Mr. Chedi Wada, Comptroller, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU)  Zone “B”, Kaduna has lamented that smugglers have been using fake presidential number plates to deliver vehicles across the country.

According to Wada, they have also been dubiously using such fake number plates belonging to various state and local governments, MDAs, Emirate Councils, and other governmental institutions..

Wada disclosed this when he received Bashir Rabe-Mani, Zonal Manager (ZM), News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Kaduna Zonal Office, who paid him a courtesy call in Kaduna.

He said, ”Customs will not relent; we will continue to do our best by not allowing smugglers to use the old tactics of using the presidential number plates and other governmental institutions to smuggle luxurious vehicles into the country.

”This is one of the menaces we are having. It is saddening how vehicle smugglers are ridiculing  the apex seat in the country by using presidential fake plate numbers using them on newly smuggled cars  to deceive customs,”

*Mr. Chedi Wada, Comptroller, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone “B”, Kaduna (first left), when he received Mr. Bashir Rabe-Mani, Zonal Manager, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Kaduna Zonal Office, in Kaduna.

According to him, customs are well-trained personnel and can easily identify fake numbers and  cannot be played by the old tricks.

The comptroller said, “We are not happy with them, it is too bad for them to be playing with the presidency, that’s why we always put a heavy hammer on those using the presidency on false instances on smuggled vehicles.

“Let them respect the presidency, we must respect the presidency that is leadership.”

Wada also disclosed that they have impounded lots of such vehicles with fake number plates including those of local governments, ministries, and lots of government institutions.

He said that the service was saddled with the responsibility of suppressing anti-smuggling activities, revenue, and trade facilitation while implementing other governmental policies.

The comptroller said that the service was committed to saving Nigeria’s economy by bringing smugglers down to the ground by suppressing their activities.

Wada said that the media have been assisting them in extending what they were doing to the public, decrying,” many people do not understand how the rules of the customs are and why certain  actions are taken.

“Some will say customs will come to their houses to take contraband, but all this will be amplified through the media on what the rules and regulations are.

‘According to the Act of Customs, on getting intelligence, customs can enter the premises and take contraband away, possibly arrest and prosecute.

”People expect customs to notify them of any planned seizure at their houses or shops or arrest.

 If I inform you that I am coming, what stops you from taking away the exhibit.”

He said that since he assumed duty in  the zone six weeks ago,they have made a lot of impact including the seizure of various items

While noting that, the system is working, Wada added that they undertake an investigation depending on what was obtained and possible prosecution

The comptroller further called on Nigerians to be interested in customs jobs and know what was happening at the customs in all areas including its social media platforms

Wada also appreciated the NAN ZM for the visit while assuring him of his continuous collaboration with the press and the agency.

Earlier in his remarks, Rabe-Mani said the visit was aimed at improving the already existing relationship between NAN and NCS.

Rabe-Mani also sought continuous collaboration to ensure that smuggling and other nefarious acts of economic sabotage within the zone were successfully suppressed.

An uncommon gathering of Leaders of Integrity who have made significant milestones and impacts in Africa is in the offing.

 The gathering of eminent personalities across Africa is scheduled to take place at the Sunlodge International Hotel, Accra, Ghana on Saturday, December 9th, 2023.

 African Integrity Magazine in collaboration with Integrity Base Leadership Initiative, a Non-Governmental Organization, will bestow a well-deserved Honour on some eminent and distinguished Africans. Prominent amongst them are Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Nigeria’s foremost shipping mogul, Engr. Greg U. Ogbeifun, Chairman of Starz Marine and Engineering Limited.

 According to the organizers, the Awardees were carefully selected by the Award Committee Members headed by its Chairman, Prof. Thomas Eshiet, Former Deputy Vice Chancellor, the Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo State. 

The Award conferment on Mr. Bello-Koko is in recognition of his giant strides in repositioning Nigerian Port System for Global Competitiveness. Under his able leadership, tremendous achievements had been made in improving service delivery and efficiency in the nation’s ports.

*Engr. Greg Ogbeifun

Another eminent African to be honoured is an ICON in the Maritime sector, known to have set up the first privately owned Indigenous Ship-repair Yard in Nigeria, Mr. Greg U. Ogbeifun, MD/CEO of Starz Marine and Engineering Limited, who is also the Chairman Board of Directors of Starzs Gas Limited, an Energy Company making enroot into the Federal Government Gas policy. The Award Ceremony is to be graced by prominent Africans, expected to converge on Accra, Ghana for the conferment. 

