7 miles (11 km) northeast along the road and railway to Aba.
Federal government to Concession Sagamu-Benin,
Enugu-Onitsha, Nine Other Highways - 01/02/10
The Federal government has begun moves to concession 11 new Federal Highways
to the private sector under a Public Private Partnership arrangement. The projects
are located in the South West North West; North Central ; South -South and South
East geo-political zones.
The Minister of Works, Housing and Urban Development,
Dr.Hassan Lawan stated that the Federal Government had already engaged the
services of Transaction Advisors to access the viability of the projects before
final decision would be taken on them.
Lawan said ,”It has become obvious that the
work load in the road sector has become too large for the government alone
to handle through budgetary allocations. In order to ameliorate the effect
of dwindling resources to prosecute road development programmes, and with the
coming into effect of Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission ,
the Federal Ministry of Works, Housing and Urban Development has commenced
some PPP projects.” [PU 01/02/10]
Customs to Enhance E-Transactions in Nation's
Ports - 31/01/10
The Nigerian Custom Service [NCS] has put in place measures to ensure that
transactions in all the ports are done in electronic catchment in the near
future ensure. Clarification of the service on the introduction of e-remittance
and e-manifest is coming against the backdrop complaints of some banks that
it would be difficult
to automate payment from offices of agents now, because the project team has
not given designated banks go ahead to use internet platform for the payment
of duties.
Assistant Comptroller General Ihenacho said that
the programme would soon be rolled out in all the ports in Lagos. Ihenacho
pointed out that the
role
of Nigerian Customs Service is to partner with relevant stakeholders in local
and International trade chain to establish controls that would lead to absolute
compliance with that nation's laws and Government fiscal policy measures.
To achieve this objective, the Ihenacho said the service has entered into partnership
with UNCTAD for provision of ASYCUDA software; as well as webb fountain for
provision of Hardware, network and training on the ASYCUDA system. Others
are
the designated banks and service providers like COTECNA, SGS and Global scan.
[VAN 31/01/10]
Cargo Tracking Levy is to Fund Safety and
Security Matters - 20/01/10
The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority [NPA] Malam Abdul-Salam
Mohammed has said that the proceeds of the newly introduced Cargo Tracking
Note levy
collection is to be used in financing safety and security matter in ports.
Speaking in defense of the Cargo Tracking levy, Malam Mohammed said that
the government is not interested in introducing any new charges neither
is it bringing any new layer of bureaucracy.
Musa Iliya, Assistant General
Manager, Public Affairs Unit of the NPA said the CTN will not add to the
cost of doing business in the Nigerian ports. He
said the CTN fee or charges had been an integral part of cargo freight. According
to Iliya, there is no additional cost on cargo tracking as everything is
paid for right from the port of origin. Illiya has disclosed that a technical
committee
will look into ways of ensuring that the newly-introduced CTN scheme does
not add to port costs and bureaucracy in the nation's seaports.
Already, port
users and other stakeholders in the maritime industry have vehemently opposed
the introduction of the levy describing it as illegal. Malam Mohammed
confirmed that he has received comments opposing the Cargo Tracking Note
levy, adding that most of the people opposing the levy are ill-informed. He
stated
that NPA has concluded plans to have an interactive session with most of
the stakeholders in the industry with a view to briefing them of the full details
of government's intentions and the mechanism of implementation. [VAN 20/01/10]
Stakeholders
Oppose MSA Bill, Canvases for Better Funding for Nimasa, Navy - 20/01/10
Stakeholders in the Nigerian maritime sector were unanimous in their condemnation
of the Maritime Security Bill which proposes to establish a Maritime Security
Agency for the country. In its presentation the Federal Ministry of Transport
submitted that by the provisions of Section 1 [4] of the Armed Forces Act Cap
20, LNF, 2004, the
power to enforce Maritime Security is largely vested in the Nigerian Navy while
the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency [NDLEA], Nigeria Immigration Service,
Marine Division of the Police and the Nigeria Customs Service are also vested
with similar powers.
The Minister of Transport, Alhaji Ibrahim Isa Bio
observed that some of the provisions of the Maritime Security Agency Bill as
presently
drafted were in
conflict and a duplication of some existing responsibilities of the Nigerian
Maritime Administration and Safety Agency [NIMASA]. While admitting that
the Maritime Security situation in Nigeria requires urgent attention, the Transport
Ministry urged the Law makers to review the NIMASA
ACT in order to empower the Agency to enforce maritime security.
Other Government
Agencies and stakeholders in the maritime industry who also presented position
papers against the Maritime Security Bill include the Nigerian
Ports Authority, NPA, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, National Council
For Managing Directors, Association of Master Mariners, and the Nigerian
Chamber of Shipping amongst others. [VAN 20/01/10]
Cotecna Trains Customs Officers On Use
Of Fixed Scanner - 15/01/10
Following the successful test-running of the first fixed scanner in the country,
Cotecna Destination Inspection Limited [CDIL], owners of container inspection
equipment, have commenced training of officers of Nigeria Customs Service [NCS]
and some of its men for the system's Image Analysis and general operation.
The first set of specialized training programmes on the fixed scanner operations
began Apapa Port's scanning site with nine selected customs officers and three
staffers of COTECNA, the Service Provider. In explaining the essence of the
training, the Area Comptroller of the Ijora Lillypond Customs Command and Managing
Director of CDIL, Mr. Tayo Rabiu stated that the exercise would cover both
the operations and maintenance of the fixed scanner. [DC 15/01/10]
CRFFN Move
to Check Freight Forwarding Practices - 27/01/10
The Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarders in Nigeria [CRFFN] has
commenced moves to check freight forwarding practices in Nigeria. Speaking
at the first meeting between the Council and leaders of freight forwarding
Associations in Nigeria, the Chairman of the Publicity Committee of the group,
Olayiwola Shittu, said that the time has come for the practice of freight
forwarding to be sanitized. Shittu noted that it is in a country like Nigeria
that any
body can do any thing and get away with it, adding that Council will also
protect the interest of Nigeria involved in the practice of the trade. Already,
the Council has commenced moves to register all freight forwarders in Nigeria,
adding that any body not registered with the Council will not be
allowed to practice. Also, the CRFFN said that a Freight Forwarders Council
will be set up later in the year to serve as a platform for inputs by the practitioners
in the affairs of the regulatory body. [VAN 27/01/10]
New FCT Customs Command
Boss Assumes Duty - 29/01/10
Mallam Usman Bello has been appointed area controller of the Federal Capital
Territory [FCT] command of Nigeria Customs Service [NCS]. Until his new
appointment, he was the Customs Area Controller of the Kano/Jigawa Area Command.
He took
over from Comptroller Sahabi Sadiq who has been moved to Tincan Island
Port , Lagos. In his first meeting with officers and men of the Area Command
the new Controller urged the officers to brace up for greater challenges, especially
in the area
of revenue collection, with a view to meeting the Command's revenue target
of N5 Billion as set by the Customs Headquarters in Abuja. Comptroller Bello
specifically informed the officers that he will set revenue target to each
unit of the Command. [DC 29/01/10]
Port-Harcourt Customs Command Generates
N22.235 Billion in 2009 - 22/01/10
Port Harcourt command of Nigeria Customs Services [NCS] said it generated
over N22.235 billion to the Federal Account in 2009. Comptroller A.A. Warikoru
said that the total revenue collected by the command in 2009 was an improvement
from the N16.937 billion collected by the command in 2008. The revenue
figure
of last year shows an increase of about N5.3 billion or 31.29%. The Customs
chief also disclosed that the command recorded the highest monthly revenue
collection ever in the history of the command last December. A breakdown
of the monthly performance of the command in revenue collection shows that
the Command performed best from the months of August to December. [DC 22/01/10]
Federal
government targets $10 Billion From Non Oil Export - 22/01/10
The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council [NEPC],
Mr. David Adulugba has said the country's non-oil export is expected to
generate $10 billion as earnings this year. He said the council will contribute
significantly
to the nation's Gross Domestic Product [GDP]. Adulugba said more attention
will be given to product development, human capital development and cooperation
with multi- lateral institutions, sensitization workshop and the establishment
of public-private partnership. [TD 22/01/10]
Federal government establishes
Solid Minerals Buying Centres - 23/01/10
Federal government said it has established seven mineral purchasing centres
across the country to facilitate the export of solid mineral products.
As part of measures to step-up development of the mining sector, the Miners
Association of Nigeria said it would be worthwhile if government deploys
some of the Millennium Development Goals [MDG] funds to promote mining
activities
in the country. The Chief Environmental Officer, Artisinal and Small Scale
Mining in the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Yanusa Mohammed
said the Ministry
is also encouraging the formation of cooperatives by miners in order to enable
them pulls their resources together for sustainable mining activities.
According
to him, the Ministry decided to embark of the training programme in collaboration
with the World Bank Project Office in order to enable Nigerians
avail themselves of the economic opportunities inherent in the mining of
Gemstones. He said the aim is to expose the local gemstone miners to some of
the modern
technologies and worldwide practice for the mining of the product so that
they learn a better of carrying out their mining operation. [TD 23/01/10]
Federal
government to Ban Tankers From Kaduna Metropolis - 31/01/10
The Federal Government said that it would stop petroleum tankers from plying
Kaduna metropolitan roads from March. Dr Lawal Hassan, the Minister of Works,
announced this while inspecting the Kaduna Eastern By-pass project. He said
such tankers from Kaduna Refinery would be barred from the township roads
as soon
as the 16km Abuja-Kachia Highway was inaugurated in March. He said the importance
of the by-pass could not be over emphasised because it would decongest Kaduna
township roads and promote safety of its residents. [DT 31/01/10]
Federal government
renews Hope On Lagos – Kano Railway Project - 25/01/10
The Federal Government has restated the need to kick-start the first phase
of the Nigerian railway modernisation project on the Lagos-Kano axis. The Minister
of Finance Dr. Mansur Muhtar, meeting with a visiting delegation from China’s
Export Import Bank to Nigeria, expressed confidence that the visit would enable
the technical teams from both countries to finalise
arrangements for the drawdown of the $500m concessional loan for the railway
project, which was earlier granted by China to Nigeria.
The minister said that
the visit was coming on the heels of the visit of Chinese Foreign Minister
to Nigeria and added that practical steps could now be taken
to actualise the loan facility and kick start the railway modernisation project.
Also lending his voice to the urgency of the project, the Minister of Transport,
Alhaji Ibrahim Bio, added that the government had met its obligation by providing
the counterpart funding in the supplementary budget and it was therefore
keen for China to effect a drawdown on the $500m loan. [PU 25/01/10]
Federal government moves To Tackle Wrecks
On Waterways - 24/01/10
The Federal Government has re-iterated its readiness to work towards the
elevation of the country from its current status in the international maritime
industry.
The International Maritime Organisation [IMO] Council currently rates Nigeria
among the 'Category C' countries due to the untidiness of its waterways. Minister
of Transport Alhaji Ibrahim Isa Bio said that the country would take a bold
step in the direction of attaining the more prestigious Category 'B'
status in the foreseeable future. The Minister stressed the need to clear the
navigational channels of barges, boats, and abandoned vessels, which, according
to him, constitute hazard to safe navigation in the Nigerian waters. [TG 24/01/10]
Nigeria's
Bilateral Trade Volume With India Hits $10 Billion - 15/01/10
Trade relations between Nigerian and India may be on the upswing, as both
countries have initiated steps to promote bilateral economic ties, which
have so far
raised the trade volume between the two countries to $10 billion.
Lagos State
Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, at the West Africa-Indian Trade and Economic
Forum, said, the possibility of increased market access opportunities
between India and countries within the sub-region, interms of improved terms
of trade, would be imperative to increase production efficiency and competitiveness
through infrastructural development. He added that it is important and necessary
to address market access constraints as well as Non-Tariff Barriers [NTB]
that hinder the free movement of goods and services across the region's frontiers,
as particular attention should be paid to the inherent supply side constraints
in the West African Community in the course of the business forum. [TG 15/01/10]
Maritime Security Agency Bill Passes Second
Reading - 21/12/09
The controversial Maritime Security Agency [MSA] Bill has passed a second reading
at the House of Representatives, a development that may likely bring about
an amendment in the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency [NIMASA]
Act. The bill has been given an accelerated legislative process and once
passed could see some functions of NIMASA being stripped. The core functions
of five other agencies under the Ministry of Transport could also be affected.
[VAN 21/12/09]
Maritime Bank Takes Off in Abuja This
Year - 07/01/10
The Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa Development Bank will
take off in Abuja in Q1 of 2010. A property has been secured in Abuja to
accommodate the bank. The organisation will also establish a Regional Coast
Guard Network
to address environmental pollution as well as enforce IMO conventions like
Safety of Life At Sea. A zonal coordinator has been appointed for the Coast
Guard Network which is expected to take off before the end of January 2010.
[DI 07/01/10]
Government Moves to Reconstruct Dikwa-Gamboru-Ngala
Road - 09/01/01
Borno State Government has proposed construction and rehabilitation of federal
roads linking the country through the state to neighbouring countries of
Niger, Chad and Cameroon. Under a new bill the 147km Dikwa-Gamboru-Ngala
road is ecpected
to be constructed during 2010. [TD 09/01/10]
Nigeria Signs US$81.2m Contract For Rehabilitation
Of Jebba-Kano Railway Line - 30/12/09
The Nigerian Federal Government has signed a contract with engineering
firm Costain West Africa Ltd for the rehabilitation of the Jebba-Kano
rail line.
The contract, worth US$81.2 million is to be completed in 10 months.
Speaking at the signing ceremony on 29/12/09, Minister of Transport Alhaji
Isa Bio
said other contracts had been awarded as part of a comprehensive effort
to revitalise
rail transport in the country. The first phase of the rehabilitation
will be from Lagos to Jebba while the second phase from Jebba to Kano.
[NNN-NAN
30/12/09]
Cotecna Tests Fixed Scanner - 30/12/09
Cotecna performed a test run on the first ever fixed scanner to be installed
in Nigeria last month. The fixed scanner is to replace the mobile scanner
that has been in place for some years now and currently in use at Apapa Port.
The new equipment is expected to process information faster and produced
better images and unlike the mobile scanner, offers a dual view highlighting
both side and overhead images [9 MeV Dual View].The new scanner is much more
powerful and robust with a high penetration level which results in better
quality images. This will allow Customs a much higher level of accuracy in
image analysis and decision making. Managing Director of Cotecna Destination
Inspection Limited [CDIL], Tayo Rabiu, stated that the fixed scanner [the
first in sub-Saharan Africa] would be officially commissioned in February
2010 after some finetuning.
Work on a second fixed scanner site located at Ashaye at the Tin Can Island
Port Complex is also at an advanced stage and should be ready in Q1 of 2010.
[TG 30/12/09]
Maritime Association To Build Truck Terminal
- 30/12/09
The Maritime Truck Owners Association is seeking N7bn to build a truck terminal.
The association has completed discussions with the Lagos State Government
on the location of the terminal at Ijora in Lagos which is expected to
accommodate
2,000 or more dry-cargo trucks operating in the ports. The construction of
the terminal would be a solution to the perennial traffic problems on the
access roads to Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports. Earlier the Federal Ministry
of Transport
had written to the government to ensure the truck terminal became reality
by asking it to give the necessary approval. [Next 30/12/09]
APMT Terminal Handles 545,000 Cargo In
2008 - 10/12/09
APMT Terminal Apapa Limited has disclosed that terminal cargo throughput has
increased from about 280,000 in 2006 to
about 545,000 in 2008, whilst vessel turnaround time has also improved from
about 170hrs to 59.4hrs in the same period.
This was announced at a Bureau of Public Enterprises [BPE] Post-Privatization
Monitoring visit to the terminal. The
concessionaires also noted expenditure of US$179 million in the acquisition
of cargo handling equipment and infrastructure
development at the Apapa Container Terminal since 2006.
On the flip side there remain unresolved post
implementation issues with the government including the slow reaction to
concessionaires' requests for tug and pilot services as contained in the
concession agreement and lost revenue as a
significant part of the concession area is still occupied by tenants causing
loss of revenue due to lost capacity. On dredging,
the dredging to a depth of 13.5m of the quay channels by the government as
contained in the concession agreement is yet
to commence. The government, also responsible for quay wall maintenance,
are also preventing larger, more modern and
productive quay side equipment as the current quay strength is insufficient
to accommodate such equipment.
After the visit the Director General of BPE assured
the concessionaire that government will cooperate with them to ensure
that government objectives for the reform and concession of the ports are
fully realized. [DC 10/12/09]
APM Terminals Install N52 Million Crane
Simulator at Apapa Port - 18/11/09
APM Terminals Apapa Limited has installed a new modern, state-of-the-art crane
simulator with a view to making the
container terminal more efficient. The new simulator, the first of its kind
in West and Central African sub-region, was installed
at a cost of N52.5m to train crane operators on the usage of sophisticated
terminal equipment such as the Ship to Shore
[STS] and Rubber Tyred Gantry [RTG] Cranes which are in use at the terminal.
The simulator was installed by India's ARI
Simulation Company. [VAN 18/11/09]
Absence Of Infrastructure Threatens US$8
Billion Lekki Port Project - 18/11/09
The promoters of the proposed US$8 bn Lekki port [www.lekkiport.com], the first
deep sea port in Nigeria, have urged the
federal and the Lagos State governments to help in the provision of basic infrastructure.
Haresh Aswani, Managing Director
of Lagos Free Trade Zone [LFTZ], which is promoting the port project within
the zone, noted there was need for the
provision of road and rail network for quick and easy evacuation of goods from
the port that is expected to commence
operations in 2012. He said although the Government had
already constituted a committee to look at the issue of
infrastructure in the area for the benefit of the port, there
was need to fast track action on infrastructural development
as the port would, no doubt serve as a hub port for the
entire West African sub-region on completion. Aswani said
there was need to expand the existing Lekki road to make it
a 6-lane road, and has canvassed for the construction of a
new road from Lekki to link other areas in the country so
that goods could be moved out of the port without passing
through the Lagos metropolis that is often characterised by
traffic jam.
Lekki port's technical drawings have now been
approved by
the Nigerian Ports Authority as has the Environmental
Impact Assessment [EIA] by the Federal Ministry of
Environment. [TG 18/11/09]
New Maritime Security Agency? - 09/12/09
The House of Representatives has thrown its weight behind moves to strip the
Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety
Agency [NIMASA] of its maritime security function. The house noted that the
agency has failed over the year to provide
security for the industry and that NIMASA should be allowed to concentrate
on its primary duties of dealing with Cabotage
matters, developing the shipping industry and overseeing the safety measures
of the equipment used therein.
A new entity would then focus on improving maritime security technology, identifying
threats and reviewing security
requirements well beyond the International Ship and Port Facility Security
[ISPS] Code. The agency would likely to be funded by a 1% reduction of NIMASA’s
income which it gets from 3% charges on freight collected from all imports and
exports goods. [VAN 09/12/09]
NIMASA, IMSO Signs LRIT Agreement on Maritime
Safety, Security - 26/11/09
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency [NIMASA] has signed
the Long Range Identification Tracking
System [LRIT] Services Agreement with International Mobile Satellite Organization
[IMSO] in London UK. The essence of
the agreement is to further safe guard and secure the Nigerian maritime domain.
