Maritime Agencies
BOAT MISHAPS: Training Key To Overcoming the Menace, NIWA Insists
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
Saturday, March 9, 2024, the Lagos Area Office of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) mobilized what an industry watcher has described as the highest number, in recent times, of boat captains and deck hands invited to join hands with the waterways regulator to deliberate and fashion out how best to address a nagging matter: frequent boat mishaps. The well-attended gathering was for operators from Zone A comprising Badagry, Tincan and Ijegun area.
It was a no-holds- barred engagement. Boat operators – irrespective of status – were offered unfettered opportunity devoid of any encumbrances to air their views on the issue of safety at sea. Boat drivers and deck hands who ordinarily would feel shy saying the truth in the presence of their bosses and the regulator were encouraged to speak out while their employers were urged to freely accommodate candid views from their subordinates for the sole purpose of achieving safety on the inland waterways, going forward.
In his opening remarks, NIWA Managing Director, Hon Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji represented by the Manager, Lagos Area Office, Engr (Dr) Sarat Braimah, urged all present to see the day’s engagement as a free thing designed to take a serious look at reasons boat mishaps persist on Lagos waters despite all measures the agency has put in place to curtail or even eradicate it. Have people been failing in roles they play or are supposed to play to curb the menace? What are the problems of captains, deck hands, passengers, government regulators and any other stakeholder? How are these to be realistically tackled to collectively offer a reliable platform to address incidents of boat mishaps in the Lagos area? Are there things the regular is yet to do to solve this nagging issue? Are there fresh ideas and suggestions that can help out?
For captains, Engr Braimah reeled out a number of competencies and skills they must not do without. Prominent among these is proficiency in swimming. How many of them can swim during emergencies? She requested those among this group who cannot swim to willingly show up to be trained by NIWA since they are the first line of help to passengers should there be a boat mishap.
“Today is not a day to blame anybody but a time to open up on reasons for frequent boat accidents.”
To her, training for all category of boat handlers remains a constant factor that must never be overlooked because it exposes the trainee to all rudiments, activities and processes he must be familiar with to ensure safety of all on a boat.
Last two incidents in Banana Island, Lagos, she explained, were caused by captains who left the channel and drove to the shore. The second incident occurred because the captain of the boat involved in was struggling with another boat in a speed competition. Speed competition on water? For what purpose?
“Training, training, training is compulsory. I know it’s difficult to get money in Nigeria today. But you must suffer yourself and struggle to pay to get training. Please starve yourself to get trained. If you don’t have your boat captain’s licence, you can’t be on the waterways.”
She emphasized that training would have exposed the boat captains to know when and how to move to the shore or the implications of boats competing for speed especially in a marine environment fraught with uncertainties.
Among their complaints, the boat drivers complained of meagre payments that cannot sustain them.
They requested NIWA to reduce the fees for training to enable them afford it. Reacting, Engr Braimah encouraged them to imbibe the habit of saving to raise the money, realizing the implications of not getting trained on their job.
“You can’t sit down in your house and learn”.
Corroborating Engr Braimah’s stand, Saka Stephen, a boat captain, confirmed that training is very important as it offers needed skills in navigation, weather reading, how to mount ropes, among other skills. Training, Stephen emphasized, cannot be compromised.
In his intervention, Comrade Friday Essien appealed to NIWA to streamline the cost of her licence with the one from NIMASA which, he stated, is cheaper.
Prominent among causes of boat mishaps, the operators said, is the physical condition and old age of boats. There are those of fibre, wood and others with holes which continuously battle with uncertainties which include water streaming in during voyage.
There is also the presence of wrecks majorly caused by people who throw all kinds of junks into the water. In most cases, these wrecks are not visible and cannot be sighted by captains and drivers. They appealed that these be identified and promptly removed as boats don’t have what it takes to detect or remove them from the channel.
Exchanging views with the press after the well-attended event, Engr Braimah advised captains and boat drivers to always cool down to know the rights and wrongson the waterways.
We have told them that they should not sail at night.
“Actually, I can say that 80% of night sailing is not in Lagos. We have told them why they should let us have information whenever they see any wrecks on the waterways so that these can be removed immediately. Some of these wrecks are caused by dredgers. We know all dredgers on the inland waterways. We will call to tell them what to do with the wrecks.”
Speaking on boat seaworthiness, she announced that henceforth, NIWA intensify quarterly inspections to ensure boats are seaworthy.
