Tola Adenubi, Author at Tribune Online

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The Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Akwa Ibom State, and the Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State, have agreed...

Apapa customs generates 2022,Extortion: Lagos bans military checkpoints in Apapa, outlaws nine illegal checkpoints, As VIN protest lingers winners losers emerge, Over the past few years, players in the freight industry mounted a consistent demand for the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to overhaul imported vehicles valuation system, on the heels of recurring conflicts between them and customs valuation officers. For the majority of customs brokers and freight forwarders, the harmonisation and standardisation of the Customs’ valuation system was urgently needed. In the absence of a standardised valuation system, Customs officials were accused of high handedness and extortion through the use of deductive valuation. Responding to this demand for a standardised valuation system, the Nigeria Customs Service last week introduced an e-valuation system known as Vehicles Identification Number (VIN-valuation), being an artificial intelligence manual that is wholly self acting, utilising world class data which drives documentation processes in an electronically digitised format. With the introduction of the VIN valuation system, many expected standards in Customs valuation processes to be above board. However, rather than commend Customs for the bold initiative, majority of those who have clamoured for the change and who are primary beneficiaries of its laudable gains began to complain about the process, taking it to an unexpected height through organised protest, and calling for its rejection. Last week, the protest got to an unprecedented level and clearing agents decided to embark on an indefinite strike to express their displeasure over the newly introduced Customs VIN. With the clearing agents refusing to clear imported vehicles that had arrived at the Port and Terminal Multiservices Ltd (PTML) and Tin-Can Island ports, many vehicles became trapped inside the ports, thereby accumulating demurrages and storage charges that run into millions of Naira. Winners With so many imported vehicles trapped inside the ports due to the ongoing strike by clearing agents (which is in its second week), some port operators are currently smiling to the bank while there is confusion inside the ports. Top among the operators who are benefitting from the ongoing protest are the foreign shipping companies who are making millions of Dollars on trapped cargoes in the form of demurrage charges. In line with shipping rules, demurrage charges are billed on every container carried by a ship once a ship is delayed due to reasons beyond the shipping company. “Once a ship arrives at a port and cannot discharge her contents due to issues beyond the shipping company, the ship starts billing the containers that she is carrying what is called demurrage charges. For the number of days that the ship waits to discharge her contents, she bills every container that she is carrying demurrage charges. “The strike by the clearing agents over the VIN controversy has already lasted one full week and we are already into the second week, yet the strike over roro cargoes is still on. Vehicles have been offloaded by ships at these port terminals and those vehicles should have been cleared to create space for newer arrivals at the port terminals. However, due to the ongoing strike, these vehicles have not been cleared. Definitely, we have a problem. “If this strike persists, it will get to a point ships won’t be able to discharge cargoes at the port terminals anymore because the whole port terminal will be filled with uncleared imported vehicles and the ships will start billing demurrages on the vehicles that they are carrying. What this means is that while the clearing agents are protesting and refusing to clear imported vehicles, the shipping lines will be making more money on the cargoes that they are carrying,” a shipping agent who wouldn’t want his name in print told the Nigerian Tribune exclusively. Another set of winners while the strike lasts at the ports is the port terminal operators. At Nigerian port terminals, newly arrived cargoes have free storage days that they are not billed what is called storage charges. However, after the expiration of the grace period which varies between three days and five days, the port terminals start billing uncleared cargoes storage charges. With the ongoing port strike over the Customs VIN valuation spiralling into the second week, trapped vehicles are already incurring storage charges. Except the clearing agents suspend the strike and return to work, many of the trapped cargoes will have to pay through their noses to get cleared from the ports. Losers For every strike action at the ports, the cargo owners are always at the receiving end. Cargo owners, who have made orders for cargoes to be brought to Nigerian ports, pay extra charges once there is disruption to the cargo clearance logistic cycle. In 2021 alone, importers paid around N200 billion as storage and demurrage charges due to server breakdown at the ports, National President of Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics in Nigeria (APFFLON), Chief Frank Ogunojemite, explained. According to the APFFLON National President, “The recurring server failure in Customs operations grossly hindered freight forwarders and importers from taking delivery of their consignments in good time, even as shipping and terminal charges accrue.” He said for over two weeks the server experienced downtime, leading to importers and their agents paying over N200 billion on demurrage to shipping lines and terminals. “Looking at the number of vessels that arrived sometime last year and multiplying it by the number of containers in the vessels, which is about 2,000, you will discover that we paid over N200 billion in just two weeks of the server malfunction. “So, the strike on VIN already lasted a week and we have started counting the second week. Demurrages and storage charges are piling up. Importers will pay for these disruptions because the foreign shipping lines and the terminal operators won’t release any cargo if these monies are not paid,” Ogunojemite said. Another set of losers at the ports once there is a cargo clearance disruption is the Nigeria Customs Service. With a hefty revenue target of N3.1 trillion placed on the Service, Customs needs every available time to collect revenue on imported units of containers at the ports. Any form of disruption that leads to containers not being examined or duty paid for, the Customs loses precious man hours in achieving its revenue target. Aside from losing out on revenue that should have accrued into the government coffers, the nation’s ports, during protest by clearing agents, battles with efficiency, which is the hallmark of leading ports globally. When a port lacks efficiency, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) also loses out on expected revenue as the percentage of cargoes that ought to have been handed within a specific period of time are not always met. This is due to a drop in cargo throughput volume since already discharged cargoes have failed to leave the ports as at when due., improved port efficiency, Customs server breaksdown, apm alleged extortion in Eto call-up, Nigeria’s manual port operations , APM Terminals Apapa, ports cargoes, Shippers council, Rivers Port, Lagos ports, demurrage, Return of Apapa gridlock, tank farms, Tin-Can port road