The LRIT system will improve maritime
safety and security, including monitoring transit and operations of ships in
the area.
The Nigeria National Data Centre is in the process
of testing and is expected to be integrated shortly. This will bring the total
number of LRIT Data Centres integrated by the end of 2009 to 48 overall.
These Centres integrate more than 80% of the
world's registered fleet. [VAN 26/11/09]
Self Assessment/Up-Front Customs Duty Payment
Procedure - 29/10/09
Under a new system, effective from 19/10/09, all Importers or Agents
in Lagos Ports will be required to do self-assessment by themselves,
generate
Assessment
Slips and make Payments in Duty Collecting Banks. The Banks will in turn
confirm the payment electronically into the ASYCUDA Systems before the
transactions will be registered by Customs. After payment, Agents will
be required to
proceed to the Front desks of the Customs Processing Centres, for processing
and release. If discrepancies are found in the process of
Scanning or physical examination, Demand Notices [DN’s] will be raised,
and additional assessment made. Importer/Agent pays in the Bank before
Customs Release. The new procedure will become operational in all ASYCUDA++
sites
by 05/11/09. [UKTI 29/10/09]
Revised SONCAP Exempted Products List -
27/10/09
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Program [SONCAP]
identifies those goods which pose the highest risk to consumers in Nigeria
and ensure that their claims of safety are verified before they are exported
to Nigeria. Since 01/09/05 the SONCAP has become mandatory for products
within its scope. These products are known as Regulated Products and failure
by exporters to
comply with the SONCAP in relation to these products may result in the rejection
of goods or additional testing and delays at Nigerian ports. SONCAP is independent
of and additional to any existing import processes such as PSI.
A Product Certificate and a SONCAP Certificate
are both mandatory clearance documents for Regulated Products in addition to
any PSI documentation.
From 05/09/09 SONCAP extended the list of products
under its remit.
Products that are exempt from the SONCAP are listed here - revised on 22/10/09.
US$15 Million Bonded Terminal Planned For
Ondo State - 18/10/09
Singapore Business Federation [SBF www.sbf.org.sg], plans to build a 7,000
teu container terminal in Ondo State, as per a Memorandum of Understanding
[MoU] signed between Pacific International Lines [PIL], Singapore and Hull
Blyth, UK. The project which is to be known as the Stellar Bonded Terminal
will be worth US$15 million. The project, part of a decongestion exercise by
the port, includes approval from the Ministry of Transport and the Managing
Director of the Nigerian Railways Corporation to construct a rail line from
Apapa terminal, Lagos that will link the existing line running to Ondo State.
This is one of the first bonded terminals outside the city of Lagos, as most
inland depots are currently located within the city. [VAN 18/10/09]
IMO Audits Country's Maritime Sector -
22/09/09
The International Maritime Organization [IMO www.imo.org] has commenced the
preliminary auditing of the Nigerian maritime sector preparatory to the bi-annual
auditing of all member states. As such Transport Minister Ibrahim Isa Bio
charged the new Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency [NIMASA]
management
to ensure that the 70% participation reserved for Nigerians by IMO in the
Cabotage administration is adhered to. Bio also directed NIMASA to make
the registration
process of ships more conducive to practitioners in order to increase Nigeria's
tonnage as well as ensure adequate steps are taken to ensure that Nigerian
waters are properly secured and conducive for navigation. [DT 22/09/09]
Low Business Activities At Eastern Ports
- 24/09/09
Low business activities at the Eastern Ports, comprising Warri, Port Harcourt,
Onne and Calabar have continued to be a source of concern among stakeholders
in the industry. Business has remained low in spite of the huge investments
by private operators, who won concessions in the various terminals and
operators lament that a lot of ship owners refuse to go to the eastern
ports because
of inadequate infrastructure and the fear of running aground due to low draughts.
A seminar themed, "The Economic Imperatives
of Reviving Eastern Ports," was held on 29/09/09 aimed at reviving the
eastern ports economic activities. Tony Anenih, Board of Directors Nigerian
Ports Authority [NPA], chaired the event. Also present was managing director
of NPA, Abdul Sallam Mohammed and participants from manufacturers association,
terminal operators, freight forwarders, stevedoring companies, service providers,
port administrators of the concerned ports, importers and other stakeholders.
[DI 24/09/09]
Lekki Port Gets MOE Full EIA Approval
- 11/10/09
Lekki Port [www.lekkiport.com], located within the Lagos Free Trade Zone [LFTZ],
has received Environmental Impact Assessment [EIA] approval from the Federal
Ministry of Environment [MOE].
Project Director, Peter Banham said, “We are delighted to receive this
approval from the Federal Ministry of Environment, as this signifies our commitment
not just to the construction but also to the rules stipulated by the government.
We are aware of the possible harm of such a large scale project to the local
way of life of the host communities and the environment, but we are committed
to ensuring the lowest possible negative impact during and after construction,
and when operations at the Port commence.”
The Lekki Port when completed will be the deepest
port in West Africa. It is situated within the Lagos Free Trade Zone, a privately
owned venture located
approximately 60km east of the city of Lagos. The new Port is projected to
be completed by the last quarter of 2012, will have a final draft of 16.5m
and will be able to accommodate large container vessels with a capacity of
about 8,500 teu. It will also handle general and bulk cargoes, liquid commodities
and tankers of up to 160,000 dwt. [VAN 11/10/09]
Minister Assures On Domestication
of IMO Legislations - 24/09/09
Minister of Transport, Ibrahim Bio, has assured that the Federal Government
has resolved to domesticate the International Maritime Organisation [IMO]
legislations and conventions. The ratification and domestication of international
maritime
treaties is an important part of the international maritime activities.
Nigeria has so far ratified about 40 conventions and protocols of the IMO
while the
process of domesticating them in order to make them part of the Nigerian
municipal laws are ongoing. [DI 24/09/09]
FG Raises Tariff On Imported Tyres to 40%
- 04/10/09
President Yar'Adua has approved the upward review of tariffs on all tyre imports
into Nigeria to 40% from the current rate of 10%. The directive has been
conveyed to the Minister of Finance for immediate implementation. The Government
hopes the measure will revitalise activities in the tyre manufacturing sub-sector.
[LD 04/10/09]
Customs Begins Gradual Take Over of Scanning
Operations - 05/08/09
Assistant Comptroller General, Salisu Argungun, has announced that the Nigeria
Customs Service [NCS] is preparing officers to take over scanning operations
across the nation's seaports, airports and border posts. Scanning contracts
currently run with Cotecna, SGS, and Global Scan. Training commenced 3-months
ago with a view to transferring the handling of scanners and its operations.
A move initiated to maximise revenue for the government. [VAN 05/08/09]
Nigeria To Establish A Coast Guard - 05/08/09
The Senate Committee on Marine Transport is to establish a Coast Guard in
Nigeria. The bill is expected to create a Nigerian Coast Guard to carry
out flag and
port state control functions without undermining the relevance of the Nigerian
Maritime Administration and Safety Agency [NIMASA], which is Nigeria's focal
point in maritime safety administration matters. Establishing a coast guard
is viewed as a move to stem the rising tide of insecurity on Nigerian waters.
According to the International Maritime Bureau pirate attacks more than
doubled
in the first half of the year to 240 compared with 114 in the first six months
of 2008. Nigeria ranks second only to the notorious Somalia on the list of
countries prone to piracy and sea robbery attacks. [DI 05/08/09]
Omatseye Replaces Dosunmu As Nimasa Boss
- 08/07/09
Shamsideen Dosunmu has been replaced by Raymond Temisanre Omatseye as Director-General
of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency [NIMASA]. Danjuma
Dabo, Director Finance and Administration and Henry Abebe, Director, Maritime
Labour and Cabotage Services were also relieved of
their appointments replaced by Adeniran Aderogba and Ibrahim Zailani respectively.
Ishyaku Shekarau, who was in charge of Maritime Safety and Shipping Development
remains. [VAN 08/07/09]
Government Generates Revenue From Onne
Ports - 07/07/09
The federal government received a total of US$51.638-million from the concessionaires
of the Onne Ports Complex from 2006 to 2009 according to the Bureau of Public
Enterprises [BPE]. A breakdown of the fees paid to BPE / Nigerian Ports Authority
[NPA] are: commencement fee US$10.3 million; lease fee US$13.735 million;
throughput fee US$12.317 million; and land industrial area fee US$15.286
million. [DT 07/07/09]
Onne Port Oil Terminal Works - 07/07/09
Brawal Oil Services Ltd Terminal has spent US$13.5 million for the reconstruction
and reinforcement of the quay apron at the oil terminal at Onne Port. The NPA
is also undertaking dredging of the channel to a draft depth of between 7.5-8.5m
but is far below the 13.5m outlined in the concession agreement. [DT 07/07/09]
Lack of Tug Boats Frustrate Eastern Ports'
Concessionaires' Efforts - 14/07/09
Effort of terminal operators to revive the already moribund Eastern ports with
heavy financial investments are being frustrated by the Mallam Abdulsalam Mohammed
led management of the Nigerian Ports Authority [NPA] which has refused to allocate
tug boats to the ports in the region. Already, the only functional tug boat
at Port Harcourt Port has broken down forcing shipping companies to look for
alternative elsewhere. Other ports in the Eastern region do not have tug boats
at all.
Terminal operators believe that the failure of
NPA to provide tug boats in the Eastern Ports is slowing down their efforts
at reviving the ports of Port
Harcourt, Warri and Calabar. All the ports are seeing business expansion but
the lack of tugs is reported to be impeding growth. Shipping companies have
complained they are forced to hire private tugs even though the NPA is paid
for their provision.
For example the only tug at Port Harcourt Port that was functional before has
broken down and that shipping companies are forced to source for the equipment
from private operators at high cost.
The cheery news is that the private investments are paying off as the ports
have recorded over 200% increase in business performance.
However, the Port Manager of Port Harcourt Port,
Dele Alabi noted that there is a standby tug boat, the ‘Balassa’, in service and that two others
will soon go for repairs. [VAN 14/07/09]
Uniform Duty Rates For Vehicle Imports
- 15/07/09
The Nigeria Customs Service [NCS] has introduced a uniform import duty rate
on imported vehicles based on ex-factory price, a development that hopes
to eliminate indiscriminate duties. The duty rate before the newly introduced
ex-factory rate fell between 10-35% depending on the age of the vehicle.
The age limit for any vehicle to be imported to the country is at present
10 years.
Outlined in Memorandum NCS/T4T/I&E/067S.4/VOL.X all commands are to comply
with the ex-factory price [US$] for Customs duty collection. The Memo also
contained a progressive reduction of import duty on vehicles of various age
as indicated:
•
Vehicles > 3-months with Odometer reading > 3,000 miles but <1-year
= 10% duty rate
•
Vehicles >1-year but <2-years = 20%
•
Vehicles >2-years, but <3-years = 30%
•
Vehicles >3-years but <4-years = 40%
•
Vehicles > 4-years and above = 50%
The memorandum also noted that importers of used
vehicles must produce documentary evidence showing model and cubic capacity
vehicles which should be obtained
from the vendor. [VAN 15/07/09]
New Legislation On Sale of Used Tyres
- 02/07/09
A bill seeking to "prohibit the use of second hand tyres in Nigeria and
the need to ensure expiring date in newly manufactured tyres" has passed
through a second reading at the House of Representatives. The bill also stated
that a maximum of 3-years be fixed as the expiring date and also to ensure
that the quality of the tyres meets international standard of 6-8mm tread thickness.
[DT 02/07/09]
NIMPORT Expo - 28/06/09
The forthcoming Nigeria Maritime Ports and Terminal [NIMPORT] Expo is to address
energy costs, logistics, shipping, ports infrastructure development, customs
reform, inland terminal and waterways development and security issues amongst
others. Endorsed by the West Africa and Central Africa Port Management the
event will also host an African summit for ports, terminals and harbors development
creating an unprecedented gathering for business networking and showcasing
products and services. [VAN 28/06/09]
Lekki Free Port Zone - 28/06/09
The new Port at Lekki which is expected to be completed by the last Quarter
of 2012 has been designed to have a final draft of 16.5m and accordingly will
be able to accommodate large container vessels with a capacity of about 8,500
TEUs and in addition would be able to handle general and bulk cargoes, liquid
commodities and tankers up to 160,000 dwt.
The Lekki Port is situated within the Lagos Free Trade Zone, a privately owned
venture located approximately 60km east of the city of Lagos. The zone when
fully completed will incorporate a ‘live, work and play’ concept
with a state-of the art infrastructure, petrochemical plant, a refinery, industrial
park and world class facilities. [VAN 28/06/09]
Scanner To Be Installed In Tin Can - 25/05/09
Managing Director of Cotecna Nigeria, Tayo Rabiu, has disclosed that another
fixed scanner would be
installed at the Tin Can Island port by the first quarter of 2010.
Cotecna has also engaged the services of a port specialist, who is currently
carrying out a Gap Analysis on
the 48-hr cargo clearance policy. In keeping with the agreement signed between
service providers and the
Federal Government, Rabiu said Cotecna is committed to building the capacity
of the Nigeria Customs
Service in the area of destination inspection, adding that all the equipment
being installed would be handed
over to Customs at the expiration of its contract. [TD 25/05/09]
Dockworkers Threaten to Shut Onne Ports
- 11/05/09
Aggrieved dockworkers of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria [MWUN], have
threatened to shut down activities at Onne Port, Rivers state, within the
next 2-weeks over alleged underpayment of salaries and benefits to them by
terminal operators and stevedoring companies. "Our grievance is drawn
from the ongoing practice of terminal operators who in disregard of the 'Ports
Act' which in part stipulates that 'payment or cargo discharged or work done
should be based on Tonnage and or Cubic Measurements depending on which is
higher. Unfortunately, this aspect is not used in practice. What obtains
is the situation where we are paid in tonnage terms even when our work is
on cubic measurement which is mostly higher. As a result of the above, wages
due to us from services we have rendered is drastically reduced and we end
up being short changed.” President-General of MWUN, Comrade Nted Anthony
Emmanuel noted that the union is making efforts to resolve the issue before
it degenerates. [VAN 11/05/09]
Julius Berger Begins Lekki Bridge, Badagry
Road Upgrade With N10 Billion - 18/05/09
The sum of N10 billion has been released by the Lagos State Government to
Julius Berger Plc, towards the execution of two major infrastructure development
projects
in the city. The projects include the expansion of the Eric Moore-Mile 2
Road] which is the initial leg of the multi-billion-naira, multi-phase Lagos-Badagry
Expressway rehabilitation scheme] as well as the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge
[connecting
Lekki Peninsular Scheme I with Osborne Road in Ikoyi].[DI 18/05/09]
Ports Decongestion Task Force To Move Containers
From Lagos - 21/04/09
About 300 long stay containers have been moved from Lagos to Onne as part of
the government port
decongestion programme. Further containers may be moved also to Ikorodu, an
NPA site in Lagos
previously used for import decongestion exercises. Waiting times in Lagos ports
have reduced to around 5
days from 20 days in February, mainly as a result of market volume reductions
in first quarter of 2009. [Local
Agent 21/04/09]
Nigerian Government Lifts Ban On Vegetable
Oil Imports - 17/04/09
Commerce and industry minister Chief Achike Udenwa has confirmed that the Nigerian
government has lifted the ban on the importation of raw vegetable oil. The ban
on refined vegetable oil is still in place. Under the new policy, importation
of raw vegetable oils now attracts 35% import duties.
[TD 17/04/09]
NSC to Partner FRSC in Establishing Truck
Transit Parks - 16/04/09
Management of the Nigerian Shippers Council [NSC] is to collaborate with Federal
Road Safety Commission [FRSC] in the establishment of Truck Transit Parks across
the nation. Seven locations - Mararaba Forest in Kaduna State, Lokoja in Kogi
State, Onitsha in Anambra State, Ogere in Ogun State, and Port Novo Creek in
Lagos State - have been selected for phase one of the project. [DI 16/04/09]
Oando Begins Work on 210,000 Mt Lekki Terminal
Project - 13/04/09
Oando plc [www.oandoplc.com] announced that it has started work on the development
of a refined petroleum products import terminal located at the Lekki Free Trade
Zone [LFTZ]. The company has commissioned Front End Engineering Design [FEED]
of the terminal scheduled to be completed by the third quarter of 2009, whilst
the entire project is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2012.
The 210,000 metric tons [MT] capacity terminal is to be the largest purpose built
product terminal in the sub- Saharan Africa, with facilities to dispatch over
500 trucks per day in what is set to revolutionise petroleum products distribution
in Nigeria. The Lekki Terminal Project will have a Single Point Mooring [SPM]
facility located about 7-km offshore, which will support the berthing of 80,000
deadweight tonnage [dwt] vessels for the first time in West Africa.
Chief Executive Officer, Oando Refinery and Terminals,
Ayo Ajose-Adeogun, said, "This project will have a direct impact on the
downstream sector of the nation's petroleum industry, as it will radically
reduce the traffic to Apapa port, which was originally built to handle only
10% of Nigeria 's energy import requirements, as against the 90% does today." [DI
13/04/09]
Osun Free Trade Zone For Commissioning
Soon - 13/04/09
The first phase of the Osun State multi-million naira free trade zone [OFTZ]
will be commissioned before the year runs out according to the State Governor,
Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola. On full completion, the zone which will have eight
phases, will cost US$65 million and generate about 450,000 jobs. [TD 13/04/09]
Lekki Free Trade Zone Funding - 12/04/09
The Lagos State government said it had set aside US$267m to help develop the
Lekki Free Trade Zone. The money would be contributed by the state government
and a Chinese consortium. The Chinese are expected to contribute a total
of US$200m while the state government would contribute the remaining US$67m.
The Free Trade Zone is part of a new port development project headed by the
Tolloram Group, with construction due to start in the 4th quarter 2009 for
completion 2012, with projected annual throughput of 1,000,000
TEU’s. [PU & Local Agent 12/04/09]
Government Threatens To Revoke Contract
For Lokoja Port - 01/04/09
The Nigerian Government has threatened to revoke the N2.3 billion contract
for the construction of the Lokoja port awarded to Phobe Engineering Company
Nigeria Ltd. The government has given the contractor a 1-month ultimatum to
perform or have the project terminated. Minister of Transport, Alhaji Ibrahim
Bio, has expressed disappointment with the pace of work during the last 2-years.
Contract for the construction of Lokoja port was awarded by the past administration
in 2007. He said: "Our patience is running out and we are giving the contractor
four weeks to address the issues." [TG 01/04/09]
Contractors Abandon The Dredging Of Calabar
Sea Port - 27/03/09
According to transport minister Alhaji Ibrahim Bio, contractors dredging Calabar
seaport have abandoned the
project. The contract covering some 86km, was awarded to two companies at €56million.
Work started in
2006 but stopped for undisclosed reasons. Since then the dredged areas have
re-silted making it necessary
to start the work again. The government intends to re-award the contract. [DT
27/03/09]
Plateau State ICD - 17/04/09
Management of Duncan Maritime Services the concessionaires of the Plateau
State Inland Container Depot
[ICD] has been given the certificate of occupancy to enable it to commence
construction work on the N5-
billion facility. The certificate was presented to the chairman of the company,
Air Vice-Marshal Abbas Umoru
by the transport minister, Alhaji Ibrahim Bio. The project has the capacity
to reduce the perennial congestion
in Lagos port as clients could clear goods outside of Lagos. [AA 17/04/09]
OTAL Launches New Weekly Service To Nigeria - 23/03/09 OT Africa Line is pleased to announce that it will now operate a weekly
container service to Lagos from all Northern European, Atlantic and Mediterranean
ports via Tangier.
