THE Federal Government of Nigeria has expressed its readiness to cooperate with sister countries and development bodies to advance Africa’s prosperity through the safe and sustainable use of the continent’s vast sea and ocean resources.

THE National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has rejected the toga of idleness by a leading freight forwarding association in Lagos, recently.

THE National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, NCMDLCA, has threatened to take legal action against shipping companies over the collection of container deposit fee, a development they say is against international best practices.

DEPUTY President of the Nigerian Ship Chandlers Association, NSCA, Abilo Ochuko, has accused shipping agents and terminal operators of exposing port facilities in the country to danger of attacks despite their claims of adherence to the International Ships and Ports Facilities Security, ISPS, Facilities code.

THE President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, NAGAFF, Chief Increase Uche, has cried out over the lack of scanning machine in Nigerian ports.

FORMER National President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, NAGAFF, Eugene Nweke has called on the management of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, to enter into partnership with operators in the private sector to provide scanners for the ports and other entry points in the country.

 THE Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in its determination at further step up the process of dissemination of information and efficient delivery of services, has redeployed Engineer Jatto    Adams as its chief spokesman.

THE Institute of Transport Administration, IOTA, last week elected the Executive Director Finance and Administration of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA,  Bashir Yusuf Jamoh,  as its new National President at its annual general meeting held last week in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

THE nation’s transport infrastructure financing gap has continued to widen over the last five years with a noticeable gulf of N900 billion in 2016, the Nigerian Shippers Council, has said.

Operators in the maritime industry have faulted the recent rejection of N150 million bribe by officials of the Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, noting that those involved in the bribery case, and importers of the 40 containers of tramadol should be arrested and punished to serve as deterrent to others.

Following the failure of the Nigerian port system to accommodate the huge imports through the country’s waters, leading to diversion of cargoes to neighbouring countries, the land border route to Lagos end of the Nigerian market is now host to huge presence of security agencies’ checkpoints.

Chairman of the Shippers Association of Lagos State, Jonathan Nicol, has rise alarm over hard times his members are made face in the course of clearing their goods from the ports by officials of the various government agencies, terminal operators and shipping companies.

The new Chairman of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria, CRFFN, Alhaji Abubakar Tsanni, has said he was determined to sanitise the freight forwarding industry, especially in the area of amending the council’s Act and eliminating foreigners in the cargo clearing processes at the country’s ports and other locations.

Indecision by the Federal Government is affecting port operations in Warri, former National Financial Secretary of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Service, ANLCA, Prince Val Orhibabho, has said. Speaking to  Vanguard Maritime Report, Orhibabho said that the Federal Government seems to be confused on what it wants to do with Warri port.

The Managing Director of  Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala-Usman, Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside and the Comptroller-General of Customs, retired Col. Hameed Ali, are among dignitaries expected at the 2018 National Conference of the Port Facility Security Officers (PFSO) Forum of Nigeria holding in Calabar, Cross River State.