Pinnacle Time News

Stakeholders query NAGAFF’s quasi-regulatory posturing   Condemns purported technical committee to evaluate operators’ performance By Eguono Odjegba Industry observers have expressed concerns over recent efforts by the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, NAGAFF, to transmute from being a trade group into a quasi federal regulatory body in the maritime industry, noting that unless the federal government takes urgent step to checkmate obvious rascality and illegal activities like this, it may pose danger to law and order. NAGAFF had last week constituted what it called a Technical Committee to evaluate the performance of port concessions, and have made statements that purport to question the activities of port operators like terminal concessionaires, who are responsible to constituted authorities. Those who commented on the development described NAGAFF’s posturing as not only preposterous, haughty, and vain glorification, but that the uni...

SPECIAL REPORT Kirikiri Terminals: The underbelly of a financially induced gridlock BY EGUONO ODJEGBA The Olodi-Apapa –Kirikiri link bridge by Julius Berger is the first access-exit way along the Mile 2-Apapa major road, Lagos. Mile 2 a popular suburban centre also serves as major artery connecting various parts of Lagos metropolis. The Mile 2 expressway leads North East to Ojo-Okokomaiko straight to Agbara and Badagary, and North West to Orile –Igamnu through to the Mainland. The Osho-Apapa expressway runs through Mile 2 bridge, with Kirikiri Town link access road been the first exit feeding traffic directly to Kirikiri Town. At the opposite side of the road is the popular Julius Berger Yard, serving as exit route for Kirikiri-Olodi-Apapa bridge traffic, which connects the Oshodi-Apapa expressway. The area used to be a highly notorious spot for all sorts of sundry socio-economic criminalities, ranging from pick pockets, bag snatching, touting, gang fighting and hoo...

Wrecks Removal: Policy conflict and portfolio of interests BY EGUONO ODJEGBA The Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Bashir   Yusuf Jamoh, recently hinted that the removal of wrecks from our territorial waters could cost as much as N10billion per annum. Who would have thought that the business of wreck removal would gulp this much? That is, talking about charting this in our annual budget, as it were. Then, we will be dealing with the issues of diverse interests; presidential and legislative interests, policy makers and implementers interests, tenders and board approvals, contracts and contractors, queries and amendments, costs and procurements, funding, legislative oversights and media analysis, corporate governance reports and business ethics, stakeholders and observers, executors and clappers, etc, etc. To underscore the fact that wrecks removal is a big deal, the DG NIMASA, unarguably an authority in the maritime i...

Stalled cargo scanners contract gets new opening As FG makes fresh commitment, gloss over delays BY EGUONO ODJEGBA After the approval of two failed contract awards for the purchase of cargo scanners for use of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) by the present Federal Executive Council (FEC), the latter has again approved $18m, N3.25billion for the supply and installation of three units of Rapiscan mobile cargo scanners. Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, who announced the deal at the end of the 9th virtual FEC meeting at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, said the scanners are for use in three customs ports across the country, namely Onne, Port Harcourt and Tin Can Island Lagos ports. It will be recalled that the former Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun announced the award of contract for the purchase of three units of same Rapiscan mobile scanners, valued at over N9bi...