“Before now, all Ikorodu boats have been inspected. The ones qualified for now are allowed to sail; those not qualified will not be allowed until they are refurbished. We are working with the Marine Police.”
Lately, maritime stakeholders have urged the Federal Government to consider offering loans to boat operators from the CVFF to enable them procure new boats and make repayments installmentally.
Aligning with this view, the Area Manager observed that most boats in use now are old even as most boat owners do not have the funds to buy new ones.
“Government has to come in maybe through forming cooperatives, to concretize arrangements so that it will not be easy to evade repayment if such loans are secured. To get a good boat is nothing less than N70K or N80 million, “she explained.
Braimah also reiterated the importance of lifebuoys which 6 or more passengers can hold on to so as to remain stable and avoid panic during an emergency.
To check overspeeding, NIWA has also instructed that speedometers be installed on boats at least for passengers to know when overspeeding is taking place.
Concerning cost of training, splitting the sum into 30 – 30% initial instalment payment and completing it before collecting the certificate gives a trainee a soft landing.
“I believe in training because there’s nothing you can learn or do even in the corridor of your house without experience acquired through training. How do you not have a licence and you want to drive a boat? It’s like being a doctor without going to school. Training is key; that’s what I have been telling the associations that it is better we work together and help ourselves.”
“They can’t be saying that N80,000 is too big for training. It’s not like they’re doing this training every year. It’s for three years. This money is paid once in three years.
NIWA, she stated, has zoned patrols to Ikorodu, Epe and Badagry axis.
“When they know that NIWA patrol is coming, they (boat drivers) will take caution. It’s just like Police being on the road. We have the personnel and that’s why we put ourselves in groups. For instance, in the Lagos Area Office, we’re almost 50 staff plus the Marine Police and the Joint Task Force (JTF).
In his submission earlier, Emmanuel Prowess, a trainer and Licenced Life Guard at Landmark Beach took time to dwell on the importance of life jacket. He urged captains, deck hands and drivers to always check and wear their life jackets while on water.
“Develop the habit of putting your life jacket on before asking passengers to do same. Have excess for passengers and always wash and clean them. To earn the commitment and good conduct of boat drivers, captains and boat owners must provide reasonable incentives to make them happy.”
Concerning boat inspection survey, it is mandatory, the trainer said, that captains inspect and ascertain the readiness of boat engines before navigation. Driving at a cautious speed, he said, enables the boat overcome waves and other natural occurrences.
Passenger loading must not exceed the specific number approved for the boat.
On rescue operation, he said the captain who must possess sound swimming experience should take the lead.
“Knowledge is important. Knowing how to swim places him (the captain) in a position to secure himself and be able to save the passengers.
“When your boat begins to take in water, take it towards the shore. At the jetty, your engine must be on stand-by.
Speed control is very important. An old engine cannot run at its maximum speed: the younger, the faster and better.”
He explained that captains must be conversant with the geography of their areas of operation so as not to infringe on the rights of fishermen and others that maritime laws permit to ply their trade on water. Their fishing nets must not be unduly tampered with. Similarly, dredgers and their equipments have rights that must not be violated.
When approaching a jetty, Emmanuel Prowess counselled, captains must not allow passengers disembark immediately until he secures and anchors the vessel. Before take-off too, all passengers must be secure and settled in the boat. Passenger manifest is a must.
Engr Sarat Braimah implored captains and boat drivers to promptly report to NIWA the presence of wrecks, dredgers, pipes,etc on the channel for necessary action. She distributed dedicated phone numbers for this purpose.
Maritime Agencies
We’re Ever Proactive In Intercepting Prohibited, Falsely Declared Goods, says Controller Onyeka.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
In line with the core mandate of the Nigeria Customs Service, the Tincan Island Port Command is ever proactive in intercepting prohibited and falsely declared goods even as it remains committed to facilitate legitimate trade while contributing significantly to revenue generation.
The falsely declared goods include controlled pharmaceuticals, arms and ammunition, narcotics and other items capable of undermining public safety, security and stability.
The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Frank Onyeka stated this in Lagos, Friday, while formally handing over three (3) units of 20 ft containers containing expired pharmaceutical products to the National Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for appropriate regulatory action.
”The containers include two units with numbers PONU031958/6 and MSKU 711656/0 which were found to contain expired Tramadol tablets,” Onyeka announced.