APM Terminals Apapa boosts service delivery with Berthing Window

by Tola Adenubi

August 25, 2021

0

NIGERIA’S container terminal operator, APM Terminals Apapa has launched a Berthing Window service to reduce the waiting time of ships...

How inadequate berths at port terminals , APM Terminals Apapa boosts service, waiting time at Nigerian ports, Why war risk surcharges

Vessels waiting time at Nigerian ports now 21-days, NSC raises alarm

by Tola Adenubi

August 22, 2021

0

The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) has said that vessels calling at Nigerian ports now spend 21-days at anchorage, compared to...

House of Reps, Npa, Bello Koko’s commitment, Conclude ongoing repairs on Apapa, renewed concession agreements, FG to fix port infrastructure, NPA expresses displeasure over slow pace of repair works by BUA, NPA trains procurement unit on processes, NPA to automate Nigerian ports by end of 2023, electronic call-up system to Onne , Dockyard Training School, Why Nigerian exporters lie, Many operators using unsafe barges at seaports, Draw term goals, elimination of corruption at seaports , JUST IN: Buhari approves appointment of Bello-Koko as substantive NPA MD, vessels along port channels

End incessant attacks on vessels along port channels, waterfronts, NPA urges Police

by Tola Adenubi

August 19, 2021

0

The acting Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello Koko is seeking the support and cooperation of...

Group raises alarm over fake seafaring associations, warns cadets

by Tola Adenubi

August 19, 2021

0

The Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers & Water Transport Senior Staff Association (NMNOWTSSA) has cautioned cadets from maritime institutions to be...

Why Nigerian ports are losing cargoes, revenue to neighbouring ports

by Tola Adenubi

August 19, 2021

0

The Minister of State for Transportation, Senator Gbemisola Saraki recently blamed the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for the nation’s loss...

Trial of Guinea nationals , Court orders DSS to produce , NBA files suit against Buhari, Igboho: Produce 12 Yoruba, court, 11 political parties ask court, Man dragged to court, Alleged N7.1bn fraud, Judge's transfer stalls trial, Court bars EFCC, CAN takes FG to court , Court dismisses charges, Court sentences labourer to death, SEC vs Oando, DPO vs fashion designer, Lagos restriction, Court strikes out case , Court bank, Three remanded, 10 Marginal Oil Fields, Court in Kogi, national assets, Court remands man, BPE, Man remanded, Court remands man, Court sentences two robbers, Oyo Judiciary, Shiites members, Court remands three, MCSN Makurdi, Court remands two, Appeal Court President, 15-year-old girl, mechanic, theft, lagos, cut grass, death by hanging, unlawful arrest, stolen phone, Court sentences two brothers, Judicial workers begin strike Tuesday, courts

Trial of Guinea nationals arrested over Pangolin scale export delayed

by Tola Adenubi

August 18, 2021

0

The absence in court of a translator, on Wednesday, stalled the arraignment of five Guinean nationals arrested by officials of...

