IMO Elects Arsenio

 IMO Elects Arsenio Antonio of Panama as New Secretary General

ZAINAB JUNAID 

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has elected Arsenio Antonio Dominguez Velasco of the Republic of Panama as its next Secretary General.

He emerged winner among the seven nominees nominated for the election of the new IMO Secretary General. Other contenders are -Moin Uddin Ahmed of Bangladesh, Suat Hayri Aka of Turkey, Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry of Dominica, Nancy Karigithu of Kenya, Minna Kivimäki of Finland, and Zhang Xiaojie of China.

The new Secretary General of the IMO will be saddled with the responsibility of steering the industry's efforts towards sustainability, environmental stewardship, and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the shipping sector. Kitack Lim, the outgoing Secretary-General's successor will play a vital role in shaping the future work of the IMO for the next two years and beyond.

CGC Dissolves Strike Force Teams

CGC Adeniyi Dissolves Strike Force Teams Across Zones in the Country 

ZAINAB JUNAID 

The Acting Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, has officially approved the immediate dissolution of the CGC’s Strike Force Teams across the Zones in the Country. 

This was contained in a circular dated 17th June, signed by Deputy Comptroller General in charge of Enforcement, Investigation, and Inspection (E, I& I), Abba Kura. 

In the circular, all officers previously assigned to the Strike Force Teams have been directed to return to their respective Area Commands or Units from which they were drawn.The Strike Force Team Coordinators in zones A, B, C, and the headquarters have been saddled with ensuring that all arms and ammunition are properly handed over to their respective Area Commands, Units, or Headquarters.

As part of the dissolution process, the Customs boss also mandated the handover of operational vehicles to the Controllers of the Federal Operation Units (FOU), with necessary returns to be forwarded to Headquarters. 

He instructed the Coordinator of Headquarters Strike Force Team to retire operational vehicles from his team to the Comptroller Transport & Logistics. 

The circular further reads that all records of detentions, seizures, cases in court and any other vital record/ information are to be handed to Controller FOUs across the Zones. 

"Coordinator of Headquarters Strike Force Team is required to retire all records under his custody to the office of Deputy Comptroller General in charge of Enforcement, Investigation, and Inspection (E, I&I)," it reads.

While commending the Strike Force Teams for the services rendered, the CGC called for strict compliance with immediate effect of the dissolution.

NPA Projects Over 500bn Revenue by year end 2023

... Generates N191.4bn revenue, remits N55.7bn to Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) in Six months

ZAINAB JUNAID

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has generated a total revenue of N191, 430,093,501.00 (One hundred and ninety-one billion, four hundred and thirty million, ninety-three thousand and five hundred and one naira only) from its operations in the first half of 2023 and also remitted N55,712, 565, 027.46 (Fifty-five billion, seven hundred and twelve million, five hundred and sixty-five thousand, twenty-seven naira and forty-six kobo only) to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) of the Federation.

This was disclosed in the half-year 2023 performance reports released by the authority's Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mohammed Bello Koko.

Bello Koko attributed the revenue hike to existential economic headwinds both at the micro and macro levels, saying the operational statistics for the first six months were reassuring, and also catalyzed the commendable remittances to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) of the Federal Government thus far.

He further projected revenue of over 500bn (Half a trillion) Revenue by Year End 2023, Going by the Current Momentum and the Recurrent Trend of Shipping Volumes Peaking from July to December. 

According to him: “viewed within the context of current global economic upheavals which have affected trade volumes in all climes, our current growth trajectory is encouraging and gives us confidence to project a revenue growth of over 500 billion with concomitant increase in remittance to CRF by end-of-year 2023, given that shipping activities peak around the second half of the year’’

“The smart policy thrust of the new administration which is already throwing up new vistas of growth further lends credence to the feasibility of our projections and gives fillip to our organizational initiatives.”

Koko added that "the operationalization of Lekki Deep Seaport, expected restoration of the service boat management contract, digitalisation and intensified tightening of collections mechanisms buoys our confidence at meeting and indeed exceeding the revenue projections".

"The Authority has completed operations on a total number of one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one (1851) vessels for the 1st half of 2023 with a combined Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) of fifty-seven million, eight hundred and seventy thousand and eighty-three (57,870,083). Cargo throughput for the period under review stood at 33,895,784 metric tonnes, whilst container traffic was 707,985 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units).

A key indicator of port efficiency which is the average turn-around-time (TAT) of vessels, stood at 5.16days. “This is an improvement and we have put measures in place to surpass in the second half of 2023” says Mohammed Bello Koko.

