Maritime Agencies
CVFF DISBURSEMENT: Despite NIMASA’s Ultimatum, No Ship Owner Qualifies Now, says Engr Greg Ogbeifun
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
As NIMASA gives banks 72 hours to release modalities for the disbursement of the beleaguered Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund (CVFF), Falcon Watch Online recalls a recent caution by Engr Greg Ogbeifun, prominent ship owner and pioneer President, Ship-owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN) that for now, no ship owner can comfortably say he has a contract and this is the rate or the value of the contract, and ‘if I get money to build a ship, this is the opportunity I have to pay back’. No one can say that.”
Engr Greg Ogbeifun stated this, Monday, while sharing his thoughts on the current discussions by various ship-owner groups regarding the disbursement of the fund.
He spoke at the sidelines of the 9th edition of the African Shippers’ Day event hosted in Lagos by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council in collaboration with the Union of African Shippers Councils.
Engr Ogbeifun who is also the Chairman, Starzs Marine & Engineering Co Ltd and member, 2017 Ministerial Interim Management Committee that restructured and repositioned the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, was emphatic that for now, no ship owner is eligible to benefit from the CVFF if ever it is going to be disbursed.
Part of the requirements prescribed by the 2003 Cabotage Act, he told our correspondent, is that the ship owner working to qualify to draw from the Fund must have an existing contract and a viable credit history to convince all and sundry that he has capacity for repayment.
“No indigenous ship owner has valid contracts or is eligible for the fund, as many of them have gone bankrupt,” he disclosed.
On the talk of equity being canvased by various shipowner groups, he said that anyone talking about 15% equity to be provided by ship owners before accessing the fund is ignorant.
For now, there is no guideline in place as required by law, taking cognizance of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy of the Federal Government.
Ogbeifun said the current guideline on CVFF disbursement came into being during the tenure of Alhaji Idris Umar as Minister of Transportation. But as it stands now, the Federal Government’s Treasury Single Account regime makes it irrelevant.
Unless the Cabotage Act undergoes amendment in line with the requirements of the TSA regime and the Minister comes up with fresh guidelines for disbursement as per the Cabotage Act, anybody talking about disbursement will be breaking the law, Ogbeifun stated.
“I tell people that no company or ship owner is eligible to benefit from the CVFF.
“Starzs is not eligible too. This is because when I had a contract, and couldn’t get the money, a commercial bank funded the project and paid for the ship. The ship is working and I paid my rent. I don’t have a contract. It is like I want to go and borrow money to borrow a ship and almost all of us are in that situation.
“The new government came into place and says all monies of the commercial banks be moved to the TSA at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The ship owners are saying ‘our money is our private money and should not be in the TSA’.
“But it is there already. So, the government decided to lock it. Right now, no primary lending institution (PLI) or all those commercial banks they say they are nominating have the Cabotage fund with them to tell the government that they can now support and go by the terms of the government. So, if any bank is saying it is a PLI, it means they don’t understand what they’re getting into.
“Right now, there is no guideline in place as required by law by the current Minister taking cognizance of TSA. So now we have TSA, then how do we go about it? Anybody running around will be breaking the law, including the Minister. And those who are arguing to take the money and they don’t have contracts, how are they going to go about it?
“Maybe we should get to talk to ourselves and the only way forward is for the Honorable Minister to take the Act and understand what the Act says and form a small committee, bringing in banks, ship owners and industry players taking cognizance of the current situation and bringing up a guideline and changing the Act through the National Assembly. The conditions can be taken off and verified. Otherwise, government is going to take the money or they simply don’t know what they are doing”, Engr Ogbeifun said.
Maritime Agencies
PORTBIZNESS Celebrates Excellence in Customer Service Delivery, Holds Special Awards Night
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
Popular media outfit, Portbuziness, is set to thrill the maritime and business community on Lagos come June, 2025, in an award event tagged the Distinguished Customer Service Appreciation Night.
The event is to showcase and appreciate exceptional corporate organizations and individuals who have made a mark in various fields of business endeavour.
The Award will feature a series of thought-provoking discussions and receptions to celebrate corporate organisations and individuals that are placing measurable value on people, societies and the nation in general.
In a release by James Shodiya, the Convener and MD/CEO, Portbizness, the DCS Awards & Recognitions is one unique event that will bring together brands and persons from different walks of life under one platform to examine the importance of offering quality service delivery to customers and clients under the theme: Standard & Satisfactory Service Delivery in a Challenged Economy.
The Portbizness boss stressed that the DCS Awards & Recognition is considered the Gold Standard for Corporate organisations and individuals who have gone above and beyond in offering exceptional service delivery in different areas of business.
The event, Shodiya added, will be attended by the most innovative and high-impact Corporate Organisations and nominees will be evaluated through strict observations and recommendations by authorities in various business sectors.
The event which takes place at the popular Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, will feature top brands in Telecoms, Maritime, Pharmaceuticals and Food & Beverages. Others are Transportation & Logistics, Real Estate, Hospitality, etc.