For full details on this service please click here.
Nigeria Ports Update - March 2009
• 60-day ultimatum to decongest ports expires with close to 15,000 containers
still trapped at the terminal. Vessels waiting at anchorage to berth at APM
Terminals have now reduced to eight vessels from the usual average of 16
in the last few months. [see below article]
• The issuance of SEN [Ship Entry Notice] was suspended by NPA on 22/02/09,
to alleviate congestion supposedly till middle of April. However the order was
reversed on 04/03/09, after various meetings of stakeholders and letters
of
protest from different quarters including shipping lines. [see below article]
• ANCLA [Association of Nigerian Clearing Agents] went on a 3 days strike
from the 16-18/02/09. Several points were on their demand list: start charging
demurrage
from the date of the transfer of the container, refund of container deposit,
return of empties etc. etc. The Government has since imposed most of these
on Shipping Line Agents.
• Federal government orders auctioning of overtime cargo to decongest port,
but no real action had been taken yet.
• Government imposes demurrage concession on container delayed in transferred
to off dock.
• APM Terminal / Apapa: From the 4th of February 2009 till the 3rd of March,
berth 16 Apapa was closed for vessel operations due to on-going dredging
work. Dredging will continue with berth 17 and 18 but no firm date has been announced
and the new draft is still to be approve by the NPA.
• APM Terminal / Apapa: APM Terminals took delivery of four new Rubber
Tyred Gantry [see below article]
• TICT / Tin Can: Berth 3 in TICT is closed since 01/10/08, no date of
re-opening for the moment.
Four New Cranes Arrive At APM Terminal
/ Apapa - March 2009
APM Terminals took delivery of four new Rubber Tyred Gantry cranes whose worth
is estimated at over $7m as part of a programme to improve cargo handling at
Lagos’ ports. The four cranes from Germany’s Noel Crane Systems,
arrived on board a special purpose vessel following a four weeks voyage from
the factory in China. The equipment arrived on 02/03/09. As a result of this,
berth 16 will be re-opened for vessel traffic while berth 18 will be used for
the purpose of discharging and assembly of the equipment. These units are hoped
to be operational by May 2009.
Lagos State To Start Collecting Wharf Registration
Fees - 16/03/09
The Lagos State government is to soon start the collection of the controversial
wharf landing fees from trucks laden with containers within the Lagos metropolis.
The ‘Wharf Landing Bill’ was finally passed by the state house
of assembly [www.lagoshouseofassembly.gov.ng] after several months of debates
and accusations by the importers and clearing agents. The law, which seeks
to collect levies on goods cleared at the Lagos ports of Apapa and Tin Can
Island is the government’s way of accessing alternative funding for its
vast infrastructures.Company or freight forwarders that evade payment of the
appropriate fees shall be liable on conviction to a fine of N500, 000 in addition
to the wharf landing
fees. Also individuals would be liable on conviction to a fine of N100,000
in addition to the wharf landing fees.
The fees are expected to be:
•
N1,000 on 40-foot container
•
N500 on 20-foot container
•
Smaller containers: N300 each
•
Cars, sport utility vehicles and trucks: N300, N500 and N1000 respectively.
[NC 16/03/09]
60-Day Ultimatum to Decongest Ports Expires,
Congestion Still High - 12/03/09
Congestion still lingers even after the expiration of the 60 days given by
the Federal Government to decongest the ports. The Minister of Transport, Ibrahim
Bio, had on 06/01/09, conveyed the Federal Government directive for principal
stakeholders to immediately look for ways to decongest the nation's seaport
of cargo within 60 days at a stakeholders' forum. Current statistics at APM
Terminals, concessionaires of the Apapa container terminal, which is the largest
in the country, shows that close to 15,000 containers are still trapped at
the terminal. Other congested terminals also have varying number of containers.
Vessels waiting at anchorage to berth at APM Terminals have, however temporarily
reduced to eight vessels from the usual average of 16 in the last few months.
[DI 12/03/09]
Transport Minister Orders Rescinding Of
Some Port Charges - 11/03/09
Transport minister Alhaji Ibrahim Bio has ordered the Nigerian Shippers Council
[NSC] to enforce the termination of some port charges not approved by the government.
The charges imposed by the terminal operators at the nation’s seaports
are the off-dock facilities and bonded terminal fees. These include service
charges, bank charges, turnover charges, concessionaire service charges, tally
clerk, port administrative charges, ISPS Code charges and sorting charges.
The recommendation was contained in a report presented
by Adamu Biu, chairman of the ministerial committee and Nigerian Shippers Council
[NSC]. The committee
was set up by the minister to examine the petition written by freight forwarders
over arbitrary local charges by shipping companies and terminal operators.
The committee noted that delivery charge and terminal handling charges are
duplications, and therefore called for one to the dropped, while the other
is negotiated and that the transfer charges placed on transferring containers
from the terminal to off-dock facilities and bonded terminals should be negotiated
in favour of the consignee. [BD 04/03/09 & NC 11/03/09]
Port Harcourt Port Terminal 'A' Ready for
Business - March 2009
Ports and Terminal Operators Nigeria Limited [PTOL www.ptolnigeria.com] chairman,
Chief Dennis Okafor has official commissioned the new office complex at Terminal
'A' Port Harcourt port. Costain [WA] has built a 500m long stacking area
and access roads and Trevi Company for the 5m ocean reinforced quay walls.
NPA To Award Contract For Dredging Of Calabar
Channel - 16/03/09
The Nigerian Ports Authority [NPA] is set to award another contract for the dredging
of the Calabar channel three years after initial dredging of the 84km channel.
The initial contract executed by two Dutch dredging firms, Van Oord Nigeria [www.vanoord.com]
and Jan-de Aul was aimed at reviving the dying Calabar port removing some 25m
cubic metres of silt from the channel. Van Oord Nigeria dredged 40km along the
channel from the port at US$26.5million, while Jan de-Aul was mandated to dredge
46km along the same channel for US$30million. Calabar, eastern Nigeria’s
main port, is situated 83 km up the Calabar
River in the Niger Delta. [NC 16/03/09]
Customs And Copyright Commission Team Up
- 16/03/09
The Nigeria Customs Service [NCS] has concluded plans to team up with the Nigerian
Copyright Commission [NCC www.nigcopyright.org] to share intelligence that
would help combat counterfeiting and piracy. [TN 16/03/09]
Government Lifts Ban On Container Ships
- March 2009
The Federal Government has lifted the ban on vessels entering the Nigerian
seaport on 04/03/09 following an international outcry and the implication
of the decision on the Nigerian economy. The Director of Maritime Services
[Transport Ministry], Musa Karan was quoted as saying: “May I acknowledge
the various measures being taken by the terminal operators and other stakeholders
in support of government’s drive at
decongesting the ports. Government will
keep a close watch of activities in the port industry to ensure adherence to
development plan and objectives. In
the meantime, and with respect to public opinion, government has lifted the
temporary restriction on the issuance of ship entry notice to container vessels
in view of the cost implications, and in line with international best practices.”
Electronic booking and scheduling of trucks
planed
for Apapa port - 09/03/09
Operators of Terminals C and D at the Lagos Port
Complex in Apapa plan to commence electronic booking and scheduling of trucks
into its facilities by April 1
this year as part of efforts towards better control of vehicular movement.
ENL is the concessionaire at Terminal C and D [Note OTAL calls at APMT terminal,
Apapa].
The new system is hoped to enhance the turnaround time of vessels and boost
the delivery system at the terminal. As only business traffic should be in
the area the move hopes to reduce drastically the number of trucks that ply
Apapa port.
Nepza To Establish Warehouses In Neighbouring
West African States - 06/03/09
The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority [NEPZA www.nepza.gov.ng] has
revealed that it is to establish warehouses in Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso
for easy access to international markets. The aim is to enhance the extension
and development of free zones’ products to the region and beyond. The
project will be undertaken in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Commerce
and Industry, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council [www.nepcng.com] and NEPZA.
The move is hoped to guarantee expanded markets for Nigerian products, which
would in turn increase sales and exports to identified regional markets. [AA
06/03/09]
Nigeria: APM Terminal / Apapa - Berth 18
Closed For Crane Delivery - 05/03/09
Please note that APMT will introduce 4 brand new RTG (Rubber Tyred Gantry) mobile
cranes. The vessel 'BBC PLATA' carrying the RTG has berthed but is yet to commence
discharge of the equipment. As a result berth 16 will be re-opened for vessel
traffic while berth 18 will be used to discharge and assemble the equipment.
Please click
here for pictures of the vessel/equipment.
Yar'Adua Approves Duty Removal On Beverages,
Noodles - 23/02/09
President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has approved the removal of the 5% excise duty
on non-alcoholic beverages, juices, and instant noodles introduced last October
in order to lessen the burden on local manufacturers. [TD 23/02/09]
NDCC’s - Government Removes Major
Barrier for Exporters - 17/02/09
The Federal Government has removed the bank guarantee requirement for exporters,
giving them unfettered access to Negotiable Duty Credit Certificates [NDCC’s]
in a bid to encourage export and stimulate the non-oil sector of the economy.
The NDCC, also known as Export Expansion Grants [EEG], enables an exporter
to offset part or whole of the Customs and Excise duties payable to the government.
[TD 17/02/09]
River Niger Dredging - 02/02/09
Van Oord has been awarded a contract for dredging a navigation channel in
the River Niger. The first phase comprises of capital dredging and construction
of groins and installation of hundreds of navigation buoys. More than 500,000
tonnes of rock have to be handled. The second phase is scheduled to be two
years maintenance dredging after completion of the first phase. Two cutter
suction dredgers will be working together on the project. The total contract
value amounts to EUR 125 million. [Van Oord 02/02/09]
Tony Anineh Appointed As New Chair Of Nigerian
Ports Authority - 27/01/09
Former works minister Chief Tony Anenih has been appointed as the new chairman
of the Nigeria Ports
Authority [NPA]. Alhaji Abdulkadir Kure, the immediate past governor of Niger
State, is to be the new
chairman of the governing board of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency; Mr
Dumo Lulu-Briggs is the
chairman of the National Maritime Academy and Mr Emmanuel Aguaria-Ewodo is
the chairman of the Niger-
Delta River Basin Authority. [TD 27/01/09]
Ports Decongestion Task Force To Move 15,000
Containers From Lagos - 21/01/09
Nigeria’s Task Force on Port Decongestion is set to remove over 15,000
abandoned containers at the Lagos
ports. Wale Adeniyi, the national public relations officer of Nigeria Customs
Service, said that the decision to
move the containers was reached after a meeting held by the Customs Service,
the Nigerian Ports Authority,
the terminal operators and other stakeholders in Lagos. Mr Adeniyi said that
the containers would be moved
to the Ikorodu Terminal and other bonded terminals in Lagos where there are
enough storage facilities. The
containers would be moved amid heavy escorts and tight security by both Customs
officers and the police.
Adeniyi also said that government had decided that rather than impounding the
containers, it would give
concessions to the owners to clear them. President Umaru Yar’Adua had given
a 60-day ultimatum in January to transport minister Alhaji Ibrahim Bio
and finance minister Dr Mukhtar Mansur to ensure that the Lagos ports are decongested.
[NC 21/01/09]
Transport Ministry Introduces Charges
For Port Storage - 27/01/09
Transport minister Alhaji Ibrahim Isa Bio has endorsed the introduction of
progressive storage charges to
discourage importers from using the ports as storage facilities for containers.
Transport ministry sources
explained that the minister gave his backing to the measure at a meeting
he held with key actors in the port
system. Alhaji Bio is to revert as details of the storage penalty is still
being finalized between the ministry and
APM Terminals. Late last year, AP Moller Terminals waived about N1.5bn storage
charges as an incentive
for importers to take delivery of their containers at the ports. The waiver,
which was commended by industry
operators, was part of measures to decongest the ports. [NC 27/01/09]
Customs Agents Threaten To Withdraw Freight
Services - 04/02/09
The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents [Ancla] has given the federal
government a 72-hour
ultimatum to address the deficiencies in port operations. Ancla is discontented
with the operations of the
concessionaires and shipping companies and the non-implementation of the communiqué issued
at the
recently concluded stakeholders’ forum. Ancla said it would withdraw
all freight services at all the nation’s
ports and borders as from 09/02/09 if the demand was not met. Demands include
the complete
removal/abolition of the container deposit charge and the prompt refund of
container deposits. [PU 04/02/09]
Van Oord Wins Contract To Deepen Niger
River - 04/02/09
Van Oord has been awarded a €125-million contract for dredging a 226km
navigation channel in the River
Niger from Warri to the train terminal in Baro in Central Nigeria. The project
is being split into two phases
and will start in September 2009. The first phase comprises capital dredging
and construction of groynes and
installation of hundreds of navigation buoys. The second phase will consist
of 2-years of maintenance
dredging after completion of the first phase. Two cutter suction dredgers will
be working together on the
project. [Dredging News 04/02/09]
Lagos State Government Road Project -
02/02/09
The Lagos State government is entering into a N90m project to improve the
Ijora road link to the Lily Pond
area of Apapa about 3-miles from the port. Access has been a big issue with
transporters and clearing
agents so this project will involve improving the access road to the terminal.
There is increasing challenge to
improve both road and rail connection from Apapa Port to the off dock terminal.
[TN 02/02/09]
Government Insists Railway Contract With
China Remains Suspended - 28/01/09
Nigeria’s federal government has not lifted the suspension of the US$8.2-billion
railway contract awarded to
Chinese companies according to transport minister Ibrahim Isa Bio.
“
I have been reading in the newspapers, reports which say that the railway contract
with the Chinese firms
had been revived. Far from it. I came in as a minister and what I met on my
table is a contract that has been
suspended. They have not been paid for 3-months. The contract of the team’s
consultants is almost being
terminated,” he added.
Government to begin repairing rail locomotives
next month - 13/02/09
Transport minister Ibrahim Bio has announced that the repairing of 100 locomotive
engines owned by the
Nigerian Railway Corporation will commence in March. Alhaji Bio said that a
blueprint for the job has already
been drawn up. He added: “By next month, repairs of the locomotive engines
and the narrow gauge will
commence.” The minister, who said that a train service from Lagos to
Kano would become functional very
soon, expressed the government’s commitment to revitalise the nation’s
transport system. [TD 13/02/09]
Government To Proceed With Railway Rehabilitation
Plan - 19/01/08
The federal government has rescinded its decision to suspend the execution
of the US$8.5bn contract for the
rehabilitation of Nigeria’s railways. Transport minister Alhaji Ibrahim
Bio, said the government had now
decided that the project cannot be abandoned at this stage and as such should
be reactivated. He said the
government’s policy reversal came after 5-hours of meeting with the Chinese
firm, CCECC and the
consultants handling the project. A team of experts agreed that while the present
narrow gauge rail tracks will
not be abandoned, any new track will be the modern, faster and conventional
standard gauge rail tracks. A
similar committee of experts raised by the ministry under the immediate former
minister, had faulted the
implementation of the railway project on the grounds that the contract did
not follow due process,
recommending instead that government undertakes the rehabilitation of the existing
narrow gauge rail line.
[TD 19/01/08]
World Bank To Help With Development Of
E-Payments In Maritime - 06/01/09
The Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding [CRFFN] is to partner
the World Bank to develop epayments
for all transactions in the maritime sector. Iju Tony Nwabunike, the chairman
of the council,
explained that the World Bank would provide the necessary technology for a
swipe card, which would be
used to access other operational areas in the ports. The swipe card would be
used for payment of port
related bills such duty on imported goods, demurrage and others. Identity cards
would be issued to
registered members.
Nwabunike explained that the council would work
closely with the management of the Nigerian Ports
Authority [NPA], Nigeria Customs Service [NCS] and other agencies operating
in the port to ensure that the
objective is achieved. According to him: “When the e-card becomes operational
before the end of the first
quarter of 2009, it would greatly reduce the problem of corruption and eliminate
every means of revenue
leakages in the port. The package to be provided by the World Bank would be
linked to the Ministry of
Finance, the Auditor-General's office, Central Bank of Nigeria [CBN], Internal
Revenue office and all other
relevant government arm that are revenue generating centers for government.”
Nwabunike noted that government is cheated of
its accruable fund through none payment of duty on goods
which are mostly contraband for which NPA and other charges are paid but
fake documents are used for
import duty. When this happens he continued, there is formally no way to
know but with the e-payment to be
introduced by government bearing government approval, every payment would
be captured automatically
until the entire payment to be made on a consignment is completed. Once all
payments are not made each
arm connected with the collection of revenue in the clearance system could
then ask why payment was not
made to it for that particular consignment which is lacking presently. [NC
06/01/09]
MSC Vessel Gets Stock Enroute To Lagos
Port - 15/01/09
A vessel belonging to the Mediterranean Shipping Company [MSC] has got
stuck and grounded at Bull Nose
in the Lagos Channel on 12/01/09. MSC Rhone is laden with 450TEU. The vessel
was sailing to the Port and
Cargo Handling Company’s terminal at the Tin Can Island Port Complex.
The vessel was out of the normal
channel approach, the reasons for the grounding are still under investigation.
Despite lightening of some
containers and the efforts of tugs to pull her clear, the vessel remains
grounded. [15/01/09]
Nigeria: President Yar’Adua Demands
That Ports Be Decongested Within 60 Days / Task Force Set Up - 06/01/09
President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua has told the maritime and transport authorities
to decongest the nation’s sea ports within 60 days.
Alhaji Ibrahim Bio, Nigeria’s transport minister and finance minister
Dr Mansur Muktar have been directed to take far-reaching decisions on the issue.
A stakeholders’ meeting was held in Lagos on 06/01/09, attended by the
managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority Mallam Abdulsalam Mohammed,
the comptroller-general of the Nigeria Customs Service Alhaji Hamman Ahmed,
the director-general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency
Dr Ade Dosunmu, and terminal operators.
A communique immediately followed stating that
in order to ensure the integrity in the clearing process, with effect from
01/04/09 the Nigerian Customs should
ensure that manifests received from shipping companies, in addition to current
information, should contain consignee's full name and address.
Additionally a task force is to be set up to remove impediments that resulted
in port congestion over the last four months.
This committee is due to come into force not later than 12/01/09, and should
commence operations before 19/01/09.
It will then have 45 days from the commencement
of its operations to complete the task.
It will, amongst others, conduct 100% physical examination of containers, which
have no Form M, Risk Assessment Report and observe concealment, untrue and
false declarations, assess and value them in terms of quantity, value and rating.
It will also issue demand notes and collect appropriate custom duty to enable
the prompt release of the goods. To this end, consignees have been invited
to come forward and clear their goods within the period or face the full provision
of the law thereafter. On overtime cargo, the communiqué noted all cargo
over 90 days would be disposed of by an overtime cargo disposal committee to
be constituted by
the Government
All shipping companies are required to ship their empty containers out of the
port immediately.