The recognition of these illustrious sons and eminent Nigerians by African Integrity Magazine in collaboration with Integrity Base Leadership Initiative, serves as a mark of Honour in appreciation of their indelible footprints in the Maritime Sector, written on the sands of time.

…As Jamoh Hosts Maiden ‘Day Of The Dockworker’ Event, after NIMASA, MWUN deliberation over Ex-NNSL Seafarers’ Benefits

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has hosted the maiden edition of the ‘Day of the Dockworker’ in Lagos, with the Director General, Bashir Jamoh charging all employers of labor to enroll every dockworker on contributory pension schemes. 

“As we celebrate today, it is important to put in perspective the plight of dockworkers who spend the greater part of their working life at the ports, with little or nothing to show for it”, Dr. Jamoh said, stressing that: “As employers of labour, you must endeavour to put in place a Contributory Pension Scheme for dockworkers and ensure prompt remittances of both Employers and Employees contributions at the end of each month”. 

*R-L: Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh; Port Manager, Apapa Port, Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Charles Okaga; Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services NIMASA, Engr. Victor Ochei and the President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju; during the 2023 Day of the Dockworker Celebration in Lagos.

Speaking on the theme: “Healthy Dockworker, Better Productivity”, the DG said the event was an opportunity for stakeholders, not only to appreciate the efforts of Nigerian dockworkers at the center of the nation’s import-dependent economy but also to focus on ways of improving their health and general well – being. 

*Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh presenting a souvenir to Former Board Chairman, NIMASA, Dr. Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan during the 2023 Day of the Dockworker Celebration in Lagos.

Delivering his welcome address at the event, the NIMASA Director General, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, charged employers of labor to ensure all dockworkers are enrolled in contributory pension schemes, even as he emphasized the need for operators of Oil and Gas Terminals to allow only approved stevedores aboard their installations, to ensure compliance with relevant international guidelines and conventions. 

Speaking on compliance with stevedore inspections, he stated further: “This occasion presents me with an opportunity to express the need for operators in the private jetties and Oil & Gas Terminals to grant operational access to the Stevedoring Contractors appointed by the Honorable Minister of Transport, to carry out stevedoring activities in assigned operational areas”. 

On his part, the President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), a Prince of Ibadan, Comrade  Adewale  Adeyanju, in his address, thanked the NIMASA Management for organizing the event to celebrate Nigerian dockworkers in recognition of the all-important role they play. 

In attendance at the event were representatives from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity; the Nigerian Ports Authority; the Seaport Terminal Operators Association and the National Association of Stevedoring Operators (NASA). 

Internationally, July 7th is marked as ‘The Global Day of Action’ and is organized by the International Dockworkers’ Council (IDC) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF). It aims to raise awareness.

In the meantime, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, perhaps prompted by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has begun deliberation with the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN in a bid to resolve the lingering issue of terminal benefits of Seafarers whose appointments were terminated due to the liquidation of the defunct Nigerian National Shipping Line, NNSL.

The Director General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh, and the Vice President of the Nigerian Labour Congress who is also the President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Comrade (Dr.) Adewale Adeyanju, have already jointly announced an agreement for physical verification of the affected seafarers/next of kin as the case may apply; the nature of the appointment of all affected seafarers, and the exact amount due each beneficiary.

The NIMASA DG also assured the Union that their position will be communicated to the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, to ensure the Government takes all necessary actions to bring to a conclusion, the issue of NNSL.

*Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh 

“The issue of industrial harmony in the maritime sector is of uttermost interest to our administration at NIMASA. We have been at this for a while. NIMASA had offered 100 million naira as a settlement, which the Union declined.

“We have also discovered that some of those demanding settlement did not even have any employment letter. We will follow the lead from our supervising Ministry and ensure the physical verification exercise is brought to a logical conclusion. Our Honourable Minister will be duly updated by the Agency. I look forward to closing this issue in months to come”, the DG said.

On his part, the President General, the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN) Comrade Adeyanju restated the commitment of the Union to the peaceful resolution of disputes; to ensure the rights and privileges of workers are well protected, without disrupting productivity in the Maritime Sector.  

He commended the Jamoh-led Management at NIMASA, urging others to follow suit.

“I will like to commend NIMASA under Dr Jamoh, for the unflinching commitment to industrial harmony. He is always a phone call away to resolve any issue. Yes, NIMASA offered 100 million naira to offset the terminal benefits.

“However, if others like the Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Shippers Council, and the rest also add funds, there will be enough to go round the expected beneficiaries. As we did for dockworkers when a flat rate of two hundred thousand was paid during port concession; that is what we want, putting into consideration the realities on ground now”, Comrade Adeyanju further said.