Speaking further, Bello Koko said "we are poised to transform our projections to actualities. The remaining half of the year 2023 will be focused on finalising financing arrangements for our port rehabilitation drive, conclusion of all digitalisations geared towards improvement of efficiency and collaboration with landlocked neighbouring countries like Niger and Chad with whom we have already opened discussions to patronize our ports as hubs for transshipment cargo".

The NPA boss concluded the report by remarking that “as a management team, we remain unwavering in our resolve to continuously improving on service excellence, blocking avenues of income leakages, curbing waste and tightening collection mechanisms in a bid to surpass stakeholders’ expectations and support the national economy”.

NCS Restrategises Operations, Says least FINE for Simple Infractions is N5m and above

Nigeria Customs Intercepts Arms, other Weapons,

... Arrests Suspect in Lagos 

ZAINAB JUNAID

The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS has intercepted a total of thirty-one (31) rifles and ammunition concealed in plastic drums and sacks of charcoal within the first two weeks of July 2023.

The Ag. Comptroller General of the Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, disclosed this at a press briefing held at the Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Ikeja, Lagos on Monday, 17th July 2023. 

Comptroller Bashir stated that the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU) in a joint operation with the Nigeria Police, Department of State Security, DSS and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, while carrying out a 100% examination of a 1x40ft container on the 5th of July, 2023 at the Ports & Terminal Multiservices Limited, uncovered ten (10) dangerous arms and ammunition concealed inside a plastic drum.

The siezed items includes Three (3) new Pump Action Rifles and one new unit of an armed Rifle, Six (6) new different types of pistols including one new millennium G2 pistol; one (1) new sarsilmaz SAR-9X pistol; one (1) new Lugger Security-9 pistol; one (1) new Taurus Banbridge G3C pistol; one new SCCY CPX-2 pistol, and one (1) new Taurus (63 pistol). Others include fourteen (14) empty magazines and 442 rounds of live ammunition.

Comptroller Bashir also disclosed that the two suspects in connection with the seizure have been arrested.

His words, "The clearing agent, Mr Shokunbi Olanrewaju of Shooler Global International Limited and Mr Joseph Nwadiodor, who was expected to take delivery of the Container, are currently detained as suspects in connection with the seizure.

In a related development, the Tincan Island Port Command of the Service, while acting on credible intelligence has also subjected a 1x40ft container to 100% physical examination with the relevant security Agencies at the ports within the same period.

According to the Ag. CGC, the physical examination uncovered 18 arms, packets of cartridges and rounds of live ammunition inside plastic drums.

"6 different makes of pistols namely: two (2) Sar9 Sarsilmarz Pistols; one (1) Ruger American Pistol and three (3) Taurus G3c – Bainbridge Pistols); Twelve (12) different makes of riffles namely; five (5) Rz17hd Rifles; one (1) Gamo Rifle, five (5) Pump Action Rifles and one (1) Rz17 Tactical Rifle); Ten (10) packets of cartridges; Two (2) packets of 9mm ammunition; One hundred (100) rounds of 9mm Winchester ammunition. One (1) carton of Frontier cartridges and Two (2) packets of Buckshot ammunition.

“Again, during a routine Patrol along Owode/Ajilete Axis of Ogun State by Officers of the Joint Border Patrol Team Sector 2, on Wednesday 12 July 2023, intercepted an unregistered Toyota Camry loaded with six sacks of charcoal, which was used to conceal three (3) pump action riffles with 174 live cartridges". The Customs Chief revealed. 

“The driver of the vehicle who knew the content he was conveying vis-a-vis the attendant consequences of his action before the law; jumped into the bush and escaped arrest". He noted. 

"Investigation into the seizures is inconclusive. The outcome of our investigations together with the seizures will be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation and prosecution". He added. 

He reiterated the services' resolve to tackle the economic and security menace caused by recalcitrant traders. 

“Let me state at this point that the Service has re-strategized its operations, while our Officers have raised their levels of professionalism, we have re-injected new tactics to tackle the economic and security menace caused by recalcitrant importers and their agents. The Services' human resources and logistics are collectively harnessed to combat and prevent economic sabotage”, he said.

However, while fielding questions with journalists on punishment awaiting the arrested ones, the Customs Chief stated that the least fine for simple infractions(An infraction is the least serious offense in our criminal justice system) ranges from #5million upward and the Offence is high but will be subjected to periodic review. 

He implored importers and agents to be patriotic by making sincere declarations, and be properly guided by the import/export prohibition lists, while also urging the public to see security as a collective responsibility. 

“We will appreciate information of illegal importation and cross-border movement of dangerous weapons used to create mayhem in our nation”, he maintained.