Pinnacle Time News

Ending the Cycle of Recurring Attacks on Customs Operatives (1) BY EGUONO ODJEGBA Today, let us look at the spate of clashes between officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service and ‘indigenes’ of border communities at the Seme-Badagry, Idiroko-Owode axis in Lagos and Ogun state. Whereas clashes can be forgiven in the routine wrangling between customs operatives and citizens in violation of customs law, which in any case appears to be a universal phenomenon, mob attacks on customs operatives, which are occasionally lethal and often dispensed with a sense of righteous indignation, clearly stamp out those involved as pitiably ignorant. The recent of such attacks at Owode (Yewa) Community in Ogun State in January this year, can safely be tagged an act of terrorism however we chose to look at it. Available evidences indicate that the attack was premeditated, going by the reported massive cooperation of criminal elements in the community. Without mincing words, atta...

Again Smugglers Attack Customs in Ogun Barely two weeks after smugglers killed an operative and seriously injured another attached to the Ogun Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, the dare devil elements again Monday attacked an anti-smuggling team from the state command, which arrived a hideout at Owode (Yewa) Community, based on intelligence; where vehicles laden with suspected rice had taken temporary cover. The smugglers however engaged the customs operatives in confrontation which reportedly led to exchange of fire, and to avoid mortality, the customs operatives attempted to beat a retreat but the smugglers and their accomplices blocked the main road leading from the place to Idiroko and engaged in the attacks of officers and formations leaving two seriously injured with many sustaining various degrees of injuries. They were believed to have also damaged some official patrol vehicles during the rampage. Despite their devious plans the customs officers succeeded in a...

NIMASA task Judges on efficient dispute resolution BY EGUONO ODJEGBA Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside has urged the Nigerian judicial system to ensure efficiency and timeliness in the dispensation of justice in maritime related cases, as a catalyst to boosting stakeholders and investors ’ confidence in the system. The DG who stated this at the 8th Strategic Admiralty Law Seminar for Judges organized by NIMASA in conjunction with the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) on Monday, further explained that the maritime sector in Nigeria has a lot of opportunities to become an economic driver and which can be fully actualized when the various arms of government work   collaborate on critical issues such as timely resolution of disputes. Drawing from the theme: “ Strengthening Nigeria ’ s Admiralty Regime through Effective Implementation of International Maritime and Labour Instr...

President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju last week said dockworkers problems has been solved   by 60% following the recent signing of the Collective Bargaining Agreement by all relevant stakeholders. Adeyanju however added that the union will keep an eye on the implementation of the agreement to ensure it was neither derailed nor sabotaged; noting that it took quite some load of efforts, persuasion and encouragement for the agreement to be signed. This is even as the union leader declared vote of no confidence on local shipping players and alerted the nation to an impending industrial action over shipping workers poor wage and welfare related issues. In an exclusive chat with Pinnacle Time, Adeyanju lauded the sterling efforts put into the CBA by the leadership of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, as well as the chairperson of Ships Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria, STOAN. He said, “It...