Captains of industry, Chief Executives of Companies , Government Agencies and customer service experts are expected to grace the occasion.
Gold Sponsors for the event include Trucks Transit Parks Ltd and Global Transport Policy.
Maritime Agencies
Kebbi Customs Command Introduces Health Screening, Mandatory Sports To Ensure Work-life Balance
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
In a renewed effort to promote healthy living and wellness of men and officers, a factor that contributes to operational fitness, increased productivity and morale in the workplace, the Kebbi State Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) recently took giant steps to re-introduce routine medical check-ups and mandatory weekly fitness exercises.
The first phase of the physical wellness initiative being promoted by the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Chidi Chukwumeziri Nwokorie, aims to promote a work-life balance within the Service.
The programme which the CAC flagged off Thursday at the Command’s premises in Birnin Kebbi saw officers and men of the Command participating in a series of health screening and sporting activities. These included football, basketball, and table tennis all aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle among Customs officers in order to make them fit to carry out their responsibilities.
Speaking at the event, Comptroller Nwokorie reiterated the importance of regular health check-up to determine the physical fitness of men and officers. This is required for them to maintain the alertness and effectiveness
required for Customs duties. He noted that the exercise is not meant to be seen as a burden or an obligation imposed on officers. It is rather a proactive measure put in place to ensure optimal health status which impacts productivity and effectiveness.
Going forward, the Controller stated, medical examinations would be conducted fortnightly, while physical exercise sessions would be held every week without fail. The objective is to strengthen the resilience, agility, and general health of personnel tasked with enforcing Nigeria’s trade laws and combating illicit smuggling activities across the nation’s borders.
The activities concluded with officers engaging in various forms of sports and recreational games, reinforcing camaraderie and team spirit within the Command. This is essential for building a cohesive team that can work together effectively to achieve its goals.
The Kebbi Command’s renewed focus on health and physical fitness comes at a time when security agencies are under pressure to meet growing national border security expectations and anti-smuggling enforcement. By prioritizing the health and well-being of its officers, the Command is demonstrating its commitment to their success.
The Kebbi Customs Command’s initiative, observers say, serves as a model for other security agencies. By prioritizing the health and well-being of officers, agencies can improve their performance and overall effectiveness.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
For posting an impressive revenue performance, the Ogun II Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has been specifically commended with a firm pledge to address operational challenges she is grappling with.
Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, made this known, Wednesday, during a working tour of the Command Headquarters in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
In his welcome address, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Bisi Alade described the CGC’s visit as a morale booster for the command’s officers and men.
“Your presence here today Sir,” he remarked, “is not only encouraging but also a strong indication of your commitment to every arm of the Service.”
“It has uplifted the spirit of our officers and reinforced our resolve to deliver on the Service’s mandate with renewed vigour.”
Comptroller Alade disclosed that between January and April, 2025, the Ogun II Command generated a total revenue of ₦15.191 billion, representing a 40 per cent increase compared to the ₦9.165 billion recorded during the corresponding period in 2024.
The Ogun II Command, he stated, oversees three Free Trade Zones, 67 excise factories, and one bonded terminal, making it a strategic revenue-generating and industrial oversight zone within the Nigeria Customs Service architecture.
“We shall continue to remain focused, disciplined, and professional in the discharge of our duties, while aligning with the CGC’s reform agenda,” he reaffirmed
The CAC drew attention to several challenges facing the Command, including inadequate operational vehicles, medical laboratory equipment at the Command’s clinic and the need to renovate two 30-man rank-and-file quarters. Others are improved borehole facilities and the installation of a solar power system for the office complex.
In response, CGC Adeniyi commended the Command’s performance and assured that the Service Headquarters would consider the issues raised. He urged officers to prioritise continuous professional development, stressing that competence, knowledge and dedication are essential to enable them to effectively discharge the Service’s responsibilities.
The CGC also praised Prince Dapo Abiodun, the Governor of Ogun State, for leveraging the state’s strategic location as Nigeria’s industrial gateway, particularly in light of its shared border with the Republic of Benin.
“Ogun State is a strategic location in Nigeria, and the Governor is clearly repositioning the state for industrial growth,” Adeniyi remarked.
CGC Adeniyi assured the government and people of Ogun State that the Nigeria Customs Service remains a committed partner in driving the nation’s economic prosperity. He further encouraged Comptroller Alade to deepen collaboration with other security agencies and the state government to achieve
shared goals.
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Maritime Agencies3 weeks agoContainer Movement To Seaports: NPA Meets With APM Terminals, Shipping Lines, for Coordination.
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Maritime Agencies3 weeks agoCG Adeniyi Commends Ogun II Command for Massive Revenue Increase.
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Maritime Agencies1 week agoPORTBIZNESS Celebrates Excellence in Customer Service Delivery, Holds Special Awards Night
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Maritime Agencies1 week agoKebbi Customs Command Introduces Health Screening, Mandatory Sports To Ensure Work-life Balance