Current efforts are underway to ensure that all
container carriers have adequate holding bay capacity off-dock. In this regard,
all such carriers should within
a period of 90 days effective from 12/01/09 establish such off-dock facilities
with a capacity to handle at least 150% of their import volume.
It was also resolved that all terminal operators would have to operate a
policy that allows for consolidation for export for not more than 7 days
before loading.
To this end, defaulting shipping companies are to be appropriately penalised,
including non-berthing of vessels.
On demurrage, it was also resolved that all shipping companies should waive
all demurrage for containers stemmed but not yet transferred to bonded terminals.
Stakeholders are expected to reconvene in a month's time to assess the progress
made.
With reference to Lagos congestion please note
that the Nigerian Port Autority [NPA] have noted that as of yesterday 60 vessels
[25 ships and 35 tankers] are presently awaiting berthing space whilst 80 more
are expected to arrive in the next 2-weeks.
The 25 vessels are split: 10 container ships / 6 fish / 4 bulk cement, sugar,
salt and wheat / 3 used vehicles / 1 general cargo / 1 ethanol. [TD 06/01/09 & TD
07/01/09]
Nigeria: Customs To Seize Under-Declared
Goods - 06/01/09
Nigeria’s federal government will henceforth seize all goods imported
into the country that are under-declared by importers as part of new efforts
to tackle the problem of port congestion. According to the Nigeria Customs
Circular No: 26/2008, the government has given a 2-week grace to all importers
engaged
in the under-declaration of imported
goods to rectify the under declared goods or have their goods seized or forfeited
to government.
The circular blames over 80% of port congestion on the discrepancies in the
declaration of imported goods and mandates all shipping companies to submit
manifests to the Nigeria Customs.
Meanwhile stakeholders are to meet with government officials to find a lasting
solution to the perennial crisis of port congestion. [Source: TD 05/01/09]
New Transport Minister Orders Decongestion
Of Lagos Ports - 28/12/08
Nigeria’s federal government has ordered that the Lagos ports be decongested
immediately. Ibrahim Bio, the new transport minister, issued the directive in
Lagos during his maiden tour of the Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports. He directed
that the Nigerian Ports Authority [NPA] must carry out the order jointly with
the concessionaires, clearing agents and other port operators. The minister also
directed that a work plan on the sanitisation of the port should be submitted
by the NPA to his office. [TN
28/12/08]
New Acting Comptroller-General - Customs
- December 2008
Bernard Shaw Nwadialor has been appointed as the new acting Comptroller-General
of Nigeria Customs Service [NCS]. Nwadialor replaces Hamman Ahmed who has retired
having reached the age of 60. Nwadialor immediately called on importers to
quickly clear their goods with or without the Risk Assessment Report as the
task force on port decongestion comes into action.
Migfo And Denca Services To Jointly Manage
Tin Can Island Port Terminal C - 23/12/08
The long drawn legal battle over the management of Terminal C at Tin Can Island
Port has been resolved in
favour of Migfo Nigeria and Denca Services. Both companies were excluded in
the management of the
concession following a contentious equity shareholding dispute. However, in
a ruling the Federal Court of
Appeal, in Lagos has affirmed the decision of the Federal High Court that the
concession be jointly managed.
[TN 23/12/08]
Nigeria Scores Low In Cargo Clearance
At Ports - NACCIMA - 18/12/08
According to the Nigerian Association of Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines
and Agriculture [NACCIMA]
it still takes a frustrating minimum of 14-25 days to clear goods at the
nations ports, contrary to the 48 hours
promised by the Customs sometime ago. In fact the dwell time is around 35
days and shows no sign of
improvement. When compared to the 7-days it takes to clear cargo in neighbouring
Togo and Benin, the
system needs to be re-evaluated. NACCIMA has called on the government to
abolish the payment of the
remaining 0.5% NESS [Non-oil Export levy], which is currently paid to pre-shipment
inspection [PSI] agents.
[BD 18/12/08]
Lagos State Government And Siemens Discuss
Railway Network - 12/12/08
The Lagos State government is in talks with the multipurpose German firm
Siemens about the construction of
rail transportation in Lagos. A rail transport system is part of the government’s
plan to ensure traffic
decongestion in the Lagos Metropolis. The project also constitutes part of
the plan of turning Lagos into a
megacity. Waclaw Lukowicz, the managing director of Siemens Nigeria, said
the government has not made
any concrete statement on awarding the contract to his company but he assured
the Lagos State
government that it would get value for its money should Siemens win the contract.
[TN 12/12/08]
Afdb Lends Nigeria, Cameroon US$280 Million
For Express Road - 06/12/08
The African Devepment Bank [AfDB www.afdb.org] has lent Nigeria and Cameroon
US$280 million to finance a road project linking the two western African nations.
The objective of the project is to contribute to the regional integration,
increase trade and strengthen cooperation between Cameroon and Nigeria and
between ECOWAS and CEMAC markets. About 11 million people in both countries
are expected to benefit from this project.
The present program concerns the rehabilitation/reconstruction
of the Highway from Enugu-Abakaliki- Ogoja Junction- Ikom Mfum in Nigeria
to Ekok- Mamfe-
Batibo in Cameroon and Transport facilitation between Enugu and Bamenda.
The Program will have 4-components, namely the Reconstruction and/or Rehabilitation
of the Corridor Road, Ancillary Works, Transport and Transit Facilitation
Measures,
and Program Management. [RT 06/12/08]
Nigeria To Dredge Lower Niger - 02/12/08
The Government has signed a N34.8billion contract for the dredging of the Lower
Niger. The project will
cover about 572km which stretches from Warri in Delta State to Baro in Niger
State. Minister of
Transportation, Deziani Allison-Madueke, who signed the agreement on behalf
of the government, said the
project was divided into 5-sections and awarded to five different contracting
firms to ensure that they were
completed within the stipulated time. The duration of the the project is 1-year
with a 2-year maintenance
agreement. The 154km dredging from Warri to Bifurcation of Farcados and River
Nun was awarded to Fung
Tai at the cost of N4.8billion, while the 116km bifurcation of Farcados and
River Nun to Onitsha, Anambra
State was awarded to Dredging International at a sum of N3.8billion. 'This
will open up a completely new
realm of possibilities, in terms of inland waterways and in terms of navigability,
transportation, commerce and
industry in the areas along the lower River Niger' she said. [PU 02/12/08]
Dry Ports Takes-Off in Aba - 01/12/08
Hope seems to have been raised for the take-off of the much desired dry port
projects as construction work
will soon commence in one of the six dry ports in the country, the Isiala Ngwa
Inland Container Depot [ICD].
Eastgate are to be the concessionaires of the depot with work expected to be
completed within 30 months.
[VAN 01/12/08]
Congestion - Importers Get N1.5 Billion
Waiver - 24/11/08
In a bid to ease cargo congestion in Lagos ports, it has been reported that
the management of APM
terminals Apapa, has announced a waiver on storage penalties totalling over
N1.5 billion. Lund Hansan met
with the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents [ANLCA] and the National
Association of
Government Approved Freight Forwarders [NAGAFF]. Aiming to reduce clearance
time and congestion in
the Nigeria's ports it was announced that the company would waive the penalty
on storage of containers
which stay beyond the normal 3-days in port. The announcement noted the following:
•
APM Terminals new storage penalty rates remain in force
•
For containers collected from APM Terminals Apapa before 31/12/08 all storage
days before
01/10/08 are charged at the old rate.
•
The increase is waived for all days prior to 01/10/08
•
For days after 01/10/08 the new rate applies and for containers incurred so
that days of storage
before 01/10/08 are only charged at the old rates.
It was also reported that the progressive storage
penalty which increases from N1500 in the first 7-days,
through N3,000 in the second 7-days to N6,000 in the subsequent days has
been waived by the company for
any importer who comes to clear his containers before the end of the year.
Hansan also commented that the re-occurring congestion in the port is as
a result of long 'dwell time' of
consignments in the port which at present is about 28 days even as the Nigeria
customs service [NCS] is
talking of 48 hours clearance time. [DC 24/11/08]
Latest on Lagos Port Congestion - 24/11/08
Tincan
congestion is 9 /10 days
There are 5 vessels currently at anchorage
Berth
3 in TICT has been closed since 01/10/08 with no certain date for re-opening
[out of 3 berths available]
Tincan B/L is now being allocated to off
dock by TICT to reduce block stacking problems.
Tug availability is
uncertain, Vessels up to 10 m and above are restricted to berth at Tincan
and Apapa port at night.
Congestion has become so worrisome that ships
have to wait at the anchor for days and weeks to berth as a result of congestion.
Containers
yet to be cleared constitute problems such that there is no room for new
ones to be offloaded from ship.
There is now even a scarcity of trucks to
carry containers at the port, as empty containers that are returned to
the port take time to be offloaded
from the trucks because of lack of space at the port.
All shipping
lines affected by this development.
Please click
here for photographs of the recent
port congestion.
Congestion: BPE Blames Port Congestion
On Multiple Agencies - 19/11/08
Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises [BPE], Irene Chigbue,
has argued that the congestion at
the nation's ports is due to the large number of government agencies active
there and not the terminal
operators. She noted that there are currently 20 governmental agencies working
within the port. Making the
observation at the 2-day World Bank Privatisation Support Project [PSP], Stakeholders
Workshop in Abuja,
the BPE boss noted that when the BPE undertook study tours of successful ports
in other countries, there
was none with such a plethora of agencies at ports. [LD 19/11/08]
NRC Resumes P/H-Kano, Lagos/Kano Routes
- 19/11/08
The Nigeria Railway Corporation [NRC] has reopened its Port-Harcourt-Kano and
Lagos-Kano routes which
were suspended early this year. The routes were reopened following repairs
carried out on the washed out
and damaged tracks. [Triumph 19/11/08]
Yar'Adua Approves 30% Reduction in Port
Charges To Regulatory Agencies / Reduces Operating Agencies - 10/11/08
A strategic step towards addressing the status of Nigeria’s seaports
as one of the most expensive in the world was taken on 04/11/08 with the reduction
of service charges importers pay to regulatory agencies by 30%. Special taxes
such as 5% sugar levy, 50% rice development levy, textile levies, Nigerian
Ports Authority (NPA) terminal charges, plant hire charges amongst
others have been scrapped while the number of regulatory and specialized agencies
operating at the ports has been reduced from 15 to 5.
Approved Agencies:
Nigeria Customs Service (NCS),
Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS),
National Food and Drugs Administration & Control (NAFDAC),
Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON)
Nigeria Agriculture Quarantine Society (NAQS).
The Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigerian Maritime Authority
(NMA) and others would only be invited as the need arose.
The Yar'Adua administration
has however, retained the port development levy, which will be used strictly
for ports development, especially provision of
infrastructure. These approvals followed the 84 recommendations of an Inter-ministerial
Committee on 48-hour clearance of goods from the ports across the country chaired
by
the Finance Minister Shamsuddeen Usman. The committee was set up to facilitate
trade at the ports and make them more competitive. Many recommendations will
be implemented immediately and those that require legislation before implementation
will have to be referred to the National Assembly for legal backing.
Please note
that many of these points are subject to further input from the parties concerned
before final enactment.
With particular reference to the NPA [and cuts] our local agancy is holding
a meeting with the Director of the NPA on 11/11/08.
An update will follow therafter.
Customs Orders Suspension of Business at
Lagos Free Trade Zone - October 2008
The Comptroller General [CG] of the Nigerian Customs Service [NCS], Hamman
Bello Ahmed, has ordered
suspension of operations at the Lagos Free Trade Zone [LFTZ] in Lekki. The
customs boss said the
management of the zone had broken rules by starting business activities without
the completion of necessary
infrastructure such as gates, perimeter fencing and necessary security. This
he declared was in
contravention of Act 18 of NEXA which says that before an operation can commence
in a free trade zone,
there must be secured gates and perimeter fencing of the zone. The customs
boss consequently directed
that shipments of containers from the ports should be stopped immediately while
duties should be paid on
the consignments already shipped into the zone except the ones with construction
equipments.The CG also went visited the Niger Dock [Snake
Island] where he also ordered the management of the
island to erect perimeter fencing.
Nigeria Customs Service Receive Terminal
- October 2008
The Nigeria Ports Authority has formally handed over its Ikorodu Lighter Terminal
to the Nigeria Customs
Service, comprising 14.8ha of paved yard and 1.2ha of warehousing space. It
is envisaged that the use of
the terminal will help relieve the congestion at the port of Apapa.
FG Suspends $8.3 Billion Chinese Rail Contract
- October 2008
According to local reports Nigeria has suspended the controversial US$8.3 billion
contract awarded to a
Chinese firm. The contract awarded to the China Civil Engineering Construction
Corporation [CCECC] in
2006 has been suspended whilst Nigeria's Transport Ministry has taken control
of work on the 1,315km line
that links southern Lagos to northern Kano, adding it would take about 90 days
to "redefine" the terms of the
contract. President Umaru Yar'Adua administration had discovered that the contract
was over inflated.
There is also a possibility the review may affect CRCC's involvement in developing
a free trade zone in
Lagos. This arrangement was agreed last year during a visit to Nigeria by Li
Yuanchao, Communist party
chief of eastern Jiangsu province. It may also put in jeopardy a US$300 million
road project in Nigeria that
CRCC had also clinched under the former administration.
The CRCC said project work done so far had already
been paid for by the Nigerians and that it is still in the
preliminary construction stage. The Lagos-Kano line accounts for almost 14%
of the total value of CRCC's
outstanding contracts. The deal was backed by former Nigerian president Olusegun
Obasanjo and was
clinched in the run-up to a China-Africa summit held in Beijing in late 2006.
Nafdac Clamps Down on Importers, Exporters
of Substandard Goods - 29/10/08
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control [NAFDAC] has
warned that it will no
longer tolerate the importation of substandard products into Nigeria and will
also not allow the exportation of
substandard products out of the country. All products certified by the agency
currently meet both national and
CODEX Alimentarius standards [www.codexalimentarius.net]. NAFDAC reiterated
all necessary permits for
export must be obtained and that the Agency routinely carries out tests on
both locally manufactured and
imported products. [VAN 29/10/08]
OTAL News: Nigeria - Partial Closure Of
Main Apapa
Port Road - 22/10/08
From 23/10/08, part of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway,
the artery to the nation's leading ports of Tin Can Island and Apapa - as well
as the
Kirikiri Lighter Terminal, will be closed to traffic.
The expressway
is also part of the Trans-African-highway. The artery also leads to one of the
busiest border posts at Seme.
Closure will allow the Lagos State Government
to carry out construction of the Okota-Itire Overhead Link Bridge.
The
closure, which will be in three phases, will last for 120 days. [During the first
45 days, closure will affect Oshodi-bound traffic, while
the reverse will hold in the next 45 days, affecting Apapa-bound traffic. The
final 30 days will be for the completion of structural works after piling had
been completed on both sides of the expressway.] The closure comes barely
a fortnight after the Third Mainland Bridge was re-opened [Closed for repairs
02/08/08 - 29/09/08]. We expect the shutdown to have a huge impact on
vehicular traffic to and from the port. Heavy congestion/delays are to be expected.
Freight Forwarders Oppose Lagos Landing
Fees Proposal - 09/10/08
There is apprehension among freight forwarders in the maritime industry over
moves by the Lagos State
government to impose wharf landing fees on goods imported into Nigeria.
To discuss this issue the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Finance,
held a 1-day public
hearing on the Lagos State Wharf Landing Fee Bill on 26/09/08.
The Vice President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents [ANLCA],
Dayo Azeez,
expressed "freight forwarders are opposed to wharf landing fees on imported
goods. It is an unwelcome
development because it would add more to the cost of clearing cargoes. Presently,
importers are
complaining that the ports are not user-friendly, it is too expensive and causes
the diversion of cargoes to
neighbouring countries. It is going to affect the economy. Whatever the importer
pays, he is going to collect it
back from the end-user. Importers pay import duty, 7% levy, 0.5% ECOWAS levy,
5% VAT; 1% CIFF to
inspection agents; he pays shipping companies charges, pay terminal operators
charges, pay government
agencies…"
Meanwhile the Federal Government has set up an
inter-ministerial task force to review some charges, levies
and rates in the Nigerian ports due to the number of complaints received
from importers and freight
forwarders following the concession of the ports in 2006. The concessioning
exercise had aimed to reduce
the cost of doing business by 30% however instead of bringing the cost down,
terminal operators were
alleged to have introduced additional charges as well as increase the cost
of their operations.
While defending the new fees, Chairman House Committee
on Finance, Adeola Olamilekan, said the fees
charged are to help the state create an enabling environment through infrastructural
development for
businesses to thrive. Consignments of goods imported by sea and transported
from any port of entry into any
local government area of Lagos State would be charged wharf landing fees
if the bill is signed into law by the
State governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola.
Under the schedule, a-40 feet container attracts N1,000 fees, 20 feet container
would be charged N500. For
any other container smaller than 20 feet, the fee is N300. The fee payable
on a car is N300, sports utility
vehicles pays N500 while truck or other heavy duty motor vehicles attracts
N1,000
The law also empowers authorized agents of the local governments to stop
any vehicle conveying imported
goods, from any ports, demand the amount due and issue an official receipt.
Some category of goods
including those belonging to an agency of a foreign, federal or Lagos State
governments are exempted from
the taxes on the provision of a written evidence of such ownership.
The law also stipulated fines for persons who
contravene its provisions. In the case of a company, it shall be
liable on conviction to a fine of N500,000 in addition to the wharf landing
fees. Individuals would be liable on
conviction to a fine of N100, 000 in addition to the wharf landing fees.
[DI 09/10/08]
FEC Approves N.5 Billion for Cleaning
of Lagos Ports - 09/10/08
The Federal Executive Council [FEC] has approved the contract for the second
phase of removal of wrecks
and derelicts within Lagos Ports [Commodore Poll to Port Novo Creeks] at
the sum of US$5.1-million to
Messrs Under-Water Engineering Nigeria Ltd. The wrecks breach the International
Maritime Organisation
[IMO] Convention on Safety of Life at Sea [SPLA 74] to which Nigeria is a
signatory.
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency [NIMSA] only last
month removed a wreck in the
Ibafon area bringing the total number so far cleared from the Lagos area
since 2007 to 45. [TD 09/10/08]
Storage Penalties - 09/10/08
AMPT have decided to
increase storage charges for containers residing in the port for over 10
days effective 01/10/08. Please find official details by clicking
here.
Ferma, FRSC to Erect Toll Gates at Border
Posts - 02/10/08
The Federal Road Maintenance Agency [FERMA] and the Federal Road Safety Commission
[FRSC] are to
establish toll gates at all Nigerian border posts in order to collect the international
vehicle transit charge.
FERMA is engaging the services of the FRSC to analyse vehicles inflow from
the international borders, as
well as the revenue implications of the venture. FERMA has completed study
on about 65 border routes,
where the toll gates are to be erected, adding that the projected revenue to
be generated from the operations
of the toll has been put at N10billion per annum. [TD 02/10/08]
NPA To Dredge Lagos, Onne Channels - 01/10/08
To allow larger vessels into Nigeria's territorial waters, the Nigerian Ports
Authority [NPA], has entered into a joint venture agreement with the Lagos
Channel Management [www.lcmnigeria.com] and the Bonny Channel Management to
carry out the dredging of the Lagos Channel and the Onne Channel respectively.
