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Tag: NPA

  • Lagos Reps member, constituents reject NPA marine services extension

    Lagos Reps member, constituents reject NPA marine services extension

    Lawmaker representing Amuwo Odofin Federal Constituency (PDP) at the House of Representatives, Hon. Oghene Egoh has backed residents of Ijegun Egba Satellite town in Lagos in saying no to the planned extension of marine services by Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) in the area.

    Speaking to participants in a stakeholders meeting organised by the NPA at Rockview Hotel in Lagos, Egoh said the arrangement to extend marine services to Ijegun Satellite Town is an exercise in futility and is totally rejected considering the present plight of residents of the area.

    The General Manager, Hydro and Dredging of the NPA, Mr. Olumide Omotoso who led the NPA officials stated that the plan to navigate the water channel at Ijegun have been approved by the Federal Government since 2016 but was delayed due to respect for procedural process and the need for stakeholders input. Omotosho however reiterated that the NPA did not authorize anyone to build tank farm or container terminal in a residential area.

    Also speaking, the chairman of the Community Development Association (CDA), Mr Michael Imitini lamented the pains residents passed through on daily basis in the area. According him, letters have been sent to the federal government, NPA, Lagos State Ministry of Environment and the National Assembly in respect to the activities of the tank farms and container operators to no avail. He said only the Ministry of Environment responded. Imitini insisted that based on their sad daily experiences, the residents in unison reject the NPA’s planned extension of marine services in the area.

    However, Egoh in a response said he passionately share the plights of the residents and others doing business in the area. He stressed that the activities of the tank farms owner and terminal operators have totally paralysed businesses in the area.

    In his words: “People leave their homes to work as early as 4.30am and return late by 11pm. Children no longer go to school because trailers and containers are parked on the roads.”

    The lawmaker stated that if the tank farms activities must continue, they must build six lane roads in and out and railway service to carry petrol tankers to decongest the road.

    According to him, the residents have written new petitions stating their grievances to the National Assembly and other related agencies of government. He promised following up on the petition at the National Assembly to achieve desired results.

     

  • Senate probes NPA over N177b unremitted fund

    The Nigerian Senate has given its committee on Marine Transport three days to determine if a N177 billion unremitted fund is still in the custody of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA).

    A member of the committee, Mohammed Hassan, called the attention of his colleagues to the issue while raising a point of order on Wednesday.

    Mr Hassan said the agency in 2017 made a gross revenue of N303 billion, out of which N125 was spent but the remaining N177 billion was not remitted to the federal government.

    It is assumed that Mr Hassan gave the figure based on approximation as N125 billion and N177 billion will amount to N302 billion.

    The lawmaker said the management of the agency has rebuffed every move by the Senate to ascertain the whereabouts of the fund.

    “NPA recorded a gross revenue of N303 billion,” Mr Hassan (PDP, Yobe South) said.

    “Meanwhile, its expenditure for that year was N125 billion. Therefore, there was N177 billion operating surplus that was recorded. Not a single dime was reported to have been remitted either to the consolidated revenue fund or to the general reserve fund. We raised this with the management of NPA. Till today, seven months after, we have not heard from them.

    “The question is, where is this N177 (billion)? It has not been reported, we have not heard from them seven months after.”

    In his contribution, chairman of the committee, Ahmed Yerima, said Mr Hassan ought to have brought up the issue at the committee level and not plenary. His position was corroborated by Mao Ohabunwa.

    In granting Mr Hassan’s prayer, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, ruled that the committee look into the issue and give a report within the next three days.

     

  • Lagos, Delta ports await 27 ships – NPA

    The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) says 27 ships will bring into the country petroleum products, food and other goods from Oct. 8 to Oct. 27.
    According to the NPA, the ships are expected to berth at Apapa and TinCan Island ports in Lagos.
    Four of the 27 ships will sail in with petroleum products while others will bring in buckwheat, frozen fish, general cargo, bulk sugar, bulk gypsum and containers carrying different goods, it said.
    Thirteen other ships laden with bulk fertilizer, container and petroleum products have already reached the ports waiting to berth.
    Besides, NPA said five ships with oil, diesel, dredgers and butane will berth at Delta port while eight ships will bring in general cargo, petrol, among others at the same port.
     

  • Apapa Gridlock: NPA suspends Maerskline, three others

    Apapa Gridlock: NPA suspends Maerskline, three others

    Following the protracted strike by truck drivers at the Lagos Port Complex Apapa over movement of empty containers, the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, on Friday, slammed a 10-day suspension on Maerskline shipping and three other shipping lines.

    The other shipping lines affected by the suspension are Cosco Shipping, APS and Lansal. NPA stated that the suspension takes effect from today.

    A statement signed by Assistant General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, Isah Suwaid, noted that “the suspension follows the Authority’s checks which revealed that the four companies have failed to fully comply with the directive to acquire and operate holding bays as they have either failed to utilise their holding bays at all or do not have adequate capacity to handle the volume of containers that they deal with.

