THE Union of African Shippers’ Councils, UASC, has thrown its weight behind the Nigeria’ s efforts to stop the hike in peak season caharges by shipping lines serving the West African Trade Route.

THE Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, has commenced moves to deepen collaborative efforts with other sister agencies to secure the nation’s maritime domain.

AMIDST the sharp rise recorded in the fisheries sub-sector contribution to the second quarter, 2020 Q2’20 Gross Domestic Product, GDP of Nigeria, maritime industry expert has expressed misgivings over the source, authenticity and sustainability of the growth figures reported.

AS water transportation recorded steep decline at -28.33 percent in the second quarter of 2020, Q2’20, there seems to be uncertainty as to the reasons behind the set back.

MARITIME industry stakeholders have expressed concern over the steep decline in the Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, in the second quarter of 2020, Q2’20.

IMPORTERS in the country are currently groaning under huge surcharge imposed on them by the international shipping firms on cargoes imported into the country.

THE Federal Government is set to spend over N688.56 billion ($1.812 billion) for the acquisition of over 300 scanners for the nation’s ports and entry points for digital examination of cargoes and other items imported into the country.

THE Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has impounded vehicles, imported rice and other items with Duty Paid Value, DPV of N10 billion.

THE Lagos Maritime Security Zone, LMSZ, of the Port Facility Security Officers of Nigeria, PFSON, forum has said the recent explosion experienced at the Port of Beirut, Lebanon, should be a lesson to Nigeria and called for the urgent relocation of tank farms in and around the Apapa ports areas.

As a means of curbing  incessant boat mishap in the country, the National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, has said it will commence impounding of substandard boats plying the nation’s waterways.

THE Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Ms Hadiza Bala Usman, has said that the authority has agreed to pay footage allowances to its marine pilots. The allowance is paid to marine pilots for successful delivery of vessels pilotage to berths from the territorial waters.

PENULTIMATE Tuesday August 11, 2020, major agencies in the Federal Ministry of Transportation namely Nigerian Shippers’ Council, NSC; Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA; Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA; Nigeria Inland Waterways, NIWA; Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarders in Nigeria, CRFFN; and Maritime Academy of Nigeria Oron, MAN; held an inter-agency collaboration meeting with a view to finding out areas that will strengthen and develop our maritime sector for economic sustainability. This meeting came on the heels of an earlier one held at the Corporate Headquarters of Nigerian Shippers’ Council Apapa in July.

AT the backdrop of the controversy rocking the freight forwarding and customs brokers associations over the setting up of Compliance Monitoring Team by one of the industry groups, some stakeholders have condemned the Compliance Team as well as the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria, CRFFN.

THE Association of Maritime Truck Owners, AMATO, has protested the planned dislodgement of truckers using Abuja Truck Park at Tincan First Gate by the Lagos State Environmental Task-Force.

NATIONAL Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, NCMDLCA has called for the amendment of the Customs and Excise Management Act, CEMA, to bring the law up to date with the current realities.