The companies have been formed in partnership with two foreign firms [Dutch
and Belgian] reputed in modern channels dredging with a joint share-holding
ratio of 60:40 for NPA and the strategic foreign partners. The companies shall
operate as subsidiaries of NPA. The primary object of these two firms will
be to continuously clear seaports channels in the western and eastern zones
of debris and silt which impede smooth movement
of vessels.
The intention is to deepen the waterways to between
13.5 and 14.5 metres draught, so as to enable more modern and bigger ocean-going
vessels to sail in and out of the Lagos axis including Apapa and Badagry creeks.
During the first year of dredging operations, it is hoped to attain 11.5 metres
level along the creek before eventually increasing it to the required depth
being demanded by the shipping companies participating in the port concession
bidding rounds. For example, the area around Flour Mills at the Apapa – Marina
water front is already being deepened to a draught expected to hit the 14.5
metres mark before long.
Already the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Company
[NLNG] has indicated preference for deeper channels in line with the stipulations
of the Visual Landing System [VLS] along the Port Harcourt axis. This multi-million
dollar natural gas company with over 6 modern gas carriers has specially requested
deeper and continuous dredging of the Bonny channel to cater for its heavily-laden
vessels. The Bonny Channel Management Ltd has started to improve on the Bonny
/ Port Harcourt channel as it re-laid 28 buoys in 5-months and undertook channel
maintenance dredging to 11.5 metres. The company is now trying to remove wrecks
from the same channel.
Information from NPA shows that the dredging schedule
being targeted by the new firms are capital and periodic maintenance dredging,
replacement of navigational buoys, pollution monitoring and training of indigenous
hands. Prior to the inauguration of the dredging outfits, Continental Shipyard
Ltd was the major joint venture subsidiary whose activities supported NPA’s
few dredging ships. Further to dredging other challenges currently facing the
NPA include the absence of heavy bulk terminals to handle iron ore and other
heavy raw materials as well as transport interconnectivity where terminals
are not well connected with other modes of transportation. Though Lagos and
Port Harcourt are connected by rail, they are not currently functioning. The
rail connection project to the Federal Ocean Terminal [FOT] Onne, has been
abandoned. Similarly, the rail connection from Ajaokuta to Aladja does not
seem to have factored in a connection to Warri port. [DT 01/10/08]
Nigeria Government Used Cars Ban Extended From
8 To 10 Years, Reduces Tariffs on Raw Materials - 26/09/08 According to local
reports the Nigerian Federal Government on 25/09/08 extended the ban on the
importation of used cars from eight to ten years under a new
tariff regime. [Buses and trucks, no matter their age, are, however, excluded
from the prohibition list.]
The Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs, Hammeed Bello Ahmed declared
the ban whilst unveiling the new 2008-2012 Nigeria Customs and Excise Tariff
Book.
The 2008-2012 tariff book is an attempt by Nigeria to harmonise its tariff
regime with the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET) .
The 2008-2012 book has five categorys as follows: [Note: Importation of primary
raw materials has been reduced from 10% to 5% & imports of finished goods
that can be manufactured locally have been slashed from 50% to 35%.]
Category
0 (0%) for necessities such as educational materials while category
Category 1 (5%) for primary raw materials
Category 2 (10%) are for intermediate products like CKD refrigerators, CKD
television
Category 3 (20%) is for finished goods that are not produced locally and
which require no protection such as television, refridgerators and generators
Category 4 (35%) is for finished goods that are manufactured locally and
which requires some protection in the interest of promoting local industries.
The
new tariffs take immediate effect.
Prohibited Items:
Beer and stout;
plastics in the form of forks, spoons, toothpicks;
retreated and used tyres;
cases, boxes, cartons made from corrugated materials;
foot-wears, suitcases, sports wears.
Furniture items of any type, except baby walker
textile fabrics English Wax, Ankara, Lace fabrics
wedding gowns and ceremonial apparels
second hand clothes
rugs and carpets
recharge cards
Please click
here for the official notice from
the
Federal Ministry of Finance on fiscal policy measures and tariff amendments.
Nimasa Plans Cargo - 14/09/08
Support Scheme
The Nigerian Maritime
Administration and Safety
Agency [NIMASA] is to
establish a public cargo
support scheme to
enable indigenous ship
operators to gain more
cargoe. The Director-
General of NIMASA, Dr
Ade Dosunmu, said this
at a seminar on "
Correcting the
Imbalance in Wet Cargo
Affreightment", organised
by Maritime Reporters'
Association of Nigeria
[MARAN]. When
operational, the scheme
is expected to pool all
public sector generated
cargoes and make them
available to Nigerian
carriers. Dosunmu noted affected cargoes included public sector contracts/projects;
government-assisted schemes,
development assistance and aid cargoes.
Today 18.7 million tonnes, excluding crude oil, is shipped annually at Nigerian
ports, however only 6% is carried by
Nigerian flag vessels. When crude oil is included, this figure drops to 1%
of the total trade.
The NIMASA Act 2007 has provided the agency with the legal framework for implementing
the cargo support
scheme. The agency is now making all necessary arrangements to articulate workable
modalities and guidelines for
the scheme. [DT 14/09/08]
APMT Terminal Cranes Installed - 12/09/08
APMT terminal in Lagos is expecting to install a further 2-mobile cranes this
October to improve productivity. 2-
Liebherr 500 units will arrive at the end of week 38 and are expected to be
operational by mid-October.
You may remember APMT imported 4 cranes from USA back at the end of May. We
reported that the 4th crane
crashed in June and this will now be scrapped. In fact local reports indicate
that these units will not be in operation
until early November 2008. [CMA-CGM Delmas Nigeria 12/09/08]
Nafdac Reels Out New Regulation on Importation
- 11/09/08
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control [NAFDAC www.nafdacnigeria.org]
has said with
immediate effect new rules and regulations will be implemented to guide importation,
registration and marketing of
food, drugs and cosmetic products in Nigeria. NAFDAC Director General, Professor
Dora Akunyili noted that the
agency has also increased default fines to N5million [previously N1million].
[TD 11/09/08]
Toll Gate System To Be Reinstated? - 03/09/08
Local reports state that the Nigerian
government has concluded plans to reerect
tollgates across the country as a
way of raising funds to maintain roads,
many of which are in total disrepair. If it
goes ahead, this would amount to a
reversal of a decision taken in 2004 by
the former president Obasanjo's
administration to pull down toll gates
across the country. [DT 03/09/08]
Contractor Fails to Meet Deadline on Lokoja
Port Project - 28/08/08
The contractor handling the construction of the N2.3 billion Lokoja port has
failed to come up with a plan to ensure
completion of the project, after a 7-day ultimatum by the Federal Government
lapsed. John Emeka, the Minister of
State for Transportation, gave the ultimatum on 14/08/09, when he visited the
project site in Lokoja to assess the
progress of work, warning the government would no longer fold its hands.
The contract for the project was awarded in April 2007 by the Federal Government,
and was expected to be
completed within 18 months. The contractor had been paid a N580 million mobilisation
fee. [LD 28/08/08]
Transport Ministry Gets New Maritime Services
Boss - 21/08/08
The Federal Government has appointed Musa Tugga Karam as the new Director of
Maritime Services replacing
Faruk Buba. [DC 21/08/08]
Lekki Free Trade Zone Rakes in $1.5 Billion
Investment - 14/08/08
In a bid to attain a robust free trade zone of international standard, the
promoters of Lekki Free Trade Zone
[LFTZ], Lekki Worldwide Investments Limited [LWIL], has signed an investment
fund agreement to the tune
of US$1.5 billion with its US-based partner, AYR Logistics.
Managing Director of LWIL, Tajudeen Disu, said the 16,500ha Lagos-based free
trade zone which is the
same as Calabar free trade zone and Tinapa Business Resort, will have a deep
sea port, coast road with
access to the free zone, hotels, airport, light rail and a mono-rail. Before
the year is out LWIL is also
expected to sign another contract to the tune of US$153 million as part of
its financial engineering of the
Lekki project including 10 new roads.
Disu also hinted that the Lagos-based company
is in conjunction with its financial partners to create
borrowing incentives for willing investors in the zone to borrow from and to
this end, Credit Swiss have
provided $5 million to the company because of the potentials of the zone. Meanwhile
Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, has undertook an extensive inspection
tour of the
LFTZ, reiterating that the state government is poised to provide infrastructure
that would enable the zone kick
off. The governor said he has received assurance from the project managers
that by mid- September 2008
the full development plans to complete drainage, roads, gates and office complexes
of the Customs,
Immigration and all related control issues would be ready. The Consular-General
of the Chinese Embassy in
Nigeria, Mr Guo Kun also noted that China is very much interested in the LFTZ
project. [LD 05/08/08 &
14/08/08]
Sod Turning: Ibadan Dry Port Project -
12/08/08
The Minister of Transportation, Prince John Okechukwu Emeka, has inaugurated
the Ibadan dry port project
in Erunmu, Oyo State at a sod turning ceremony. There are now four dry ports
sites under construction in
Nigeria. [TD 12/08/08]
House Committee Wants Concession of Apapa
Terminal C Revisited - 06/08/08
The House of Representatives Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation
has stated that Michelle
Ltd, is the rightful owner of the Apapa Port Terminal C. The House has consequently
asked the Bureau for
Public Enterprise [BPE] to revoke its the concession to ENL and hand the terminal
over to the rightful owner.
The House Committee on Privatisation, which conducted an investigative public
hearing on the issue,
following several petitions against the process, said "this is a clear
case of policy and position paper failure." [TD 06/08/08]
Nigerian Rail Project In Doubt - 02/08/08
Irregularities have reportedly been discovered in a contract to reconstruct
Nigeria’s main north to south rail
line, from Kano to Lagos. The project is the centrepiece of plans to rehabilitate
the Nigerian railway network,
but an investigation is being held into the US$8.3 billion contract awarded
to the Chinese Civil Engineering
Construction Corporation [CCECC]. A number of infrastructure contracts agreed
during the final two years of
President Obasanjo’s second term of office are being reassessed by the
new government of President
Umaru Yaro Adua.
For its part CCECC is unhappy over lack of payment
to date. A company VP, Chen Xiaoxing, said: “The
contract provided for an advance payment of US$1.1356 billion from the federal
government of Nigeria, but
so far we have been paid only US$250 million, in March 2007”. The original
contract for the 1315-km long
railway was signed in October 2006. CCECC has also refuted accusations in the
Nigerian press that the
contract fee was too high. The Chinese firm issued the following statement: “The
international average
construction cost per kilometre is about US$3.5 million, whereas the cost per
kilometre on the Lagos to Kano
line comes to about US$3.04 million for double track. [WCN 02/08/08]
Lagos Crane Collapses: Apapa Terminal -
19/07/08
On Saturday
12/07/08 a crane collapsed at the APM Terminals’ Apapa concession
in Lagos. The crane is one of the four secondhand units recently installed
at the port, which were purchased from the US port of Charleston as an interim
measure pending the installation of new cranage. The boom landed on a Maersk
boxship [2001-built, 2,506 teu, German-flagged Santa Alina] and will have to
be removed from its deck.The accident happened during a boom down operation,
in which the crane wasn’t moving containers. The boom did not detach
from the main structure. Impact: Some vessels are backed up and unable to berth
until the crane is removed.
China To Build Port Harcourt Ring Road
- 13/07/08
One of China’s top engineering firms has signed a US$1 billion deal to
build a road around the Nigerian city of Port Harcourt. China Harbour Engineering
Company signed a memorandum of understanding with the African Finance Corporation
(AFC) for the road during a visit to China by Nigerian local government and
AFC officials. The AFC also said that the State Grid Corporation of China would
upgrade the region’s electricity generation, transmission and distribution
system. China depends on Africa for about 30% of oil imports and has invested
in the two top producers, Nigeria and Angola. [RTRS 13/07/08]
Government Urges Bayelsa to Establish Sea
Port - 07/07/08
According to the Minister of Commerce and Industry Engr. Charles Ogwu, the
Federal Government has made that arrangements for the development of a Port
in Bayelsa State to boost the economic potentials of the State and the entire
Southern region. Brass has been muted as the preferred site to enhance industrialisation
of the area. [DT 07/07/08]
Customs Inaugurates Committee On 48-Hour
Clearance - 07/07/08
The Nigerian Customs Service [NCS] has inaugurated a committee for the actualisation
of the 48-hour clearance time for goods. The committee, which comprises of
82 officers, will be tasked with the job of ensuring that goods that are coming
into the country are cleared without unnecessary delays at the points of entry
and to avoid over congestion. [LD 07/07/08]
APM Terminal Commissioned - 01/07/08
Nigeria President Umaru Musa YarAdua has commissioned the modernized Apapa
Container Terminal, Lagos, part of the APM Terminals Global Terminal Network
on 19/06/08. Since assuming control of the facility a year ago, APM has
invested more than US$75 million in terminal modernization and expansion,
including
the delivery last month of 4 reconditioned Panamax gantry cranes [RTGs]
supplied by Cargotec Services [www.cargotecservices.com], doubling the
facilities
terminal handling capacity. A reported agreement between APM Terminals
and Nigerian Ports Authority will also mean that the channels are expected
to
be dredged in return for the provision of aforementioned equipment. ACT
handled 450,000 TEUs in 2007, with volume projected to grow 20% in 2008,
as vessel
calls have already grown and monthly container traffic has nearly doubled
from 22,000 TEUs to 42,000 TEUs. [01/07/08]
AfDB Approves US$85m For Lekki Road Project
- 19/06/08
The African Development Bank [AfDB] Group has approved a loan of up to US$ 85
million to help finance the upgrade/rehabilitation of Lekki to Epe expressway,
linking Victoria Island with the Lekki peninsula in Lagos. The project consists
of upgrading, widening and tolling of the existing 49.5km long expressway. The
project sponsors, Asset and Resource Management Ltd is partnering with Larue
Projects Ltd. [LD 19/06/08]
Govt To Conduct EIA In Lekki / Feature Interview:
Lekki Port - 05/06/08
Managing Director of Lekki Worldwide Investment Limited [LWIL], Tajudeen Disu,
has said the state
government is to commence an Environmental Impact Assessment [EIA] in the Lekki
Free Trade Zone
[LFTZ]. LWIL is engaged as a private company to promote and manage the development
of the free trade
zone.
The Lekki Free Trade Zone, which covers an area
of about 16,500 hectares, was launched by the
government in 2004 as part of its transformation programmes. The LFTZ is
proposed to be split into oil and
gas, logistics park, light and heavy industrial and manufacturing, media
centre, urban and residential zones.
Congestion witnessed at the Lagos ports means any plan to shift the import/export
business from the
crowded Apapa port town will be a welcome one. This is exactly what the management
of Lekki Port
Enterprises have in the pipeline for the US$750m port to be located at the
town of Lekki in Lagos.
Following is an interview with the Project Director
in charge of the building of the new port, Peter Banham, on
his company's plans for the port, when it is expected to come on stream,
the benefit to the country, source of
funding and many other issues... click
here to read on...
FG Moves to Reduce Ports Charges -
05/06/08
Faced with cut-throat competition from neighbouring countries
along the West African coast, the federal government has set in
motion machinery to reduce charges in the nation’s ports with a
view to making them more attractive to importers... click
here to read on...
New Customs Boss Lays Out Eight-Point Agenda -
05/06/08
The new comptroller general [CGC] of the Nigeria Customs Service [NCS www.customs.gov.ng]
Hamman
Bello Ahmed has laid out at an 8-point agenda on which the service is to be
anchored in the future. Following
his appointment by President Yar-adua on 27/05/08, he also pledged commitment
of the actualisation of the
48-hour clearance time on goods. To this end the success of the Automated Systems
of Customs Data
[ASYCUDA] will be very crucial to the customs administration. [LD 05/06/08]
Four Gantry Cranes For Apapa Port -
13/06/08
APM Terminal has taken delivery of four gantry cranes worth over US$10 million
to further improve cargo
clearance time from the ports in Lagos Port of Apapa. Berth 15 [quai of 220m]
will be occupied till July as
works are undertaken. On completion of the gantry installation the berths
will be dredged to 12.5m. [Local
Agent 13/06/08]
Products Added To SONCAP List -
01/05/08
The Central Bank of Nigeria [www.cenbank.org] has issued an official circular
TED/FEM/GEN/01/021
advising the addition of extra products to the Standards Organisation of Nigeria’s
Conformity Assessment
Programme [SONCAP www.soncap.com]. These include:
Group I [Toys]: children’s hair slides and bands; baby cribs and rockers;
sports, outdoor games and
other recreation related products.
Group II [Electrical and electronics]: stationary
cooking ranges, hobs, ovens and similar appliances;
grills, toasters and similar portable cooking
appliances; floor treatment machines and wet
scrubbing machines; deep fat fryers, frying pans
and similar appliances; kitchen machines; electric
door bells of all types, including those which are DC
operated.
Group IV [Chemical products]: Flasks and vacuum
ware; bituminous products, including asphalt.
Group V [Mechanical material and gas appliances]:
Non-galvanised steel bars, rods, beams, angles,
sheets, pipes, billets, wire ropes and galvanised
steel and stainless steel bars, rods, beams, angles,
sheets, pipes, including iron wire gauze and fence security barb steel wires;
ceramic products, tiles,
sanitary ware appliances, stainless steel hand wash basins, pipes and fittings;
hand tools and similar
products, including screwdrivers, testers, hydraulic jacks, bottles etc;
saw blades and cutting discs,
measuring devices including scales, tapes, vernier callipers, etc.
Group VII [Paper and stationery]: other stationery items including mathematical
sets.
New Import Restrictions Planned For Buses
And Trucks -
01/05/08
The Federal Government is planning to impose new import restrictions on
buses and trucks in order to cut
the cost of maintaining old vehicles, and is also planning incentives to
encourage local assembly of light
commercial vehicles, according to the Minister of Commerce and Industry,
Mr Charles Ugwuh. He said the
government has concluded plans to impose the restrictions on buses over 10
years old and trucks over 15
years old. He went on to say that a 50% import duty may be imposed on imported
light commercial vehicles
but that this would be reduced to 2.5% for vehicles imported unassembled
[CKD]. He said that the National
Automotive Council will cooperate with local assemblers to identify components
for which there is local
manufacturing capacity and would then impose 50% duty on any imports of that
component. [BNBC
01/05/08]
Prohibition Of Imported Polypropylene Sacks -
12/05/08
The
Nigerian Customs Service [www.customs.gov.ng] has issued a reminder about the
ban on the import of
polypropylene woven sacks. It states the importation of these goods under
HS 3923.2100.22 and HS
3923.2900.24 remains prohibited and violations will be punished.
Government Establish Wharf Command To Decongest
Ports - 12/05/08
Due to the traffic congestion in Tin Can Port Apapa Wharf, the Federal Road
Safety Commission has set up
a new unit, the Wharf Unit Command. This is additional to the Joint Tax Force
already put in place to
decongest the ports.To view the official letter please click
here. [Local agent
12/05/08]
Government To Set Up 6 Economic Zones -
25/04/08
To boost the fledgling manufacturing sector and create much-needed jobs,
the Nigerian Government is to set
up six economic zones, one each in the six geo-political zones of the country.
