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TAAM 5.0: Akabogu Tasks NIMASA On Cabotage Law Implementation, Calls It Huge Failure

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NIMS Is To Entrench Continental Maritime Industry Efficiency- Akabogu 

A renowned maritime lawyer and Senior Partner of Akabogu & Associates, Dr. Emeka Akabogu, has described the implementation of Cabotage law as a huge failure.

Akabogu said this during a panel discussion at the 5th Taiwo Afolabi Annual Maritime (TAAM) Conference on Friday in Lagos.

The conference organised by SIFAX Group in collaboration with the Maritime Forum, University of Lagos had the theme: The Maritime Roadmap Project – Making Nigeria a Leading Maritime Nation in the World.

 Nigeria made a bold attempt to change the face of maritime business within its coasts when it enacted the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003.

The objective of the Cabotage Act is primarily to reserve the commercial transportation of goods and services within Nigerian coastal and inland waters to vessels flying the Nigerian flag and owned by persons of Nigerian citizenship.

Akabogu said that operators had not benefited from the Cabotage law.

“The Nigerian Maritime Administration Agency (NIMASA) is responsible for the implementation of the Cabotage, which came with a lot of hope but has been a huge failure.

“It is a failure because what should be of advantage to Nigerians has clearly not been implemented.

“Nigerian shipowners invested in ships because they believe in Cabotage but however, faced the disappointment of government not implementing Cabotage measures which have resulted in foreign shipowners competing in our domain.

“The Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) which has been accumulating by shipowners since 2004 to date has not been disbursed for once. It is disgraceful and there is no explanation which can be justified,” he said.

TAAM Panelists while brainstorming during the UNILAG Conference

He pointed out that it was in view of this and many others that it would be difficult to determine what could be justified as measurable achievements by the maritime industry.

Akabogu, however, noted that from the port point of view, the only significant measurable stride was the concession of the ports to private terminal operators in 2006.

He said that the private sector operators such as SIFAX had significantly contributed to the development of the Nigerian maritime space.

On what could be done with regard to NIMASA Act, and the Merchant Shipping Act, Akabogu who described NIMASA Act as a highly useful instrument said it needs to be implemented.

“NIMASA Act makes provision for the maritime fund which is 25 percent of the income that NIMASA generates and this fund should go to the development of the Nigerian maritime space across board.

“This is separate from the CVFF in the Cabotage Act which should go exclusively for the development of ship-owning capacity.

“What is being done by NIMASA with this 25 percent maritime fund within the context of the law?

“Today we have NIMASA significantly investing in projects which should be undertaken by humanitarian agencies and not investing in those projects which are of long-term sustainable value to the Nigerian maritime industry,” he said.

He pointed out that another issue NIMASA should be concerned about was the national carrier status.

On the Merchant Shipping Act, Akabogu called for a technical guide that would ensure the implementation of safety and security standards.

This, he said, would ensure that ships coming to Nigeria were not delayed unnecessarily.

“Going forward, as an industry, we need to start becoming more responsible, private sector should not shy away from holding public servants accountable, Nigerian shipowners should work with acceptable minimum standards to ensure that there is confidence in the system.

“The freight forwarders association have done a lot of disservice to the Nigerian maritime industry as a result of continued backlash among themselves, they also need to adopt technology which will lead to having a single window in port,” he said.

Also, Dr. Adewole Bodunrin, the President, of the Maritime Arbitrators Association of Nigeria, stressed the need to establish a maritime arbitration centre in Nigeria to aid the measurable strides that would make the shipping successful.

“98 per cent of Nigerian cargoes are being transported by foreign carriers and when a dispute arises, Nigeria is left out because there is no arbitrary centre,” Bodunrin said.

Ms Funmi Folorunso, the Secretary-General, African Shipowners Association,  while speaking on having increased shipowners in Nigeria noted that “there are ships but the ships are not what the country needs in 2023.”

According to Folorunso, there is a need to set agenda for the incoming administration on what the industry needs to achieve sustainable growth.

“Nigeria does not have a fleet development agenda and we need to ask ourselves if national shipping is what we require now or Nigerian shipping lines,” she said.

She urged the Federal Government to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) for economic growth and development.

“Nigeria has a history of oil tankers. AfCFTA is not about oil tankers but cargo movement within the African states and we need to tap into it,” she said.

Also, Mrs. Eunice Ezeoke, the President, the Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association, said for sustainable shipping, Nigeria must develop its human capital, build and develop infrastructure such as the deep seaport.

“In acquiring vessels, it should not be sought outside, Nigeria has all the materials needed to construct the vessels, what we lack is the political will to push it forward.

“There is a need to look inward and start developing what we have, sensitise the young ones on opportunities in the industry,” she said.

The TAAM conference was birthed to serve as a platform where key issues that will engender innovations and practical ideas needed to sustain the growth of be maritime sector are discussed and workable solutions proffered.

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NAGAFF Vows to Stop Kwankwaso from Taking Over NNPP

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NNPP inaugurates 2023 Presidential Campaign Council, Aniebonam remains BoT Chairman

…Votes N150m take off professional fees for lawyers to begin litigation warfare!