revenue from Lagos International Trade Fair Complex, Nigeria Air Ethiopian Airline,Reps raise alarm, Reps C'ttee orders reconciliatory, AU report Reps FG,Reps Kuje prison attack,opening of more petrol depots, Nigeria may turn to nightmare , Reps place NNPC, Contractor on status of inquiry over payment of $50m for survey of refineries, NIN for customers’ verification, Reps Committee probes NPA, 1999 Lawmakers are patriots, seize assets acquired through corruption, Enugu alleged fatal DSS, Reps to probe JAMB, NNPC of shielding subsidiaries, $195m Deep Blue Contac: We don't have records of approval, BPP tells Reps,Reps task FG, Reps move to include, Reps decry spate, New Electoral Act, Reps begin review of 2022-2024 MTEF, Reps to probe deplorable, Bill seeking review of educational qualifications, devastating erosion problem at UNIBEN, Illegal refineries: Reps call for review of modular refineries licenses, online loan providers, Reps call for reversal of ban, payment of N9bn COVID-19 intervention fund, Reps urge NCDC to step up , indiscriminate devaluation of naira, development commissions, review of judicial officers’ remuneration, frustrating FG's power project plans, activities of miners in Ijeshaland, electricity contracts from Public Procurementpush to end unrepentant insurgents, falling standard of education, seized late Abacha's properties, Federal University of Agriculture, Igbo-Ora , Reps propose life imprisonment, Reps warn PPPRA against sabotage, Reps summon Accountant-General, Electoral bill: House in tumult, Nigerian Postal Commission bill, seek foreign assistance, fate of 136 abducted students, submit RMAFC report on revenue, accuses Buhari of abandoning security, Reps set up four-man committee , Reps express concern over, ICAN, ANAN disagree on forensic institute, abysmal revenue generation, timely resolution of JUSUN strike, Reps decry loss of $3.54bn from concessioned assets since 2005, heads of erring MDAs to resign, investigate suspected NPA boss, Reps ask FG to suspend population census, Reps to probe abuse of expatriate quota in telecoms industry, breach of extant safety standards, Reps order EFCC, to screen service chiefs, PIB, payment of special public workers, airport concession, Reps, Reps query PTAD, minority carcus, #EndSARS, Buhari, army, constitution review committee, constitution, Retirement benefits Pension Act, Air Force contract, NAF contract, action to implement budget, Tertiary Hospital and development, Reps uncover $33bn contracts, NDDC, NNPC, Reps, lawmakers, Reps, house of representatives, full story, armed attack, police report , Reps, victims, NEDC, Funds, House of Reps, per cent, percentage, immigration documents of Chinese in Nigeria, NDDC, WASSCE, COVID-19, Reps, Civil Aviation Acts, ministry of aviation budget defence,political office holders' salaries, Nigeria's energy policy review, review of state constituencies, shady concessions

Reps summon Accountant-General, customs, budget office over N3.1bn NSC revenue

by Tola Adenubi

August 18, 2021

0

The House of Representatives Committee on Finance has invited the office of the Accountant-General of the federation, the Nigeria Customs...

unpaid Chinese loans on maritime assets, contract for 12 containerships, Port Economic Regulatory Agency Bill, Maritime Code of Practice in Nigeria, Lekki Port begins transshipment

Shippers council not bothered about operators plight, industry challenges ― APMDC

by Tola Adenubi

August 12, 2021

0

The management of the Associated Port Marine Development Company (APMDC), has denied allegations of arbitrary charges and charging in foreign...

Shipping company opens rail hub in Ogun State

by Tola Adenubi

August 12, 2021

0

Nigeria’s shipping and cargo logistics services provider, Hull Blyth, has opened a rail hub at Wasimi, Ewekoro Local Government Area...

Tola Adenubi

Maritime Academy, university consider collaboration for improved training

APM Terminals Apapa boosts service delivery with Berthing Window

Vessels waiting time at Nigerian ports now 21-days, NSC raises alarm

End incessant attacks on vessels along port channels, waterfronts, NPA urges Police

Group raises alarm over fake seafaring associations, warns cadets

Why Nigerian ports are losing cargoes, revenue to neighbouring ports

Trial of Guinea nationals arrested over Pangolin scale export delayed

Reps summon Accountant-General, customs, budget office over N3.1bn NSC revenue

Shippers council not bothered about operators plight, industry challenges ― APMDC

Shipping company opens rail hub in Ogun State

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