Announced at the 6th Nigeria-
China Business and Investment Forum [NCBIF] held recently in China, Executive
Secretary of the Nigeria
Investment Promotion Commission [NIPC], Mr. Mustafa Bello confirmed the
projects approval by the Federal
Executive Council [FEC]. He also noted Chinese investment was already in
place. The 50-100km2 self
sustaining economic zones would have all the necessary infrastructure that
would promote production. The
envisaged zones will bear semblance to that of Ogun-Guangdong Free Trade
Zone. [TD 25/04/08]
$700m Africa's Deepest Port Ready in Lagos
2009 -
08/04/08
The deepest port in Africa with a draft of 17m is to be constructed by Lagos
Port LFTZ Enterprises along
Atlantic coast at Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos by the first quarter of 2009. The
port is expected to cost US$700
million and handle about 8,000 TEU's at the completion of the first phase.
The second phase is expected to
handle 1.05 metric tons of bulk cargo. The port would be the first deep water
port that will allow Suezmax
ships to enter Nigerian waters.
The Environmental Impact Assessment [EIA] and the design for the project are
already in place and the
contractors will soon be mobilised to commence work. The port project is part
of a larger scheme which
includes the Lagos Free Trade Zone [LFTZ] which is due to cover an 500ha of
land when fully developed.
When completed the port and FTZ combined with its state of the art cargo handling
and storage
infrastructure will make it an ideal transhipment hub capable servicing the
entire West African coast.
Eurochem Corporation Pet. Ltd will be in charge of the building and operation
of the LFTZ. The Singaporebased
company will be responsible for the day-to-day management of port operations,
marketing the
services and facilities of the port to various shipping
lines and users and elaborating future development
plans. [VAN 08/04/08]
FRSC Wants Vehicles Inspected At Ports -
26/03/08
The Federal
Road Safety Commission [FRSC] wants to establish offices at its ports to inspect
articulated vehicles
imported into the country. The FRSC is seeking collaboration with the Nigerian
Ports Authority [NPA] wants to carry
out physical inspection of haulage and trailer vehicles, inspection of break
and transmission system and
classification of categories on hazardous and chemical materials to make
sure they conform to acceptable global
standard.
Other FRSC duties at ports will also include the enforcement of axle load
violations, training and retraining of
haulage truck operators and enforcement of good parking and space management.
[DT 26/03/08]
'Free Trade Zone to Take-Off Soon' -
08/03/08
Delta State Governor, Dr Uduaghan, has given an assurance that the State
Free Trade Zone located in Koko, Warri
will come on stream shortly as the Federal Government is expected to grant
the license for the project. Uduaghan
disclosed that the State Government has addressed infrastructural development
concerns specifically the
dualisation of the Ugbenu-Koko road. Construction will commence as soon
as the 2008 budget is approved by the
state assembly. A MOU has also been signed with an American based investor,
Cole Church International, for the
development of the Trade Zone. [TD 08/03/08]
Yar'Adua Approves Ogun/Guangdong Free
Trade Zone -
07/03/08
President Yar'Adua has given his consent to the establishment of the Ogun
/Guangdong Free Trade Zone [FTZ] in
Igbesa, Ogun State. Guangdong Xinguang African Investment Group is partnering
the Ogun State Government in
the development of the FTZ. Tthe first phase of the project is expected
to cost US$500 million. With the formal
approval of Ogun Guangdong FTZ, the Gateway State now has three Free
Trade Zones. The Olokola FTZ in Ogun
East and the Kajola Specialized Railway Terminus FTZ in Ogun Central
had earlier been given presidential
approval to operate. [VAN 07/03/08]
Customs, Shippers Council Partner On Container
Depots- 20/03/08
The Nigeria Customs Service [NCS] and the Nigeria Shippers Council are collaborating
on the establishment
of several Inland Container Depots [ICD]. Reports have confimed that all is
now in place for the immediate
take-off of ICDs to be located in Kano, Funtia, Maiduguri, Jos, Isialangwa
and Ibadan. [LR 20/03/08]
Lagos Shops for US$787 Million For Rail
Project- 17/03/08
The Lagos State government is shopping for $787 million for the construction
and development of a rail
transportation system in the state. Governor Babatunde Fashola said the state
wanted investors to provide
the funds for the rail system with a projected annual revenue of $400 million.
AFC to Build $700m Ring Road in Port Harcourt
The Africa Finance Corporation [AFC] and the Rivers State Government have
agreed to construct an 88km
ring road in Port Harcourt at the cost of $700 million. The road will be
the largest municipal highway project in
Africa and is expected to be a catalyst to the city's economic development.
Akwa Ibom State To Build $5.2 Billion
Port -
17/03/08
The Akwa Ibom State government has concluded
plans with a foreign firm, Dersko Marine Group, to
construct a US$5.2 billion deep water port. The project,
to be implemented in phases, will comprise a vessel
building yard, dry dock facility and allied marine
facilities. The port will have two terminals with a
capacity to handle 15 million tonnes of general cargo
per annum. The first phase, which will create 16,000
jobs, is due to commence in December. Under a
Private Public Partnership [PPP] arrangement, the
project will involve the Akwa Ibom government, Dersko
and a consortium of foreign firms from Singapore, US,
South Korea and Japan.
Officials of the state government and Dersko recently visited the project
site to evaluate the level of dredging
required for the project. Already, 24,000 hectares had been released at the
coastline by the state
government for the project, while site development plan and environmental
impact assessment have
commenced. [VAN 17/03/08]
FG Plans High Speed Rail Line / Seven ICD’s -
29/02/08
As part of efforts to resuscitate the ailing rail infrastructure in the country,
the Minister of Transportation, Mrs.
Diezani Alison-Madueke disclosed that the Federal Government would be executing
a new high speed rail line that
would run through six states that are considered as vital trade routes. The
minister added that the rail line, when
completed is expected to convey an average of 30 - 40 million tons of goods
per annum and about 60 - 70 million
passengers.
The minister also disclosed that arrangements have been concluded for the take-off
of seven Inland Container
Depots as pilot schemes on a Built, Operate and Transfer [BOT] arrangement
in Ibadan, Jos, Funtua, Bauchi
Maiduguri, Isiala-Ngwa in Abia and Kano. [TD 29/02/08]
Nigerian Ports Authority Restored -
14/11/07
The Federal Executive Council approved the restoration of the Nigerian
Ports Authority to its original position, according to an announcement
by the Minister of Transportation, Mrs Diezani Alison Maduekwe. She
said this reversed the decision of the last administration, which
created the Western Ports and Harbours Authority and the Nigerian
Delta Ports.
FG Appoints New MD For NPA -
14/11/07
The Nigerian government have appointed Abdulsalam Mohammed as the managing
director of the Nigerian Ports Authority [NPA] effective 12/11/07.
Until his new appointment, Abdulsalam was the managing director of
the now defunct NPA, Western Ports. [DT 14/11/07]
Nigeria: Ports - Is 48-Hour Clearing Possible? -
18/11/07
Over the last year the operation of Nigerian Ports have been concessioned
to private firms. This was part of the sector reforms embarked upon
by President Obasanjo's administration. It aimed at efficiency of
port operations and reduced cost of services. Having launched the
concessioning, the government has expressed publicly its ambition
to achieve a 48-hour clearing of goods at the ports. However, in
reviewing the reform, stakeholders take a critical view particularly
of the 48-hour efficiency drive. Experts debate whether this is achievable
and what variables are required to make efficiency at the ports expectation
- fulfilled?
Though there has been much noise about ensuring efficient port service
delivery, the problem of attitudinal change still persists to drive
the process. How can 48 hours clearance of goods be achieved when lack
of skilled manpower and cargo handling equipment has not been resolved
and when port systems are characterized by documentation errors particularly
as most operations are not automated. The issue of wrong declaration
of goods and corruption on the part of the Nigeria Custom Service and
high operational cost, which is why most importers prefer using other
neighbouring ports also needs be addressed before efficient service
is delivered. Something also needs to be done to de-congest the traffic
situation at the ports and to get the railways working. The unending
dock labour unrest, which most times cripple port activities should
also be giving a serious thought.
The fact is that 48 hours clearing cannot be achieved in isolation.
The root causes of delay can include multiplicity of agencies, slow
responsiveness of customs to valid documentation and non-deployment
of end-to-end systems. The shippers and freight forwarders equally
have to be more efficient and strictly regulated. Facilities such as
power, equipment [cranes/pay loaders] and other items such as barges,
tug boats must be efficient. No matter the plans to fast tack the clearing
of goods from the ports, unless these issues are tackled the scheme
is doomed to fail. [VAN 18/11/07]
Kano Exports Processing Zone to Be Commissioned
in 2009 -
07/11/07
According to the Minister of Commerce, Alhaji Ahmed Garba Bichi, the
Kano Export Processing Zone project will be completed and commissioned
by the end of 2009. So far, 48 foreign investors have declared intention
to invest in the zone. [DT 07/11/07]
Lagos Apapa - Terminal Progress Report -
29/11/07
Apapa terminal is seeing increased productivity in the terminal with
congestion easing and block stacks and delays reduced.
The following are being implemented with this in mind:
The terminal has leased an additional 4 reach stackers
to accommodate the increase in and backlog of volumes
The terminal has reached an agreement with NPA, NCS, & ANLCA
for 24/ 7 operations for direct deliveries - It is possible to take
deliveries
at night and weekends as well
The terminal will provide a list of containers which are made available
for Customs examination. This is expected to assist in location of
containers in the examination bay.
The terminal is making record gate - outs
Increase in Physical Inspection Area of approx 500 TEUs through availability
of Shed B
Increased stemming of boxes to Inland Container Depots [ICDs]
Limitation imposed on entry of empties return to conserve yard space
Efforts made to maximize empty loadings
Requests for Customs exam to be processed the very next day
Request consignees to collect TDOs during office hours and make use
of night deliveries and weekend deliveries
Customs Examination is available during weekends. Clearing Agents and
Customs have agreed to be present on weekends
Customs have agreed to scale of exam and thus will examine only a few
boxes in a B/ L with multiple boxes with homogenous cargoes
The terminal is requesting customs to implement random sampling and
thereby reduce the pressure to physically examine boxes [ie: Request
for a lower than the current demand for 65-70% examination requirement].
[Apapa Terminal 29/11/07]
Minister Calls for More Free Trade Zones -
07/11/07
The Minister of Commerce has called for the establishment of more free
trade zones and will partner with Greece in developing such zones.
The Minister noted that Greek companies like Paterson Zochonis [PZ],
and Leventis have helped reposition the Nigerian economy. [DT 07/11/07]
Government Designates 9th Mile As Free Trade
Zone -
02/12/07
Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime has said his government will establish
a free trade zone at 9th Mile Corner, one of the major towns that
links the state with the North. [TD 02/12/07]
Decongestion of Port Roads -
23/11/07
Minister of Transportation, Diezani Alison-Madueke has commended the
Task Force on Decongestion of Federal Roads in Lagos, for ridding
roads leading to Lagos Port Complex of wrongfully parked trailers.
A committee was set-up in May 2007 to address the problem who identified
four causes namely:
enhanced ports activities after concessioning resulted
in 100% growth in vehicular traffic moving in and out of the ports
de-regulation of down stream sub-sector of the petroleum industry,
resulting in the emergence of over 30 tank farms enroute to the
ports
tank farms lacked parking or holding bays, leading to spill-over of
waiting vehicles on both service and main lanes of the roads,
with most, indiscriminately parked on the roads and bridges
relatively poor conditions of port approach and access roads including
portholes, flooding and road failure
The committee recommended a three phase approach:
clearing and securing right of ways, removal of illegal vehicles,
instituting appropriate traffic management measures, setting minimum
conditions for vehicles permissible into Ports among others
instituting and enforcing provision of holding bays by Tank farms,
planning for better and well maintained ports access and approach
roads, use of rail facilities by tank farms in Dockyard road
Apapa
construction of trailer parks, development of port rail
links and repairs and use of local refineries for petroleum
products
It is also hoped in the next few years separate trailer parks will
be built to decongest port access roads and to realize a certain amount
of revenue which can be reinvested. [DC 23/11/07]
House of Reps Commends Intels Over Onne Port -
23/11/07
Members of the House of Representative Committee on Marine Transport
have commended Intels Nigeria, one the nation's ports concessionaires
over its efforts towards repositioning Onne port. Onne Port manager,
Henry Cline stated the port had recorded an improvement in revenue
generation to the tune of N16.7 billion since the concession. The
figure when compared with the preceding period reflected an increase
of over N4 billion. Efforts of Intels in creating a conducive environment
in the zone have continued to attract local and foreign investors
to establish relevant businesses in the area. Intels deputy General
Manager, Chuks Ihuona estimated investment by companies operating
within the zone at over US$3 billion. [DC 23/11/07]
Customs Ranked 93 in World Bank Survey -
07/11/07
Nigerian Customs has been ranked 93 out of 150 countries in a new World
Bank survey. The survey, which highlights shipping inefficiencies
in developing countries and the global trading opportunities missed
as a result, found that Nigeria is woefully lagging behind. [TD 07/11/07]
Cross River Govt Signs US$36m Monorail Contract -
16/11/07
Cross River State government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding
[MoU], with the Nigerian Railway Corporation [NRC] for the construction
of US$36 million monorail. The monorail project is expected to link
the Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar with Tinapa Business
Resort. The 12km monorail project is expected to decongest traffic
within Calabar metropolis. [Leadership 16/11/07]
World Bank Intervenes In Lagos-Benin Road -
29/11/07
The World Bank has reiterated its commitment to assist Nigeria with
N240-billion for the rehabilitation of Lagos-Shagamu-Ibadan-Benin
road projects. Anil Bandari, World Bank senior adviser on Africa
transport, said the mission in Nigeria was preparing a project, which
would be approved very soon by the World Bank. The assistance would
form part of a larger programme to rehabilitate all the unity roads
that have been prioritised by the Federal Government. [BD 29/11/07]
FG to Review Laws Governing Port Agencies
Operation - 25/10/07
The Federal Government is set to review all the laws relating to the
operations of various agencies in the nations port. Minister for Transportation,
Mrs Diezani Madueke, criticized the poor state of infrastructures in
the port and expressed the Governments desire for an efficient port
clearing system which has been to date marred by the lack of interconnectivity
among key operators. Until the appropriate synergy among all the parties
involved in the trade transactions is established i.e. Central Bank,
commercial banks, destination inspection agencies, shipping companies,
customs, terminal operators and freight forwarders, international trade
will still be conducted at a sub-optional level of professionalism.
Madueke further condemned the application of excessive tax regime and
multiple levies, saying that it makes maritime trade an unprofitable
venture. [VAN 25/10/07]
FG Soon to Return NPA to Status Quo -
20/10/07
According to local reports in the LEADERSHIP there are strong indications
that the federal government may bring back the Nigerian Ports Authority
(NPA) as one entity, as against the present two administrative structures
of the nation's fifty-two year-old ports authority; namely the NPA
(Western Ports) and NPA (Eastern Ports)*. Reliable sources at the
Federal Ministry of Transportation said that the reversal was part
of the decision of the present administration to take a critical
look at the port reform programme of former President Obasanjo. The
present management system has been described as an illegality, especially
as the Act establishing NPA has not been repealed accordingly.
The government is also expected to review the concessionaires who
have taken over the nation's port terminals. Maritime operators have
expressed joy at the impending review of the port concession exercise
which majority of them have described as fraudulent and against the
overall interest of the economy. The administration of former President
Obasanjo, they insist, carried out the reform exercise without due
regards to public opinion and without the enabling legal/regulatory
framework. [Leadership 20/10/07]
*By that creation, the seaports in Lagos , including Lagos Port Complex,
Apapa and Tin Can Island Port are controlled by NPA, Western Ports,
whilst NPA Eastern Ports, controls Warri, Port Harcourt, Onne and Calabar
ports.
Customs Wants 48-Hour Clearing Time for Cargos -
26/10/07
The Nigeria Customs Service will ensure that all cargos stay no longer
than 48 hours at the port to ensure imports are cleared and dispatched.
Nigeria Customs has initiated talks with the clearing agents including
banks, shippers etc, to ensure that it achieves the 48-hour deadline
for clearing of goods. A new Accelerated System on Customs Documentation
and Administration - ASYCUDA ++ will be implemented with this in
mind along with full automation of cargo manifests. Shipping lines
have already been requested to provide documentation in the required
format. [Leadership & OTAL Local Agent 26/10/07]
New Transport Minister -
25/10/07
Mr Felix Hassan Hyat was sworn is as Minister of State for Transportation
at a State House ceremony on 24th October. [BNBC 25/10/07]
Nigeria Needs $510 Billion to Develop Transport
Sector -
30/10/07
As part of the Overview of 2020 Vision, Governor of Central Bank of
Nigeria (CBN), Professor Chukwuma Soludo, said that Nigeria would
need to inject about $510 billion over the next 15 years, devoid
of private sector funding, in the provision and maintenance of rail
lines, road construction network and waterways to fully develop the
transportation sector. [TD 30/10/07]
Nafdac to Clampdown On Salt Dealers -
31/10/07
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)
are mandating salt manufacturers and importers to phase out 25 kg
bags of salt and produce only small pack sizes of 1kg. As from 01/01/08
25kg bags are at risk of confiscation. [DT 31/10/07]
Lagos Earmarks N15bn for 11 Roads in Apapa -
25/10/07
Lagos State government is to spend N15 billion to construct 11 roads
in Apapa. The roads will be constructed by Julius Berger within the
next two years. [TD 01/11/07]
Onne Port Sees Improved Revenue Levels -
25/10/07
Between June 2006 and July 2007, Onne Port complex, has recorded a
revenue of N16.7 billion. This is a marked increase of over N4 billion
compared to the preceding period of June 2005 and July 2006. [VAN
25/10/07]
Nigeria / Ghana Customs Strengthen Ties -
24/09/07
At the launch of the Abidjan-Lagos Transport and Transit Facilitation
Programme, the Nigeria Customs Service [NCS] and its Ghanaian counterpart
agreed to strengthen its relationship and cooperation in order to
implement ECOWAS policies and programmes as well as other international
conventions on trade facilitation.The cordial relationship between
the two customs services has witnessed a boost under the management
of Jacob Buba, Comptroller of Nigeria Customs Service and Commissioner
Emmanuel Doku of Ghana. Buba, urged Ghanaian customs to ensure strict
compliance to the provisions of the just signed MoU on facilitation
of transport and trade along the Abidjan-Lagos corridor, assuring
Nigeria's full compliance. [DC 24/09/07]
Cargo Defence Fund Mobilises Shippers -
09/10/07
Determined to ensure that its benefits are maximally utilised by importers
and exporters, the Cargo Defence Fund [CDF], has begun mobilisation
of importers and exporters with the aim of educating them on the
services offered by the Fund. The CDF met with Shippers Associations,
City Chambers of Commerce and governments in Kano, Kaduna, Zaria
and Katsina. The Fund, which is an initiative of the Nigeria Shipper's
Council, to assist the logistics and processes involved in importation
and exportation, including legal and insurance services, was available
to all stakeholders and urged the business community to subscribe
to the ideals and services of the CDF. Already the CDF has concluded
plans to build dry ports in several parts of the country as a way
of reducing the present pressure on the nation's sea ports. [TD 09/10/07]
Delta Plans Economic Free Zone in Koko -
05/10/07
In a bid to increase commercial activities in the Delta ports, the
Delta State Government is planning to establish a Koko Free Zone
(KFZ) in the state. Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mrs.