Members of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) will vehemently resist the taking over of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) by the group noted to be loyal to Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

It would be recalled that the NNPP was originally founded by the National Association of Government-Approved Freight Forwarders NAGAFF, largely to provide a credible platform for maritime industry stakeholders to make a national impact within the nation’s political space.

It. would also be recalled that the former Governor of Kano, Senator Kwankwaso latched on the NNPP, after his effort to run as the flag bearer of another political party was dimmed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar who emerged as the PDP presidential candidate.

NNPP inaugurates 2023 Presidential Campaign Council, Aniebonam remains BoT Chairman

Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso

Presently, a statement issued by the NNPP National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Clement Iwegbuna, lamented that what started as a child’s play is becoming a reality with the body language and actions of Senator Kwankwaso to highjack NNPP from the original owners, the members of  NAGAFF.

In a swift move, the president of NAGAFF, leading the pack of resourceful young freight forwarders said the original are poised to match money for money and contact for contact to retrieve NNPP from the people tagged ungrateful.

The statement revealed that the sum of N150,000,000 has been contributed as a take-off professional fee for the lawyers to take on the serial litigations upcoming.

NAGAFF accused Kwankwaso of court abuse with the institution of a court case involving INEC at Kano State High Court. “And so what does it take someone who held the position of minister of defence and member of the national assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to know that it is out of jurisdiction to do so.

NNPP is a national party and INEC is a federal commission. “Let Nigerians be told that there is a new order in Nigeria judiciary at the moment. If Senator Kwankwaso likes let him, Elder Buba Galadima and all of them who are the former members of the National Working Committee led by Alhaji Abbah Kawu who was alleged not to be able to write a statement at the state police command, Abuja when he reported a case against Mr Phillip Oyana the Zonal Secretary North Central of New Nigeria Peoples Party.

“Our young, vibrant and informed lawyers shall meet him and his cohorts in court. Once again we hold no malice against any person. All members of NNPP and NAGAFF are children of God and always ready to show love to all manner of people who may come our way,” the statement further said.

The statement directed and appealed to all members of NAGAFF and NNPP to keep the peace of the society and be law abiding and respectful to the constitution of Nigeria.

“Regret to note that Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso had avoidably prided himself to have brought NNPP to relevance and recognition. Tell the American marine that trash for the fact that Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso forgot to note that NNPP is as old as People’s Democratic Party of Nigeria spanning over 24 years in existence. He joined less than 2yrs ago.

“We consider Senator Kwankwaso as someone who is avoidably arrogant and proud for no good reasons. This is because NNPP provided him the opportunity to contest the Presidency of Nigeria 2023 with great men like the current president of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar (PDP) and Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party

“Let it be on record that if NNPP were not winning elections for the period under review it would have been deregistered like the one he facilitated which was called Alliance National Party. As a matter of fact, the current headquarters of NNPP in Abuja is the same office used by the defunct Alliance National  Party whose chairman was one Moshood.

“We also know that the current executive Gov of Kano Alhaji Abbah Kabir who was shortchanged in the previous elections took advantage of us as children of God to be protected and today those evil men could not stop him from becoming the Gov of Kano State.

“Therefore senator RABIU MUSA Kwankwaso should be taught the principles of humility and gratefulness to people who have been nice to him.

“In all of these, he may wish to distance himself from elder Buba Galadima if he wants to make headway in politics. The former President, Gen. Buhari did realise and distanced himself to combine with Asiwaju B. A. Tinubu, the grand master to become the President of Nigeria.,” advised.

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NAMTOP: LASTMA Urges Maritime Truck Drivers To Tackle Breakdowns

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More Trouble for Sanwo-Olu: Election Tribunal orders substituted service over Petition

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has urged the Nexus Association of Maritime Truck Operators (NAMTOP) to acquire private tow trucks to tackle breakdowns swiftly.

The General Manager, LASTMA, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, said this when NAMTOP officials paid the agency’s management a courtesy visit on Tuesday in Lagos.

Bakare-Oki said the aim was to foster synergy and cooperation between the two agencies.

The LASTMA GM, represented by the Director of Logistics and Engineering, Mr Jubril Oshodi, assured the association of a harmonious relationship.

“This will enable the association to liaise with all zonal heads to ensure swift evacuation of trucks whenever breakdowns occur,” he said.

The LASTMA boss said his tenure would centre on repositioning and reorganising the agency for professional service delivery to the motoring public with empathy.

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Reps. Summon Minister, Perm.Sec. Over $300m Antimalarial Funds

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Following perceived hanky panky, the House of Representatives Committee on Malaria, HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis has summoned the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof.Mohammed Pate, over alleged misappropriation of 300 million dollars anti-malaria funds.

“The Committee has resolved that the Permanent Secretary be arrested if she failed to honour the summons, having failed to appear three times”, Rep. Amobi Ogah, the Chairman of the Committee who read the resolutions in Abuja on Tuesday, stressed.

Ogah expressed displeasure over the absence of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry at the resumed sitting of the committee on Tuesday.

“Malaria is now an epidemic in Nigeria. The government has always wanted to help the people but most times the civil servants are our problem.

“This money has been made available since 2021. We have been inviting the Permanent Secretary. This is the third time we are inviting her to come and explain to us what has happened.

“Have they used the money? If they have not used the money, where is the money? It is a matter of simple explanation. But they have been running away, calling all manner of people to talk to us,” he said

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