”These consignments were thoroughly examined and the result revealed that the first container contained 86 cartons of Vingil Tramadol BP 50 mg while the second container held 250 cartons of the same expired Tramadol product”.
”The third container with number MSKU413519/1 was found to contain 370 cartons of expired Declofenac Sodium BP 50 mg tablets without a valid NAFDAC registration number, making the consignment illegal and dangerous for public use.”
Beyond these seizures, he explained, the Tincan Command has continued to record notable achievements in recent times through intensified cargo examination, improved intelligence gathering and sustained enforcement operations. These achievements are the result of deliberate strategies anchored on discipline, integrity and strong inter -agency collaboration.
He showed special appreciation to the operatives of NAFDAC for their consistent cooperation.
”Our synergy has continued to yield positive results particularly in ensuring that fake, substandard and expired drugs are intercepted before reaching the Nigerian populace.”
He equally commended officers and men of the Command for being resilient and committed to duty, a development that has continued to strengthen the credibility and operational effectiveness of the Command.
”Furthermore, I express our sincere appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, PhD, MFR, psc (+) for his purposeful leadership and strategic reforms which have empowered our operations.”
The CAC later handed over the prohibited pharmaceuticals to Mr Kareem Taiwo Adekunle, the Chief Regulatory Officer (Investigation and Inspection Directorate), NAFDAC, Apapa.
Maritime Agencies
Zone ‘A’ Coordinator, Mohammed Babandede, Visits Apapa Command, Commends Officers’ Sterling Performance.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
Officers and men of the Apapa Customs Command have received a special commendation for maintaining an exceptional performance in revenue generation, anti-smuggling operations and trade facilitation throughout 2025.
Mohammed Babandede, Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs (ACG) and Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service handed down the commendation during his familiarization visit to the Command, Thursday.
Chief Superintendent of Customs, Isa Sulaiman, the image maker of the Apapa Customs Command disclosed this in a press release.
Addressing officers and men during the visit, the image maker stated, the Zonal Coordinator explained that the purpose of his coming was to acknowledge the operational challenges faced by the Command, appreciate its notable achievements and further boost the morale of personnel who have consistently surpassed expectations, particularly in revenue collection where the Command exceeded its annual target.
”The ACG also lauded the Command’s sustained anti-smuggling efforts, especially the significant seizures of narcotics and other illicit substances including cocaine and tramadol, describing these interceptions as critical contributions to national security, public health and societal safety. ”
Effective enforcement, the ACG emphasized, remains fundamental to creating a secure environment for legitimate trade to thrive.
While noting that the core responsibilities of the Service extend beyond revenue generation to include national security, public safety and trade facilitation, the Zonal Coordinator commended the Apapa Command for its effective inter-agency collaboration. He urged officers to deepen cooperation with sister agencies, particularly in the deployment and promotion of trade facilitation tools that have positioned the Service at an upper-class operational rating.
The Zonal Coordinator further stressed the importance of integrity, reputational management, mentorship and capacity building within the Command. He urged senior officers to transfer knowledge and experience to younger officers while also drawing attention to the importance of officers’ welfare and health, disclosing that drug tests would be conducted across Commands. He advised officers to remain health-conscious for effective service delivery.
In his remarks, the Customs Area Controller, Apapa Area Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, expressed appreciation to the Zonal Coordinator whose February 5 visit was motivating and timely. He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to sustaining its performance in revenue generation, enforcement, trade facilitation, inter-agency cooperation and ethical conduct in strict adherence to the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023 and the policy thrust of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr Adewale Adeniyi.
Customs
Freight Forwarders Warn FAAN To Halt New Charges In Airport Cargo Operations or Risk Rumble in the Sector .
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
If the recent arbitrary increase in charges by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is not reviewed, cargo operations across airports nationwide risk disruption, prompting huge losses in government revenue, airports freight forwarders have warned.
Leaders of major associations operating at the nation’s airports stated this in Lagos, Tuesday. The associations included the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), African Professionals Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) and NAFFAC.
Featuring at the briefing, among others, were Dr. Segun Musa, Deputy National President of NAGAFF in charge of Air and Logistics, and Mr. Tope Akindele, Chairman, Airport Chapter of ANLCA.
Speaking on behalf of the groups, Dr. Musa traced the controversy to an agreement reached with FAAN in 2010 over the collection of a seven-naira-per-kilogram levy on cargo, which, according to him, was tied to the allocation of land for the development of a cargo village at the airport.