Chinwe Monu-Olarewaju, said that the government was working towards
attracting exporters and importers to utilise the ports. The state
has five ports, namely: Burutu, Forcados, Koko, Sapele and Warri.
[VAN 05/10/07]
Lagos Set to Launch Truck Terminal -
08/10/07
The Lagos State Government is set to launch the long awaited, first
phase of the Orile truck terminal. The terminal was designed to accommodate
about 550 tanker vehicles at a time. Commissioner for Transportation
Prof Bamidele Badejo disclosed that all arrangements have been concluded
for the launch of the terminal. [VAN 08/10/07]
BPE, Concessionaires, Transport
Ministry in Talks Over Ports Bill - 13/09/07 Port concessionaires have commenced discussions with the
Bureau of Public Enterprises [BPE] and the Federal Ministry of Transport
on
how
to ensure that the Ports & Harbours Bill is passed by the National
Assembly. The Nigerian Ports Authority [NPA] is also reported to
be involved in the discussions. BPE mid-wifed the concession programme and handed
over the terminals to the private operators in January 2006, but
the exercise has yet
to receive the approval of the Assembly. The bill was put forward during
the tenure of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, but did not go beyond the first
reading.
The concessionaires who took over the port have been operating for
1.5 years without an instrument to accord their operations the necessary
legal backing. Many have invested heavily to upgrade the terminal buying
cargo-handling plant and other equipment. It is noted that the Customs & Excise
Management Act [CEMA] has given legal backing to the operators of bonded
terminals, so surely the same thing should be done for the private
terminal operators. [VAN 13/09/07]
Shippers Seek Linkage of Rail to Ports -
28/08/07
Ahead of the expected rejuvenation of the rail system, the Nigerian
Shippers Council [NSC] has recommended that multi-modal links from
the port should be put in place. Rail and road networks should be
built to connect with the Inland Container Depots [ICDS]. The NSC
has urged the government to also set up and strengthen the National
Transport Commission [NTC], by appointing professionals to run the
sector and make recommendations for improvement of physical infrastructure
within the country. The recommendations were part of a workshop recently
organised by the Cargo Defence Fund [CDF]. [TD 28/08/07]
Contract For Dredging Bonny Channel -
18/09/07
The Minister of State for Water Transportation, Prince John Okechukwu
Emeka, has signed a $65 million contract with Nigerian Liquefied
Natural Gas (NLNG), Nigeria Port Authority (NPA) and the Bonny Channel
Company (BCC) to expand the channel in Rivers State. The minister
is reported to have said that the project will be funded by NLNG
but that repayment would be on a 60% (NLNG) / 40% (NPA) amortisation
arrangement on port dues of NLNG tankers. Bonny Channel Company,
a joint venture between NPA and a consortium of technical partners
led by Dredging International, is to execute the project, which is
expected to be completed within 24 weeks after mobilisation to site.
The channel is to be deepened from 12.5 metres to 14.3 metres and
widened from 215 metres to 230 metres to facilitate handling of deep
draught tankers. [BNBC 18/09/07]
Import Concessions Suspended -
30/08/07
Tax concessions and waivers granted to importers have been suspended
by the Government according to a press report quoting Nigeria’s
Minister of Finance, Dr Shamsudeen Usman, who said the policy will
remain in force pending an audit of existing beneficiaries. He said
the President was embarrassed by colossal revenue loss resulting
from abuse of the concessions. The Nigerian Customs Service is said
to have lost about N20 billion during the last seven months because
of the concessions. [BNBC 30/08/07]
Forms ‘M’ No Longer Required For
Free Zones - 30/08/07
The Central Bank of Nigeria has issued a circular stating that registration
of a Form M for processing applications for imports by licensed operators
in the Free Trade and Export Processing Zones is no longer required.
However all imports from these zones into Nigerian Customs territory
will continue to be under the existing domestic foreign exchange
regulations and guidelines on imports, procedures and documentation
under the Destination Inspection Scheme. [BNBC 30/08/07]
Liberalisation Of Unconfirmed Letters Of Credit -
30/08/07
Central Bank of Nigeria [CBN] circular TED/FEM/FPC/GEN/01/088 announced
that restrictions on the use of unconfirmed letters of credit for
the import of raw materials, spare parts and machinery required for
the manufacturing sector have been eased and extended to all imported
items, subject to CBN approval of facility limits for individual
banks. Negotiation is to be with inter-bank funds and effected within
90 days from date of shipment. [BNBC 30/08/07]
Soncap List Of Regulated Products Updated -
30/08/07
Central Bank of Nigeria [CBN] circular TED/FEM/GEN/FPC/01/021 dated
30/07/07 announced changes to the list of regulated products. Oral
hygiene appliances up to a maximum wattage of 500W, excluding toothbrushes,
have become subject to SONCAP. The regulations have been extended
to include all types of water purifiers excluding chemical based
units. Importers should comply with both NAFDAC and SONCAP requirements
for motor lubricating oil and petroleum based products for use in
vehicles, paints, varnishes, thinners, putties and related products,
and adhesives including adhesive tapes and glues, but excluding plasters
for medical purposes. Certain fertilisers, condoms and contraceptives,
baby diapers, sanitary pads and similar products have been de-listed.
[BNBC 30/08/07]
New Cotecna Appointment In Nigeria -
17/09/07
Mr Tayo Rabiu has been appointed Managing Director of Cotecna Destination
Inspection Ltd in Nigeria in succession to Mr Bosco Karingithi,
who has been appointed Regional Vice-President of Cotecna Inspection
S.A. and will be based in Accra with special responsibility for
Ghana
and
Nigeria projects. [BNBC 17/09/07]
NEPZA Seeks Collaboration With NPA -
06/09/07
The Nigerian Export Zones Authority [NEPZA] has sought the collaboration
of the Nigerian Ports Authority, [NPA] Western Ports, for the development
of a port at Olokola, Ondo State for use by vessels expected to operate
at the Free Trade Zone. [VAN 06/09/07]
NCS & Nimasa Sign MOU on Trade Facilitation -
06/09/07
The Nigeria Customs Service [NCS] and the Nigerian Maritime Administration
and Safety Agency [NIMASA] signed a Memorandum of Understanding [MoU]
with a view to facilitating trade in Nigeria.The signing ceremony
is the conclusion of a process started about six months ago following
a move initiated by the management of NIMASA to explore working collaboration
with other Agencies of government in the maritime industry. [VAN
06/09/07]
Government to Provide Parks for Tankers, Trailers -
13/09/07
In a bid to rid roads leading to and from Lagos ports of indiscriminate
parking by trailer and tanker drivers, the Lagos state government is
set to partner with the federal government to provide parks for haulage
vehicles. There are only two axis through which these ports can be
accessed. Any obstruction on the Mile Two- Apapa and Ijora- Apapa high
ways will automatically affect port activities. By September the phase
one of Orile Iganmu truck terminal will be opened for use and that
park will accommodate 500 tankers and trailers. [VAN 13/09/07]
Norwegian Government & NPA Partner For Port
Efficiency - 28/09/07
A team of Maritime experts from Norway have paid a courtesy call to
the Management of NPA Western Ports. The main focus was to boost
efficiency in operations. Nigeria already train its Marine Officers
in Norway. [DT 28/09/07]
Ships And Ports Investment Group Debuts Soon -
03/09/07
In a bid to open Nigerians to investment opportunities in the maritime
sector but are constrained by funds, a new Ships and Ports Communication
Company is offering a cooperative platform that will enable those
who cannot invest alone to pool funds together and invest collectively.
Chief Isaac Jolapamo, Indigenous Shipowners Association of Nigeria
(ISAN), has agreed to chair the board of trustees of the investment
company. [Leadership]
Oceanic Bank Invests In Indigenous Maritime Fleet -
03/09/07
Oceanic Bank International Plc has demonstrated its increasing interest
in the development of Nigeria’s maritime industry. The bank
recently extended a credit facility worth $14.5 million to an indigenous
shipping firm, Vigeo Limited for the acquisition of a modern anchor
handler vessel AHTS Lady Margaret from Farstad Shipping of Norway.
AHTS vessels are used to install and maintain oil platforms. The
vessel is of design ME505 (BHP 8850) built in Australia in 1993.
Delivery to the new owner will take place at the turn of August/September.
This is one of the five vessels Oceanic Bank has made plans to finance.
[Rigzone 03/09/07]
EU To Co-Finance Silt Control Programme In Niger
River -
31/08/07
The EU is to co-finance the de-silting of the Niger River, according
to Executive Secretary of the Niger Basin Development Authority [NBDA],
Mohammed Tuga. Tuga said the African Development Bank, the World
Bank and the Islamic Development Bank were also among the international
donors for the US$48-million programme. The project, aimed at ending
the entry of soil into River Niger, would also enhance fishing and
other agricultural activities in the river. The master plan was approved
last month by the Council of Ministers of the nine member countries
of the Niger basin. They are Burkina Faso, Benin Republic, Cameroon,
Ivory Coast, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Chad and Nigeria. [DPA 31/08/07]
NPA to Take Ports Out of Major
Cities - 10/08/07
Management of the Nigerian Port Authority [NPA], Western Ports, has
disclosed plans to take the nation's ports out of the cities to make
them more efficient. Managing Director, Abdulsalam Mohammed, criticized
congestion on the nation's ports roads, especially at Apapa and Tin
Can Island ports said that Nigeria's quest of becoming a maritime
hub may not materialize if its ports are not accessible. According
to him, "Our ports cannot be efficient if roads to them are
not accessible. This is why acquisition of land for future development
has become imperative. There is need to take the ports out of the
cities."
Mohammed also called for the reactivation and provision of rail access
to all of the nation's ports as well as the implementation of the nation's
transport master plan. He pointed out that there were a number of present
constraints which included policy instability, financial burden of
dredging activities, unreliable power generation and distribution,
access roads at the Lagos Port Complex and the enhancement of Information
Communication Technology [ICT] through a common network with customs
and port users. Mohammed also called for an earlier passage of the
Port and Labour Bill presently with the National Assembly. [DC 10/08/07]
Norway Partners Nigeria to Develop Shipping Sector -
09/08/07
The Norwegian Shipowners Association [NSA] is hoping to partner the
Indigenous Shipping Association of Nigeria [ISAN] to develop the
Nigeria shipping industry. According to Chief Isaac Jolapamo, President
of ISAN, the collaboration with Norway will look at the possibility
of shipyard development and man power training of Nigerian seafarers.
Jolapamo also called on the Association to help Nigeria with its
excess tonnage.
Reidar Norheim of the NSA noted that education is the key to shipping
development, adding that if the conditions between both countries are
acceptable, the Norwegian Shipowners Association will enter into an
Institutional Shipping Development Programme in Nigeria. Norheim explained
that the reason for the programme is to ensure that the quality of
man power and other areas of development in Nigeria will be of international
standard. He also stated that Nigerians will be given opportunity to
crew Norwegian flagged vessels if the partnership works out.
The NSA is still carrying out a feasibility study, adding that as
soon as the report is compiled, submitted to the Norwegian Shipowners,
and if accepted, then work can start on some specific areas of the
Nigerian shipping sector. Norway is the fifth largest ship owning nation
in the world with a total of 1,795 vessels , amounting to 50million
Dead Weight Ton [DWT]. [VAN 09/08/07]
New High Commissioner Appointed -
28/06/07
Mr Robert Dewar CMG has been appointed British High Commissioner
to the Federal Republic of Nigeria in succession to Sir Richard Gozney
KCMG. Mr Dewar, who is currently Her Majesty’s Ambassador to
the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, will take up his new
appointment in December.
Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre For Lagos -
28/06/07
According to Dr Christopher Kolade [Nigeria’s High Commissioner
in UK] Nigeria has purchased the equipment needed for establishment
of a regional Lagos based maritime rescue coordination centre within
three months.
Adf Loan For Rural Transport In Cross River -
28/06/07
The African Development Fund [ADF] is reported to have approved a loan
equivalent to US$53 million in support of a rural access project
in Cross River State. The scheme will give priority to rehabilitation
of unpaved feeder roads which are subject to erosion. The ADF loan
will cover 89.5% of the project costs, 8.3% being provided by the
Cross River State Government and the remaining 2.2% by the Federal
Government.
Nigeria Will Make Export Processing Zones Competitive -
28/06/07
President Umaru Musa Yar'adua has assured the Nigeria Export Processing
Zones Authority [NEPZA] that his administration would accelerate
the passage of a bill to create a competitive atmosphere for the
companies in the zones. The NEPZA oversees 22 free zones in Nigeria,
with a potential for cumulative investment of us$100bn if policies
were consistent and the companies were given access into the Nigerian
market. [NF 28/06/07]
NPA Gets Task Force on Cargo Clearance -
26/06/07
Following the accumulated cargoes arising from the 4-day nationwide strike by
the Nigerian Labour Congress [NLC] and Trade Union Congress [TUC], the Nigerian
Ports Authority [NPA] has set up a task force to fast-track the clearance of
goods at the ports. The task force will enforce the smooth movement of traffic
in and out of the Apapa and Tin can island Ports in line with the Federal Ministry
of Transportation's desire for the immediate resumption of Port activities. The
Authority urges all Terminal Operators, Clearing and Shipping Agents, Trailer
Operators, Stakeholders and the general public to cooperate with the task force
to ensure a hitch free exercise. The task force will remain in force until operations
at the ports returns to its normal
state. [DT 26/06/07]
NCMDLA Identify Obstacles to Cargo Clearance -
22/06/07
Freight forwarders have identified cumbersome procedures and high cost
as major impediments for clearance of cargoes at the nation's ports.
Other hindrances to clearance procedures at the ports are delays
in movement of cargoes to off dock and bonded terminals and difficulties
in examination of cargoes by customs due to lack of plant space;
delays in confirming payments at banks and constant breakdown of
scanners.
The process of obtaining the Risk Assessment Report [RAR] is still
very difficult as values are being jerked up at will while classification
is wrongly applied. The dispute resolution mechanisms are not included
in the process of the service providers. Such issue take weeks and
months to be resolved and it's the major component obstructing facilitation
as all cases are always referred to banks and service providers before
the importer or agent will be informed.
Freight forwarders also pointed out that "the core component
of the Automated System for Customs Data [ASYCUDA], is yet to be used
so the process is still being done manually. ASYCUDA ++ is yet to be
fully automated due to connectivity problems and breakdowns. Meanwhile
port access can mean a whole day spent tackling red tape before access
is granted. [DC 22/06/07]
Cargo Manifests & Overtime
Cargo - 10/05/07
Nigerian Customs have issued new circulars indicating cargo manifests
must be submitted 72 hrs prior to the vessels arrival and that all
uncleared cargo at the port after 28 days will be treated as overtime
cargo. Please click here for the official notice.
FG Awards US$127 Million Contract for Port Repairs -
10/05/07
The Federal Government has awarded a contract for the reconstruction
of Lagos port harbours - the East and West moles - at a cost of US$127
million [N16.5333 billion] to China Engineering Construction Company
(CCECC). The contract was signed on behalf of the government by Minister
of State for Transport Mallam Habibu Aliyu and managing director
of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Chief Adebayo Sarumi. The dilapidated hundred
year old mole will be removed and the contractors will build a new
deep-sea solid wall across the east and west harbours
of the sea. [DT 10/05/07]
NIMASA Gets New CEO -
10/05/07
The Federal Government has appointed a new Director General/CEO for
NIMASA. He is Dr. Shamsideen Adegboyega Dosunmu. The government dissolved
the Agency's Interim Management Board and reconstituted a new one
to be chaired by the Honourable Minister of State for Water Transportation,
Mallam Muhammed Habib Aliu. Other members of the Board include; Mr.
Henry Abebe, Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services;
Alhaji Danjuma Dabo, Executive Director, Finance and Administration,
and Ishaku M. Shekarau, Executive Director, Maritime Safety and Shipping
Development. Meanwhile, the former Director General/CEO of the agency, Mrs. Mfon
Usoro has been cleared by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
[EFCC]. [DT 10/05/07]
Abolish Duty Waivers -
07/05/07
The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has attributed the slow pace
of economic growth in the country to the prevalent use of import duty waiver
and has called for it to be abolished. The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(LCCI) has attributed the slow pace of economic growth in the country to the
prevalent use of import duty waiver and has called for it to be abolished. The
president of the chamber, Dr. Ademola Ajayi, said that the indiscriminate import
duty waivers could be a source of distortion in the economy and that it has become
a cause of concern to private sector operators.
[VAN 07/05/07]
Isiala-Ngwa Dry Port - Abia State -
07/05/07
At a ground breaking ceremony, Minister of Transportation, Chief Cornelius Adebayo,
said the Inland Container Depot [ICD], in Isiala-Ngwa, Abia State, will create
up to 100,000 jobs when completed. The site, a 50,000 TEU port facility, will
serve Aba, Onitsha, Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, Delta and Benue states. The Isiala-ngwa
ICD is expected to receive containerised cargo by rail from Port Harcourt. The
depot will also benefit from on-going modernisation of the railway from Lagos
to Kano into standard gauge and future upgrading of the Port Harcourt-Jos-Maiduguri
line. East Gate Inland Container Terminal Ltd has been given the go ahead to
construct the facility expected to be ready for business within 30 months. The
government has also recently performed ground breaking ceremonies
for ICD’s in Kano and Jos. [VAN 07/05/07]
Tinapa Business Resort Opens -
07/05/07
Early in April President Obasanjo declared the Tinapa Business Resort in Calabar
open. The Chief Executive Officer, Mr Sam Anani stated that there will be a synergy
between the Calabar Free Zone and the Tinapa Free Zone. He said that the free
trade zone incentives include a one-stop approval process for establishing business
operations, 100% exemption from tax and import duties, unrestricted repatriation
of capital, profits and dividends, as well as efficient customs and clearing
procedures. He said the involvement of the private sector in Tinapa was championed
by United Bank for Africa plc, which provided N5 billion to jump start the construction
process.
Obasanjo Flags Off Abuja Metro Rail System -
07/05/07
President Obasanjo flagged off work on the construction of the Abuja
metro rail system slated for completion in 15 years and financed
by a $841 million dollar loan facility provided by the Chinese government.
The project will be executed in three phases by Chinese Civil Engineering
Construction Company which will provide a standard rail gauge for
the city covering 280km. [VAN 07/05/07]
Lagos to Kano Railway -
03/05/07
Acting Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation [NRC],
Mazi Jetson Nwankwo has said work on the standard gauge from Lagos
to Kano has started, while Port-Harcourt to Maiduguri axis was yet
to begin. [TD 03/05/07]
Cargo Manifests & Overtime
Cargo - 01/05/07
Nigerian
Customs have issued new circulars indicating cargo manifests must
be submitted 72 hrs prior to the vessels arrival and that all
uncleared cargo at the port after 28 days will be treated as overtime
cargo. Please see attached for details.
Work Starts On Calabar Mono-Rail -
25/04/07
Work on theUS$36 million Calabar Monorail project was formally started when Cross
River State Governor Donald Duke performed a ground-breaking ceremony at Margaret
Ekpo International Airport. The project was conceived in anticipation of increased
traffic as a result of the Tinapa Business Resort. Duke added that, when completed,
passengers will be ferried over the 12.9km from the airport to the business resort
at 60 kph. The project is funded by the African Import-Export Bank based in Cairo.
