Maritime
CRFFN dispatches enforcement Officers to Nigerian Ports
AFTER a week-long intensive training exercise, the Council For the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) has successfully passed out the first batch of its trained western zone enforcement officers that will henceforth upheld the provisions of the law enabling the council at seaports and land borders.
Speaking at the passing out ceremony which held at the Lagos office of the council yesterday, Registrar of the council, Mr. Mike Jukwe explained that the officers have been drilled physically and theoretically by men of the Nigerian Army Intelligent Unit in Apapa, Lagos.
According to him the officers
were trained on physical education, characters and functions of enforcement officers, arrest and investigation. Others include the CRFFN Act No. 16 of 2007, use of tools and equipment for enforcement, self defense mechanism among others.
The occasion was graced by Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Shippers Council, Capt. Adamu Biu, the Chairman of Ports Consultative Council (PCC) Otunba Kunle Folarin, representatives from the Federal Ministry of Transport and Presidents of freight forwarding associations.
Sir Mike Jukwe pointed out that after the training, the 23 trained officers will immediately be dispatched to their different areas of coverage. According to him, with the constitution of these enforcement committees “only the registered and inducted freight forwarders as well as accredited associations of freight forwarders are allowed to practice forth-with or else the hand of the law will grip and prosecute offenders, this heralds the enforcement of the Act”
Chairman Governing Council of CRFFN, Alhaji Akeem Olanrewaju after inspecting the guard command reiterated that apart from the successful completion of the training, the council has also compiled the maiden register of freight forwarders and has successfully held the first Training-Of-the-Trainers (TOT) programme.
In his address, Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Shippers Council, Capt Adamu Biu expressed happiness at the level of progress recorded in the CRFFN especially in the area of training of freight forwarders.
He said that in-spite of all the challenges recorded in the beginning there has been a show of discipline.
“in the beginning when the Federal Government saddled the Nigerian Shippers Council with the responsibility of midwifing this organization and bringing it into fusion the task fell on my colleagues and I in the council, let me make a confession, the first thing I did was to pray to almighty God to guide us and make it a success because I know that the freight forwarding industry is as complex as it can be, but I am proud that today we are where we are” Capt. Biu said.
Capt. Biu further explained that nobody can succeed in the maritime industry without the services of a trained freight forwarder.
Also speaking at the event, Otunba Kunle Folarin said that the CRFFN has really been a plus to the Nigerian freight forwarding industry which he described as turbulent but that the CRFFN has been able to calm it down. He pledged the maximum support of the Port Consultative Council to the CRFFN.
“Freight forwarders in Nigeria do not know the value of themselves, you are the most important angle in freight forwarding business and also in the economy of the maritime industry, without the cargo there will be no shipping, without shipping there will be no ports” Otunba said.
Maritime
NIMASA Makes Dockworkers Registration Compulsory
The management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has advised International Oil Companies, terminal and jetty operators, and all other companies involved in stevedoring in the country to refrain from engaging unregistered dockworkers.
The information was contained in a statement made available to Biztellers by the Head, Public Relations, NIMASA, Osagie Edward.
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According to the statement, all stakeholders, including dock labour employers and stevedoring companies, are encouraged to apply for new operating licenses or renew expired ones within a 30-day moratorium period.
“This requirement,” it added, “is stipulated by the NIMASA Act of 2007 and outlined in the NIMASA Stevedoring Regulations of 2014, which mandates strict compliance from all maritime operators.”
Osagie cited the Director General, NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola as laying emphasis on the need for stakeholders to comply with extant laws and regulations.
Dr Mobereola said, “No terminal or company shall continue to engage the services of unregistered dockworkers for cargo handling at their work locations.
“This move is part of our broader effort to ensure safe and regulated operations within Nigeria’s maritime industry. Compliance with these regulations will enhance our ability to maintain an up-to-date database of dockworkers operating in the country. It also improves our planning processes, as we are committed to developing their capacity to meet globally accepted standards for dockworkers in Nigeria. We intend to enforce full compliance after the moratorium period.”