    “Some of these companies have also been found to import a larger number of containers than empty containers exported thereby making the country a dumping ground for empties. “These conducts have contributed to the persistent congestion around the Lagos Port Complex and the Tin Can Island Port, spreading to other parts of the Lagos metropolis where truck drivers with no immediate business at the ports now park their trucks.

    “At the expiration of this suspension, the Authority will review the level of compliance to its directives and determine further actions. “In addition to this, the NPA will henceforth embark on a regular compliance check of the operations of holding bays by shipping companies and terminal operators and defaulters will be sanctioned.

    “Stakeholders have also agreed that while the call up system through the ports management as advised by shipping companies will remain in force, personnel of the Nigerian Navy will discontinue the issuance of call ups, even though they will remain on the traffic management team.

    “Finally, the Authority wishes to state that the planned introduction of a new service charge called “Empty positioning fee” by shipping lines is illegal and should not be honoured by any operator. “The Authority is grateful to all stakeholders for their cooperation,” Suwaid concluded.

  • Court summons Zuma’s son over fatal car crash

    A Court on Tuesday summoned former South African president Jacob Zuma’s son Duduzane, to appear on July 12 to answer homicide charges over a fatal car crash in 2014.

    State prosecutors initially decided not to charge Duduzane after his Porsche 911 sports car plowed into a minivan taxi in Johannesburg, killing one woman and seriously injuring another who later died in hospital.

    The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) reversed its decision after Duduzane’s father was ousted as head of state by the ruling African National Congress in February

    Prosecutors initially gave Duduzane Zuma two months to say why he should not be prosecuted, but said he had failed to do so by the deadline at the end of March.

    They said in April they would charge Duduzane with culpable homicide.

    Phindi Mjonondwane, a spokeswoman for the NPA, told Reuters on Tuesday that Duduzane had been summoned to appear at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court in Johannesburg on July 12 and that prosecutors expected him to attend.

    Attempts to reach Duduzane, who rarely speaks to the media, were unsuccessful. His lawyer was not immediately available for comment.

    During an inquest in 2014, Duduzane said his car hit a puddle and he lost control‚ veering into the taxi‚ which in turn smashed into a barrier, describing the incident as “tragic”.

     

  • NNPC, NPA, FIRS, others owing FG N526bn, $21bn

    The National Economic Council (NEC) has revealed that 18 federal government’s agencies did not remit N526bn and $21bn into the Federation Account between 2010 and June 2015.

    The council made this known on Thursday after its meeting presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    All state governors, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and relevant ministers make up the council.

    Speaking on behalf of the council, Governor of Gombe state Ibrahim Dankwambo said the non-remittance by the agencies was detected by an audit firm, KPMG.

    Agencies indicted include the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency and the Nigerian Communications Commission.

    Others are the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Department of Petroleum Resources and the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, among others.

    Dankwambo said a sub-committee would be set up to look into the details, saying those found guilty would be handed over to the Attorney General of the Federation for action.

    “Council adopted the presentations and reports of the KPMG and the recommendations of its Ad-hoc Committee including a resolution to identify instances where there appears to have been criminal infringements and forward such to the Attorney General of the Federation and the Legal Committee of the National Economic Council for further action,” he said.

  • Patronise Eastern ports to decongest Lagos ports – NPA advises importers, exporters

    Patronise Eastern ports to decongest Lagos ports – NPA advises importers, exporters

    The Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) has appealed to importers and exporters to patronise ports in the Eastern flank of the county to decongest ports in Lagos.

    The NPA’s Managing Director, Mrs Hadiza Bala-Usman, made the appeal at the NPA Special Day at the ongoing 29th Enugu International Trade Fair in Enugu on Saturday.

    Bala-Usman said that patronising the Eastern ports would reduce trucks traffic on Lagos roads as well.

    ‘‘I wish to use this medium to appeal to importers and exporters to patronise the ports in the Eastern flank of the country, namely: Warri, Rivers, Onne and Calabar ports as this will decongest the ports in Lagos,’’ she said.

    The managing director said that NPA had remained resolute in its drive to ensure that the nation’s ports remain safe, secure and customer-friendly, while delivering efficient port services.

    ‘‘I am glad to inform you that NPA is implementing with vigour, the Presidential Order on Ease of Doing Business in the nation’s ports.

    “This is with a view to eradicating all bottlenecks to business transactions in the nation’s seaports.

    ‘‘We will like port users and stakeholders in the nation’s maritime sector to take advantage of this development,’’ Bala-Usman said.

    She maintained that the authority had continued with its vision statement of being the leading port in Africa and making our seaports a pride of the nation in service delivery.

    ‘‘We have made improvement in our port infrastructure, navigational aids and channels with 24 hours port operations, both for berthing of vessels and discharge of cargo,’’ the managing director said.

