Customs stops officers from issuing DN

Published

10 years ago

October 10, 2014

Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Dikko Abdulahi has warned operatives of the Service against indiscriminate issuance of Demand Notices (DN).

The NCS issues DN to recover revenue that may be lost to under-valuation or under-declaration of goods.

Abdulahi gave the warning against the backdrop of complaints from clearing agents that Customs officers were in the habit of indiscriminately issuing “outrageous DN” which importers sometimes find difficult to pay. Those who are unable to pay are believed to abandon their consignments at the port.

In a circular titled “Clearance Procedure/Issuance of Demand Notices” issued on his behalf by the Deputy Comptroller General in charge of tariff and trade, Adewuyi Akinade, a copy of which was sighted by SHIPS & PORTS DAILY, Abdulahi said the Customs headquarters had been inundated with reports of anomalies prevalent in the clearance of imported goods at the ports and borders.

The Customs boss also barred all Customs units, except the valuation unit, from issuing DN.

Dated August 14, 2014 and addressed to all DCG’s, ACG’s and Area Controllers, the circular read: “Issuance of frivolous demand notice by officers must be stopped immediately. No other unit of the Service except valuation unit is authorized to issue demand notice on value related issues.

“On no account should any officer reject any decision taken by the headquarters on classification issues. Any officer with observation on such issues should follow official procedure for consideration.
“Headquarters frowns at unnecessary delay of goods at the port as a result of dispute arising from importer’s declaration. Area Controllers are to ensure strict compliance with the extant guidelines and note that non-compliance shall attract appropriate sanctions.”

In a separate development, the NCS has deployed three Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) to combat smugglers between Lagos and Ogun states.

The APCs, findings revealed, were deployed following a gun battle between operatives of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A, Ikeja, Lagos and smugglers of rice, used vehicles and other prohibited items through illegal routes in both states.

The FOU, findings revealed, has identified the flashpoints and other illegal routes used by smugglers in the Southwest and are now on aggressive patrol to stop them and boost the nation’s economy.

Officers of the zone, it was gathered, have uncovered a hideout in Igbesa Creek, Ogun State where 11,264 bags of illegally imported 50kg parboiled rice were seized from smugglers recently.

Controller of the unit, Adamu Turaki, it was gathered, mandated his officers to destroy all the canoes, the smugglers’ storage facilities and the out board engines used in transporting the rice through Gbaji River to the country. This, he believed, would frustrate any future attempt by the smugglers.

Turaki said his officers intercepted the rice following intelligence report that smugglers were said to be planning to use the Igbesa creeks to braing in rice through Benin Republic before the Eid-El-Kabir celebrations.

“It is good to note and point out here that the Igbesa creek is reputed as both volatile and inaccessible particularly for Customs in the past. Several attempts to raid the place before now were met with serious opposition from the smugglers sabotaging the nation’s economy.

“We must also place on record that they have, in the past, attacked Customs patrol teams that have attempted to stop their nefarious activities. I am therefore, happy that the Lagos Roving Team led by AC Adamu Abubakar Mohammed was able to deal with the smugglers and make the seizure.

“On arrival at the scene of the crime, we started evacuation, even though we were faced with the challenge of unmotorable terrain. On completion of evacuation, I ordered the destruction of all the instruments of crime like the wooden boats, their storage facilities, out board engines and other items to deny them any future attempts.

“It is actually amazing to understand the naivety of the Baale of the community, who from all indications seemed not to know that smuggling is an economic crime. He told us point blank that smuggling is their only means of survival and that they use the proceeds from it to develop their community.

“I was perplexed when he told me that because he doesn’t know the implication. Therefore, I want to use this opportunity to urge you and your colleagues working in the print and electronic houses to help us educate and sensitise the local communities on the dangers of smuggling and its effect on the nation and its economy,” Turaki said.————-Ships and Ports

WAIVER CESSATION: Igbokwe urges NIMASA to evolve stronger collaboration with Ships owners

Published

5 years ago

April 13, 2019

Maritime First

…Stresses the need for timely disbursement of N44.6billion CVFF***

Highly revered Nigerian Maritime Lawyer, and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Igbokwe has urged the Nigeria Maritime Administration and safety Agency (NIMASA) to partner with ship owners and relevant association in the industry to evolving a more vibrant merchant shipping and cabotage trade regime.

Igbokwe gave the counsel during his paper presentation at the just concluded two-day stakeholders’ meeting on Cabotage waiver restrictions, organized by NIMASA.

“NIMASA and shipowners should develop merchant shipping including cabotage trade. A good start is to partner with the relevant associations in this field, such as the Nigeria Indigenous Shipowners Association (NISA), Shipowners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), Oil Trade Group & Maritime Trade Group of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA).

“A cursory look at their vision, mission and objectives, show that they are willing to improve the maritime sector, not just for their members but for stakeholders in the maritime economy and the country”.

Adding that it is of utmost importance for NIMASA to have a through briefing and regular consultation with ships owners, in other to have insight on the challenges facing the ship owners.