[VAN 25/04/07]
NIMASA Introduces New Certificate for Vessels -
20/04/07
NIMASA has introduced new certification process for vessels in order to ensure
compliance with the provisions of the Coastal and Inland [Cabotage] Act 2006.
Henceforth, any vessel that fails to carry the new certificate would be detained
by the agency, adding that the measure was to ensure full implementation of
the Cabotage law as well as meet international standard. The main objective
of the new regime is to encourage indigenous participation in domestic shipping
trade. NIMASA has so far registered 67 vessels, representing a cumulative tonnage
of 35, 725.21 dead weight [dwt ]. [DT 20/04/07]
Obasanjo Commissions Olokola FTZ Project -
17/04/07
President Obasanjo has performed the ground breaking ceremony of the
multi-billion dollar OK Free Trade Zone Project at Olokola a joint
venture initiative of Ogun and Ondo State governments. [DC 17/04/07]
New Maritime Safety Bill Out Soon -
17/04/07
According to the head of NIMASA legal services, Mrs Mayen Obi, the
Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency [NIMASA] Bill
may be signed into law this month by President Obasanjo. [The ANIMAS
Bill gave legal backing to the merger of the former National Maritime
Authority and the Joint Maritime Labour Industrial Council [JOMALIC].
The agency, initially known as National Maritime Administration and
Safety Agency [NAMASA] had its name changed to NIMASA with the passage
of the Bill.]
World Bank Boosts Lagos Transport Project With
$50m -
12/04/07
The World Bank has approved an additional $50 million for the Lagos
State Urban Transport project. This is in addition to the original
$100 million released for the project. [Van 12/04/07]
Indigenous Ship Owners to Access N1bn Cabotage Fund -
10/04/07
The National Assembly had approved the guidelines for the operation of the Cabotage
Vessel Financing Fund [CVFF]. Not less than N1 billion naira which accrued to
the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund [CVFF] since 2004 can now be accessed by indigenous
ship owners. The CVFF was put in place to replace the former Ship Acquisition
and Ship Building Fund [SASBF] which was initiated by the late General Sani Abacha
administration in 1995. Abacha was forced to stop the scheme when virtually all
those who assessed the fund used the loan for every
other thing except ship acquisition.
The new Cabotage law 2003 seeks to restrict the carriage of coastal
trade to ships owned by Nigerians and registered in Nigeria. Such vessels are
also to be built in the country as well as crewed by Nigerian nationals. To
achieve the objectives of the Act, an arrangement was included in the legislation
that will grant credit facilities to Nigerians participating in the cabotage
trade, under a special credit scheme. [TD 10/04/07]
Lekki Trade Zone - Lagos Government & Communities
Sign MoU - 04/04/07
Following a prolonged struggle, the Lagos State Government has finally
signed a Memorandum of Understanding [MoU] with various groups and communities
in the
Ibeju Lekki area of the State; to create the Lekki Free Trade Zone [LFTZ] project.
The multi-billion dollar project launched in May 2006 is a joint venture between
the Lagos State Government and a consortium of Chinese businesses [CCECC-BEYOND
International
Investment & Development Co. Ltd.]
The MoU, which was prepared by a Lagos-based non-governmental
organisation [NGO], the Social and Economic Rights Action Center [SERAC] involved
the Lagos Government, Ibeju Lekki Government Council, Lekki Worldwide Investment
Limited [LWIL], and the accredited representatives of villages and communities
affected by the LFTZ project. After the signing ceremony, Lagos State Governor,
Senator Bola Tinubu stated that with the signing of the MoU and concession
of 5% ownership of the LFTZ project to the local communities, it was important
to quickly begin processes for the project's resettlement scheme. [TD 04/04/07]
Imports to Be Subjected to SON
Inspection - 01/04/07
Standards Organisation of Nigeria [SON] is now to inspect imported
goods before the Nigeria Customs Service allows them into the country,
according to Dr. John Akanya, SON Director General. This will ensure
that substandard commodities were not dumped in the country. Akanya said
his organisation and the Customs were partners in progress and
there was no reason why there should be conflicts in the operations
of the two organisations. He added that it is a good development
for
the two organisations to work together for the purpose of checking
substandard imports. According to him, products of Nigerian manufacturers
need to be protected and made competitive against those of other
countries by ensuring that only qualitative products are imported.
President Receives Draft Protocol On One-Stop Investment
Centre - 30/03/07
President Obasanjo has directed the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission
to consult stakeholders to prepare a Draft Protocol for the establishment of
the One-Stop Investment Centre. Agencies to be represented at the centre include
the Nigerian Immigration Service, the Nigeria Customs Service, the Standards
Organisation of Nigeria, the National Office for Technology Acquisition and
Promotion, the Corporate Affairs Commission, the Federal Inland Revenue Service
and NAFDAC. [BNBC March Rpt]
No Fixed Scanner For Apapa Port Until 2009 -
30/03/07
Installation of a fixed scanner at Apapa Port may not be complete until January
2009, according to Managing Director of Cotecna Destination Inspection Ltd,
Mr B.J.K. Karingithi. He said that allocation of a suitable site had been
delayed by congestion after concessioning of terminals at the port, but that
a site had now been allocated and a contract signed for construction work
to commence in August this year. [BNBC March Rpt]
Free Trade Zone - Lagos Signs MOU With Chinese Govt -
30/03/07
The Lagos State Government has signed a MoU with the Chinese Government for
the development of the Lekki Free Trade Zone. The leader of the Chinese delegation
Mr. Li Yuanchao expressed confidence that the project would be a reality,
stressing that the project would further bring about greater cooperation
between Nigeria and China. Nigerian Governor Bola Tinubu recalled the rapid
transformation which Shanghai town had undergone as a clear demonstration
of the benefits which an organized market like a free trade zone could bring,
hoping that same would come to Lagos. [Van 30/03/07]
Government Orders Relocation Of Apapa Fuel Depots -
27/03/07
The Government is reported to have ordered relocation of fuel depots on Tin-Can
Island and Apapa in order to reduce traffic congestion, following a visit to
the area by the Minister of Transportation, Chief Cornelius Adebayo. The Government
has also directed that any further construction of tank farms in the area be
halted, as a means of improving the flow of traffic to and from the port. [VAN
27/03/07]
NPA Sacks Another 3,000 Workers -
23/03/07
The Management of the Nigerian ports Authority [NPA], has laid off another 3,000
of its workers barely eight months after sacking 3000 workers in similar exercise
and according to reports borrowed about N15 billion from two leading banks
to finance the retrenchment. A press statement read "The gradual reduction
of the staff strength of Nigerian Ports Authority in accordance with the on-going
Port Reforms takes a further step today with the severance of officers and
staff most, of whom have served for over 18 years." Umbrella body for the
workers in the sector, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria [MWUN] is already
poised for a showdown with management over
the current wave of retrenchment and called on the National Assembly to direct
the Minister of Transport and the Management of NPA to halt the exercise or
the union would be forced to withdraw their members from the ports. [VAN 23/03/07]
Ogun Lays Ground Work for Industrial Parks, Earmarks
N216b for FTZ -
20/03/07
Foundations for the establishment of a 20,000ha Industrial Park has
been laid by the Ogun State Government and Chinese Investor. Situated
along the Lagos-Ibadan Express Way, the industrial park is being
constructed to facilitate the establishment of export oriented industries,
thus contributing to the industrial development of the State and
the nation. Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel said the first phase of
the industrial park, will occupy 600ha comprising rubber products factory,
vehicle Assembly Plants, Flour Mills, construction companies, plastic
recycling firms including foods and beverage products. [VAN 20/03/07]
Nigeria, Ghana Yet To Resolve Maritime Boundary-
19/03/07
According to the National Boundary Commission Director-General Saddiq
Diggi, Nigeria and Ghana are yet to resolve their maritime boundary
of eight nautical miles. Diggi said the federal government was determined
to define all the country’s boundaries both land and the high
seas. The Commission have written to the Ghana Boundary Commission
several times and visited Ghana to meet officials who have not yet
responded. [The Tide 19/03/07]
NIMASA Sacks Top Management -
15/03/07
There are indications that the management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration
and Safety Agency [NIMASA] formerly known as NAMASA after the recent merger,
have approval from the Ministry of Transportation to fire some of its top management
staff including directors and their deputies. Also some estimated 77 middle
management staff will
also be affected. [VAN 15/03/07]
Government Prepares New Guidelines for
Free Trade Zones- 14/03/07
The federal government has drawn guidelines for the operation of Free Zones.
The minister of commerce and industry, Aliyu Moddibo Umar disclosed this at
a forum on the commencement of Olokola Free Trade Zone. He stated work on the
guideline and policy have been concluded and is ready to be presented to the
federal executive council for approval. He also explained that the government
wants to also set up guidelines on the free zone of liquefied natural gas [LNG]
adding;" it is the commitment of this administration to use the free zones
scheme as a platform for the domestication of earnings in the oil and gas sector
of the economy to enable the nation benefit maximally from this sector"
Meanwhile, the chief executive officer of Nigeria Export Processing
Zones Authority [NEPZA] Sina Agboluaje has disclosed that two major oil and
gas projects of OKLNG in the OKFTZ and Brass LNG has concluded plans to move
into the NLG free trade zone as a pioneer investor.
The OKLNG Free Trade Zone is a collaborative venture between
Ogun and Ondo States Government. Benefits to the two states and the nation
include: increase in revenue generation, social welfare development, Optimisation
of Nigeria Labour, expansion of economic activities, linkage of local enterprises,
addition of value to primary products through manufacturing/processing activities
infrastructures development, generation of employment opportunities including
opportunities for human capital development, as well as youth employment. The
free trade zone is further designed to facilitate international trade, promote
the diversification of the export base of the nation through the acceleration
of export business with attendant incentives, promote rapid industrialisation
and facilitate commerce, thereby harnessing the vast resources of the two states.
The first phase of the free trade zone is estimated at US$7 billion
with Phase two valued at over US$10 billion. [TA 14/03/07]
Government Closes Third Mainland Bridge to Heavy Duty
Vehicles- 10/03/07
Effective from 16/03/07, the Third Main Land bridge will be restricted to vehicles
below 10 tonnes.The Minister of Transportation, Chief Cornelius Adebayo pointed
out that other restrictions, such as diversion of traffic and control of axle
loads will apply at the bridge heads. Adebayo noted the necessity for the prompt
repair adding that Borini
Prono have submitted preliminary drawings. [VAN 10/03/07]
Customs Begin Weekend, Night Operations
in Ports - 16/02/07
The Customs Area Comptroller of Apapa Port Rashidi Taiwo has introduced
weekend and night operations in the Port. Apapa will now be able to
operate twenty-four hours a day. Time is money and the weekend and
night operations has helped to reduce the time spent in clearing goods
particularly transfer of containers to different Terminals and Bonded
Warehouses. [DT 16/02/07]
$25bn Project For Niger-Delta Region -
16/02/07
A US$25 billion deep water port is to be constructed in the Niger
Delta zone. In the first phase of a four-phase project, the port
modelled
after a Connecticut [USA] deep water port would be constructed
in Bayelsa state, followed by other ancillary projects to be sited
in
Delta, Cross River and Rivers States. Described as potentially the biggest
marine investment in Africa, the project, to be sited in the Niger
Delta Areas of Delta, Rivers,
Bayelsa, Cross River and possibly Akwa Ibom, would be done in phases
spanning 15 years.
13,000 Dock Workers Face Sack -
08/02/07
At least 13,300 dockworkers will soon be relieved of their duties as
part of government's efforts to handover the nation's seaports to
private operators. After negotiations with the unions, government
which initially earmarked N500 million for the exercise raised the
amount to N2.6 billion for severance packages for those affected.
According to Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority [NPA], Chief
Adebayo Sarumi each redundant worker would receive N200,000. [DC
08/02/07]
Pre-Shipment of Oil & Gas
Exports - 01/02/07
The Nigerian Export Supervision Scheme [NESS] has been enlarged to
include oil and gas exports with effect from 1st February, 2007
Goods Should Not Be Shipped Until After
Form M And LC Date - 01/02/07
The Central Bank of Nigeria, in its recently released revised Foreign
Exchange [FOREX] Manual, is reported to have again re-emphasised the
requirement that there should be no shipment of goods by suppliers
prior to Form M acceptance by scanning companies and Letter of Credit
issuance. Failure to comply will prevent the importer from obtaining
foreign exchange from either the Central Bank of Nigeria or the autonomous
market. [BNBC 01/02/07]
COTECNA And Customs Speed Clearance At
Ports - 01/02/07
Mr Karingithi, Managing Director of Cotecna Destination Inspection
Ltd, is reported to have told stakeholders in Lagos that the company
is now processing Forms M within one day. He said the average processing
time for Risk Assessment Reports [RARs] at seaports has been reduced
to 2-3 days and that the time taken at airports has been reduced
to 24 hours. He said documentation for over 80% of bulk cargo at
Apapa is now processed within three days. He added that the company’s
scanning services have been extended to seven days a week. The Area
Controller of the Nigeria Customs Service, who addressed the same
meeting, confirmed that the Service had commenced examination and
release of containers on Saturdays and Sundays, but only at the premises
of APM Terminals Ltd.
Other project milestones in Destination
Inspection include the installation of x-ray scanners at Kano and Abuja,
enhancement
of VSAT [space communication]
at Kano, development of VSAT and IT infrastructure in Jibya Land
border, manpower development and high powered training of the Nigeria
Customs.
[BNBC 01/02/07]
SONCAP UK - Announcement -
01/02/07
Rebecca Lodge is handing over to Estelle Mann as UK SONCAP Coordinator
dealing with all general SONCAP enquiries. She may be contacted
on estelle.mann@intertek.com 01908 857707. Tony Woodford will handle
all enquiries regarding VMT Inspection and product testing. His
contact
details are tony.woodford@intertek.com 01908 857722. Intertek Research
and Performance Testing is at Davy Avenue, Knowlhill, Milton Keynes,
MK5 8NL, phone 01908 857815, fax 01908 857832, www.intertek-etlsemko.com
[BNBC 01/02/07]
Imo Wants Speedy Approval of Free Trade
Zone - 26/01/07
The government of Imo State has called on the federal government to approve
the establishment of a Free Trade Zone in the state. The governor, Achike Udenwa
disclosed the Chinese had shown interest to assist in developing the Free Trade
Zone. Once established, the trade zone will attract billions of dollars of
Chinese investment and that it would turn around the economy of the state.
The Managing Director of Nigerian Export Processing Zone Authority, Mr. Sina
Agholuaje, confirmed that the state has filled all necessary document for the
take off of the free zone and continued that the state needed the support of
the federal government in the area of provision of more infrastructures.[DT
26/01/07]
Cargo Handling Increases In Ports-
25/01/07
Nigerian Ports handled 45million tonnes of cargo in 2005. This is the highest
volume of cargo ever handled and is 12% higher than the 41milion tonnes handled
in 2004. A breakdown of the 2005 cargo throughput figure obtained from the NPA
shows that 29million tonnes or 64% were Inward Cargo [Imports and Domestic Incoming
Cargo] while 16million or 36% were Outward Cargo [Export and Domestic Outgoing
Cargo].
Jos Inland Container Depot Foundation Ceremony -
25/01/07
The Jos Inland Container Depot [ICD] project has been inaugurated with a foundation
laying ceremony. apart from serving Jos and its immediate environs, the ICD
would also serve shippers from Kaduna, Nasarawa and Benue States and other
landlocked neighbouring countries. When completed, the Jos ICD will receive
containerised and other cargoes basically by rail from Lagos or port Harcourt.
It will also handle export cargoes from Plateau and other neighbouring states.
The ICD in Jos is one of the six locations approved by the Federal Government
for the sitting of ICDs and freight Stations. [DT 25/01/07]
Terminal Operators Protest Proposed
Multiple Charges - 04/01/07
The Private Terminals Operators Association has protested against the
proposed multiple charges by the National Maritime Administration and
Safety Agency [NAMASA] bill on the members of the group, saying that
the move would increase the cost of doing business at the nation's
ports.
The protest was contained in a memorandum
submitted to the Senate Committee at the on-going hearing of the NAMASA
bill. The memorandum
said that charges cannot be imposed, unless services are rendered,
adding that multiplicity of levies without services would be unjustifiable.
According to the Association the provision of the bill imposing levies
and administration of funds accruing there from runs contrary to
the provisions of the 1999 Constitution that all income received by
the
government must be paid into the Federation Accounts. The group also
noted that the former National Maritime Authority [NMA] has not been
able to account for the 3% per cent it has collected over
the years, an additional 2.5% levy imposition making a total of 5.5%
will bring about high cost of goods and services.
The Association
also explained that if levies must be imposed, charges imposed by
the Bureau of Public Enterprises [BPE] must be removed,
as any increase in tariff is bound to defeat the whole essence of
the port reform programme of government. The group is of the opinion
that
in as much as the idea of legalising the establishment of NAMASA
is laudable, what the bill may end up creating is an industry leviathan
rather than a vehicle for its sustainable, rapid, and rounded development.
The bill according to the terminal operators will over-bureaucratise
the system and ignore the country's firm resolve to deregulate the
economy. The group said "On the face of it, there appears to be
an eagerness to amass revenue for undeterminable goals without considering
that
ultimately and in an effort to reconcile distortions, cost always end
up being passed on to the ordinary citizens".
Currently, 3% of
gross freight on all international inbound and outbound cargoes from
ships and shipping companies operating in Nigeria, even
when only 2% is specified by law is being paid to NAMASA. A breakdown
of the payment of the 3% levy is that 1% each is used for administration,
training and ship acquisition. [VAN 04/01/07]
Imo Government Signs Agreement
With Chinese Firm - 03/01/07
According to Governor Achike Udenwa mo State has signed a US$10 billion
agreement with a Chinese firm, Guangdong Xinguang International,
to establish a free trade zone within the state. 2,000 hectares
of land located in Eziama Amalantu and Ikem axis of Ngor Okpala Council
has been acquired for the purpose. Udenwa said the state government,
appreciating the role of small medium enterprises as the engine
of
growth and development, has released N50 million to enable the
SME operators to access the CBN Trust Fund for that purpose. [TD
03/01/07]
SONCAP Liaison Office
Since March 2005 the Nigerian Product Conformity Assessment Programme
[SONCAP] scheme has been in place. The work is carried out by the
Standards Organisation of Nigeria [SON] on a sole-mandate basis.
Standards
Organisation of Nigeria
Northern Business District, Plot 13/14,
Victoria Arobieke Street,
Off Admiralty Way,
Lekki Peninsula Phase 1, Lekki,
Lagos, Nigeria
Tel: + 234 (01) 2713141/43
Fax: + 234 (01) 2713142
E-mail: info@soncap.com
Website: www.soncap.com
Cotecna Destination Inspection (Head Office)
Oyo State House,
4th Floor, Ralph Shodehine Street,
Central Business
District,
ABUJA
Tel +234 9
234 58 54
Fax +234 9 234 30 70
Email: abubakar.mujeli@cotecna.ch
Website: www.cotecna.com