    Bala-Usman said that NPA had been adhering to policies and strategies as they affect ports operations in ensuring speedy clearance of cargo, improved infrastructure and equipment.

    She said that the authority would continue to improve intermodal transportation systems to encourage speedy transfer of goods from the sea ports.

    ‘‘We anticipate that government’s policies geared toward the diversification of the Nigerian economy will make our ports to attract transshipment of cargoes, which will help to boost our revenue,’’ Bala-Usman said.

    Earlier, the President of Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Chief Emeka Udeze, commended NPA for always partnering with the chamber to educate members of the public on port operations and the ease of shipping their goods.

    Udeze said: ‘‘We are not unmindful of the various measures to decongest out ports.

    ‘‘We say that a lot still need to be done, because importers, especially from this part of the country are still experiencing undue delay and unwarranted bureaucracy in clearing their goods at the ports.

    ‘‘We don’t know when the apportioning of blames amongst operators in the sector will cease.

    ‘‘We believe that what we need to do is to evolve more pragmatic and proactive approaches in resolving these negating issues in the maritime sub-sector, which have continued to be clogs in the wheels of our progress and development.’’

     

  • Ease of Doing Business: NPA orders NAFDAC, SON to vacate seaports in 24 hours

    Ease of Doing Business: NPA orders NAFDAC, SON to vacate seaports in 24 hours

    The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has given a 24-hour ultimatum to officials of unauthorised government agencies to vacate the seaports or risk being arrested.

    The directive is in line with a new order issued to NPA by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).

    PEBEC directed NPA to ensure strict compliance to the October 26, 2011, presidential directive on agencies permitted to operate in the ports.

    The NPA, therefore, reiterated that only eight federal government agencies were allowed to operate and have physical representation at all port locations in the country.

    General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications of NPA, Abdullahi Goje, in a statement, said the agencies allowed representation at the ports were: Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA); Nigerian Customs Service (NCS); Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); Nigeria Police; Department of State Security (DSS); Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Port Health and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) should remain at the ports.

    The directive stated that other agencies not mentioned in the list should remain outside the ports premises as the Nigerian Customs Service, which is the lead agency for inspection of cargoes, had developed standard operating procedures to facilitate their seamless operation.

    “The NPA remains committed to the determination of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to enhance the ease of doing business in the country and the improvement of conditions under which business is carried out in all ports across the country.

    “The NPA solicits for the kind support of all agencies and stakeholders in the Nigerian maritime sector towards actualising the noble goal of making Nigeria a destination of choice for all legitimate businesses,” Goje said.

    The affected agencies include National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), among others.

  • We’ll sanction defaulters of concession dues – NPA

    The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms Hadiza Usman, said the management would ensure that all outstanding payments and dues meant for the organisation were remitted by concessionaires and other stakeholders as quickly as possible.

    Usman said this on Friday in a statement issued by the Authority’s Spokesman, Alhaji Abdullahi Goje, after the Quarterly meeting of the NPA Management and stakeholders in Lagos.

    She said that the authority would provide an enabling environment for efficient port services in view of the vital role the maritime sub sector played.

    According to her, management has put in place a machinery at ensuring that there is a level-playing field for operators in the sector.

    Usman said that the management would ensure that rules guiding port operations were strictly adhered to.

    She told stakeholders that rhe NPA management had set up a committee to liaise with representatives of terminal operators with a view to reviewing existing concession agreement as planned.

    Usman said that NPA was determined to actualise the result within the shortest time.

    The managing director frowned at the attitude of shipping companies and terminal operators, who connived to litter the roads with empty containers under the guise of not having a holding bay.

    She said that sanctions, would be invoked on erring oganisations that refused to obey rules guiding the directives after a one-week window.

    Earlier in her welcome address, the Port Manager, Lagos Ports Complex (LPC), Hajia Aisha Ibrahim, informed stakeholders that the meeting was a platform for NPA and its stakeholders to discuss the challenges of operational efficiency.

    She said that efforts were in top gear to continually provide succour through palliatives on the roads leading to the ports in consonance with the Ease of Doing Business before permanent solutions were made by relevant agencies.

     

  • NPA declares N300bn revenue in 2017

    The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on Tuesday declared a total revenue of N299.56bn for the 2017 fiscal year.

    According to a statement issued by the General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, NPA, Mr. Abdullahi Goje, the 2017 revenue exceeded the previous year’s N162.20bn by 84.65% and was the highest generated by the agency in the past 5 years.

    The statement gave a breakdown of the revenue generation in the past five years: with the NPA making the sum of N154.50bn in 2013, this increased to N159.30bn and N180.50bn in 2014 and 2015, respectively. The agency’s revenue, however, dropped to N162.20bn in 2016.

    It noted that the 2017 figure was made up of revenues from traffic, harbours, administrative and other sources in the sums of N136.04bn, N66.80bn, N86.06bn and N10.75bn, respectively.