“It is of utmost importance for NIMASA to have a thorough briefing and regular consultations with shipowners, to receive insight on the challenges they face, and how the Agency can assist in solving them and encouraging them to invest and participate in the maritime sector, for its development.

“NIMASA should see them as partners in progress because, if they do not invest in buying ships and registering them in Nigeria, there would be no Nigerian-owned ships in its Register and NIMASA would be unable to discharge its main objective.

The Maritime lawyer also urged NIMASA to disburse the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF)that currently stands at about N44.6 billion.

“Lest it be forgotten, what is on the lips of almost every shipowner, is the need to disburse the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (the CVFF’), which was established by the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act, 2003. It was established to promote the development of indigenous ship acquisition capacity, by providing financial assistance to Nigerian citizens and shipping companies wholly owned by Nigerian operating in the domestic coastal shipping, to purchase and maintain vessels and build shipping capacity.

“Research shows that this fund has grown to about N44.6billion; and that due to its non-disbursement, financial institutions have repossessed some vessels, resulting in a 43% reduction of the number of operational indigenous shipping companies in Nigeria, in the past few years.

“Without beating around the bush, to promote indigenous maritime development, prompt action must be taken by NIMASA to commence the disbursement of this Fund to qualified shipowners pursuant to the extant Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (“CVFF”) Regulations.

“Indeed, as part of its statutory functions, NIMASA is to enforce and administer the provisions of the Cabotage Act 2003 and develop and implement policies and programmes which will facilitate the growth of local capacity in ownership, manning and construction of ships and other maritime infrastructure. Disbursing the CVFF is one of the ways NIMASA can fulfill this mandate.

“To assist in this task, there must be collaboration between NIMASA, financial institutions, the Minister of Transportation, as contained in the CVFF Regulations that are yet to be implemented”, the legal guru highlighted further.

He urged the agency to create the right environment for its stakeholders to build on and engender the needed capacities to fill the gaps; and ensure that steps are being taken to solve the challenges being faced by stakeholders.

“Lastly, which is the main reason why we are all here, cessation of ministerial waivers on some cabotage requirements, which I believe is worth applause in favour of NIMASA.

“This is because it appears that the readiness to obtain/grant waivers had made some of the vessels and their owners engaged in cabotage trade, to become complacent and indifferent in quickly ensuring that they updated their capacities, so as not to require the waivers.

“The cessation of waivers is a way of forcing the relevant stakeholders of the maritime sector, to find workable solutions within, for maritime development and fill the gaps in the local capacities in 100% Nigerian crewing, ship ownership, and ship building, that had necessitated the existence of the waivers since about 15 years ago, when the Cabotage Act came into being.

“However, NIMASA must ensure that the right environment is provided for its stakeholders to build and possess the needed capacities to fill the gaps; and ensure that steps are being taken to solve the challenges being faced by stakeholders. Or better still, that they are solved within the next 5 years of its intention to stop granting waivers”, he further explained.

Breaking News: The Funeral Rites of Matriarch C. Ogbeifun is Live

Published

5 years ago

March 7, 2019

Maritime First

The Burial Ceremony of Engr. Greg Ogbeifun’s mother is live. Watch on the website: www.maritimefirstnewspaper.com and on Youtube: Maritimefirst Newspaper.

Wind Farm Vessel Collision Leaves 15 Injured

Published

5 years ago

February 20, 2019

Maritime First

…As Valles Steamship Orders 112,000 dwt Tanker from South Korea***

A wind farm supply vessel and a cargo ship collided in the Baltic Sea on Tuesday leaving 15 injured.

The Cyprus-flagged 80-meter general cargo ship Raba collided with Denmark-flagged 31-meter wind farm supply vessel World Bora near Rügen Island, about three nautical miles off the coast of Hamburg.

Many of those injured were service engineers on the wind farm vessel, and 10 were seriously hurt.

They were headed to Iberdrola’s 350MW Wikinger wind farm. Nine of the people on board the World Bora were employees of Siemens Gamesa, two were employees of Iberdrola and four were crew.

The cause of the incident is not yet known, and no pollution has been reported.

After the collision, the two ships were able to proceed to Rügen under their own power, and the injured were then taken to hospital.

Lifeboat crews from the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service tended to them prior to their transport to hospital via ambulance and helicopter.

“Iberdrola wishes to thank the rescue services for their diligence and professionalism,” the company said in a statement.

In the meantime, the Hong Kong-based shipowner Valles Steamship has ordered a new 112,000 dwt crude oil tanker from South Korea’s Sumitomo Heavy Industries Marine & Engineering.

Sumitomo is to deliver the Aframax to Valles Steamship by the end of 2020, according to data provided by Asiasis.

The newbuild Aframax will join seven other Aframaxes in Valles Steamship’s fleet. Other ships operated by the company include Panamax bulkers and medium and long range product tankers.

The company’s most-recently delivered unit is the 114,426 dwt Aframax tanker Seagalaxy. The naming and delivery of the tanker took place in February 2019, at Namura Shipbuilding’s yard in Japan.

Maritime Executive with additional report from World Maritime News