It was gathered that the NIMASA Act, 2007, Part IX, Section 27, addressed the registration of Dockworkers with focus on Maritime Labour.
“It ensures the Registration, Regulation, and control of Maritime Labour, including dockworkers. The Act assigns the Agency the responsibility of maintaining standards in accordance with international best practices,” Osagie added.
Maritime
Maritime Diplomacy: Nigeria Seeks Election Into IMO Council
Nigeria has expressed a strong desire to seek election into Category “C” of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council.
The Honorable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, made the disclosure at the 2024 World Maritime Day parallel event in Barcelona, Spain.
Oyetola noted that Nigeria has put in place the basic needs for the development of her maritime industry in line with recognized global best practices.
In his words, “our active participation in upholding key conventions, such as the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, reflects our dedication to ensuring the safety of international shipping.
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There have been no incidents of piracy in the last three years, as confirmed by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB). By deploying resources to provide maritime security assets, Nigeria has solidified its role as a key guardian of maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.
Nigeria remains a valuable source of manpower for the industry. I therefore urge our partners to explore this potential and assist where possible in the best interest of all. Our Maritime Academy has adequate resources and facilities to support this development.
“I am pleased to announce Nigeria’s resolve to seek a Category “C” membership on the Council.
On his part, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, assured that no stone will be left unturned to ensure success in the quest for IMO Category C membership at the next elections.
According to him, “We at NIMASA have met with the IMO technical team and have commenced work on all identified grey areas so that Nigeria can address the gaps identified during the last audit by the IMO.
”We have also commenced the process of effective communication with other member states using the IMO GSIS platform, among others. While we at NIMASA focus on the technical aspects of the preparations, our supervising Ministry will provide the political will to guide Nigeria back to the Council at the IMO.”
Oyetola, who held engagement sessions with the IMO Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez and other diplomats, was accompanied on the working tour by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olufemi Oloruntola; the Director General of the NIMASA; the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho; the Managing Director of NIWA, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji; and the Director of Maritime Safety and Security Services, Mr. Babatunde Bombata.
This year’s parallel event with the theme: Navigating the Future: Safety First, brought together international maritime leaders and experts to discuss future challenges and opportunities, with the aim of ensuring that safety is prioritized in the day-to-day operations of the global maritime sector.
Maritime
Why PPP Is Necessity For Nigeria’s Maritime Infrastructural Dev’t – Mobereola
The adoption of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model is essential for the infrastructural development of Nigeria’s maritime sector.
This is the view of the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola.
The DG, shared his views while hosting the Director General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Dr. Jobson Oseodion Ewalefoh.
He emphasized the importance of the Commission’s increased involvement in attracting private investors to develop infrastructural capacity in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
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Dr. Mobereola said, “We appreciate the Management of the ICRC for being responsive. However, you know that the maritime sector is capital intensive and government funds cannot solely put in place the required infrastructure. We need the ICRC to develop PPP based business models that will be attractive to the private sector both from within and outside the country.
“There is the need to streamline processes by the use of technology, as we will continue to count on the support of ICRC to help drive the Agency’s PPP projects for effective and efficient service delivery to our stakeholders”.
Lending support to Dr. Mobereola’s views, Dr. Ewalefoh, underscored the significance of the maritime sector to Nigeria’s economy.
He noted that the PPP model would facilitate increased funding and expertise from the private sector, thereby accelerating the growth and development of the Nigerian maritime sector. Additionally, he stated that the ICRC is prepared to engage with the Agency on its projects and ensure timely execution.
“There is no time to waste; our country needs lots of funding for infrastructure and we need to create an enabling environment for activities to thrive. First, is service delivery, not revenue generation, and people will be willing to pay if they get the right services”, the ICRC boss noted.
The PPP model has proven to be the most viable approach worldwide for driving government policies that promote development and economic growth.
Biztellers reports that as a regulatory agency and Nigeria’s Maritime Administrator, the NIMASA has consistently embraced collaboration and partnership through the PPP initiative to ensure the growth and development of the maritime sector.