He explained that prior to that agreement, FAAN had been collecting two naira per kilogram, a charge the freight forwarders had challenged on the grounds that FAAN, having concessioned cargo operations to companies such as NAHCO and SAHCOL, was not directly provding cargo handling services.
He said the associations had formally written FAAN at the time, arguing that the two-naira charge was illegal, a move that led to prolonged negotiations that reportedly lasted for about two weeks and disrupted activities at the airport. According to him, an eventual compromise was the introduction of the seven-naira charge in exchange for the allocation of land to build a cargo village, a deal he said formed the basis for the current arrangement.
“The seven naira we are talking about is attached to this land. It is like rent on this land,” Musa said, insisting that FAAN had no right to impose fresh charges without first engaging stakeholders. He argued that, just as the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) relates with terminal operators after concessioning the seaports, FAAN should deal with its concessionaires rather than directly imposing charges on operators.
The freight forwarders also raised financial concerns, claiming that FAAN had already made substantial sums from the seven-naira levy over the years. Musa said that in 2010 alone, FAAN collected over one billion naira from the charge and that from 2010 to date, the cumulative amount would be far higher than the value of the land allocated for the cargo village.
The immediate trigger for the latest dispute, according to the associations, is FAAN’s decision to increase the existing charges without consultation, a move they said was followed by a threat letter warning of possible demolition of their secretariats. The groups described this as coercive and counterproductive, stressing that they were not opposed to a review of charges but it must be done through dialogue.
Instead of imposing higher fees, they argued, FAAN should work with operators to create an enabling environment that would increase cargo throughput, which in turn raise revenue. “The more cargo we have, the more revenue they generate,” Musa said, adding that the present approach would only hurt all parties involved.
Mr. Tope Akindele, Chairman of ANLCA Airport Chapter, said the ongoing standoff had already begun to affect revenue generation. He noted that cargo activities had slowed in recent days because many operators were staying away from work in protest. According to him, if a concessionaire that used to make about one billion naira weekly is now making roughly half of that, continued disruption could lead to even worse outcomes for government revenue.
He stressed that the associations were not trying to sabotage government earnings, noting that any revenue yet to be paid due to the slowdown would still be collected once normal operations resume. “We want government daily revenue to continue. We are not frustrating government revenue. We are ready to continue paying, but let us dialogue within the shortest time so our job can commence,” he said.
Akindele also argued that globally, increments in charges are usually benchmarked around 25 per cent, adding that this was the standard the associations were willing to consider. Beyond that, he said, stakeholders should jointly explore ways to increase cargo volume rather than rely solely on higher levies.
Other speakers at the briefing raised concerns about what they described as multiple layers of charges on the same cargo. They pointed out that cargo handlers and airlines already collect various fees per kilogram, which are ultimately linked to FAAN, and argued that imposing additional charges on freight forwarders amounts to double or even triple taxation within the same cargo chain.
One of the speakers claimed that aside payments to cargo handlers and airlines, some charges could reach as high as 30 naira per kilogram in certain instances, warning that piling more levies on operators would further increase the cost of doing business and weaken the competitiveness of Nigeria’s air cargo sector.
The associations also recalled that the original dispute over the legality of the levy had not been fully resolved in court, but was set aside in favour of a mutual understanding aimed at keeping the industry running. They warned that if FAAN proceeds unilaterally or attempts to formalise the new charges without broad stakeholder agreement, the matter could return to the courts.
The freight forwarders called on the Minister of Aviation to intervene and prevail on FAAN to open talks with stakeholders. They stressed that they were not protesting, not carrying placards, and not seeking confrontation, but were instead asking for engagement that would lead to a mutually beneficial resolution.
They warned that if cargo operations at airports across the country were to grind to a halt, the wider economy would suffer, describing such a scenario as a “lose-lose” situation for operators and government alike. Despite the tension, they said they had advised members nationwide to continue working and avoid actions that could escalate the situation.
The associations assured the Federal Government that once negotiations begin, normal operations would resume immediately, with the existing status quo maintained pending the outcome of discussions. They also reiterated their willingness to work with FAAN and other government agencies to grow cargo volumes and, by extension, government revenue.
“We are here to appeal. We are not here to threaten or to protest or to cause a breakdown of law and order,” Musa said. He added that most operators depend on daily airport activities to feed their families and sustain their businesses.
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