Top Stories
Fake
crash helmets flood Nigeria
By
OUR REPORTERS
COMMUTERS are in for more hectic times as the seeming genuine drive by the
Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) to check-mate carnage on Nigerian roads
through its order for the compulsory use of crash helmet for motor-cycle riders
has opened a can of worms. As the order issued about three months took effect
on January 1, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) quickly placed an
advertorial on specifications for the crash helmets the cyclists, popularly
known as okada riders, and their passengers ...
Balarabe Musa explodes!
THE epoch
presidential election ruling is a testimony that Nigerian opposition parties
are weak and opportunistic. If not so, the Supreme Court ruling which he said
was a legal exercise that lacked the peoples legitimacy could not have been...
N40m
Scholarship scam rocks Borno
From SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri
MIRACULOUS disappearance of N40 million from the vaults of Borno State Scholarship
Board of the State Ministry of Education has been blamed for the inability
of West African Examination Council (WAEC/NECO) to release 2007 Statement
or results of all the indigenous students thereby robbing them of admission...
Unspent
Funds: Contract scams rock ministries
From CHUKS EHIRIM; Abuja
BIDDING to conceal their inadequacies and avert punishment, federal ministries
which under utilised their votes have flouted the directive of President Umaru
Musa Yar'Adua, that all unspent funds from last year's budget be returned
to the...
NEWS
• Oyakhilome charges Nigerians
to be patriotic, shun violence
• NNDC changes focus
• Man of the Year 2008: Kudos
for National Daily on Oshiomhole
• Baby Victoria leaves for
corrective heart surgery in India
• Senate gets request for four
new states
• Ekaette, N/Delta Minister
a spent force –Urhobo leader
• Tanker driver stabs motorist
to death
• Oil melt-down, good omen
for Nigeria –Businessman
• Kogi
goes tough on crime
• Operations of Ijebu North
LG Council suspended
• 1999 Constitution Review:
Rep slams NASS leadership over N1bn allocation
• Resilience, unity will
see Nigeria through 2009 – Gov Daniel
• Lawmakers query commissioners
on 2008 budget allocation
• Police have reduced crime
rate, says commissioner
• NGO to curb pipeline vandalism
• Speaker urges Nigerians
to live in peace, harmony
• Gov Oshiomhole dares lawmakers
over sacked workers
•Gov Jang held hostage at
Budget presentation
• Jos riot is poverty-motivated
–Gov Yuguda
• Beneficiaries of Harmony
Estate laud Gov Saraki
• House Minority Leader distributes
N100 million poverty alleviation materials
• Mother of five commends
Ohakim for free Xmas ride
Arms
build-up worries FG
• As Task Force closes jetty • Illegal foreign
vessels impounded • 60 per cent vessels engage in illegalities
By DICKSON OMONODE
THE
Presidency as well as top brass of the nation's security apparatus can no
longer afford to sleep with their two eyes closed. Reason: They have all been
put on red alert as Intelligence report establishes that there is an uncontrolled
inflow of sophisticated arms and ammunitions especially through the nation's
waters, National Daily can authoritatively reveal.
National Daily Intelligence gathered that the tension has been heightened
by revelations being made by the Inter-Agency Maritime Security Task Force
(IAMSTF) set up to check illegalities in Nigerian waters.
Prior to the setting up of the Task Force, the porous nature of the security
of Nigerian waters was constantly used by unscrupulous elements to perpetrate
vary forms of illegalities, which included importation of arms and other dangerous
weapons, smuggling of contrabands as well as acts of economic sabotage.
The Task Force which commenced work in November last year with a tall presidential
directive to stamp out illegal importation of arms and illegal oil bunkering
activities seems to be moving fast to achieve its set objectives.
The IAMSTF based on preliminary discoveries has ordered the immediate closure
of Waziri Jetty in Lagos for absolute lack of security, safety and weak operational
structure.
The Jetty located at the
Apapa Dockyard was being used by four independent oil companies namely Eurofic,
Hensmor, Global Fleet and A-Z for the discharge of their products.
At the end of its fact-finding and enforcement activities which lasted between
December 15 and 22, 2008, the Task Force said that the closure became necessary
due to what it considered serious breaches of National Security with attendant
risks exhibited by the Jetty operators. “There were absolute lack of
maintenance and a glaring evidence of deplorable environmental situation,”
a statement by the Committee emphasised.
The Task Force which comprised members of the Nigerian Armed Forces, Customs,
State Security Service, Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp, Nigerian
Ports Authority, Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency and other allied agencies
was set up by the federal government with a mandate to investigate activities
of stakeholders in oil and gas/maritime sector vis-à-vis their compliance
with extant laws.
Sequel to this, the Task Force within one week of its activities last December
visited Petroleum Tank Farms during which about 15 farms were inspected to
ascertain whether they were operating within the laws governing their operations
and also to measure their health and security programmes.
The yardstick for the assessment of the tank farms included the certification
of relevant licences and government approvals that authorise oil and gas operations
as well as physical inspection of Health, Safety and Environment measures
put in place including fire and safety.
Others were the compliance with Customs & Excise requirements in respect
of government tariff (where applicable) and procedures on hired or personally
owned vessels deployed for oil and gas operations.
According to the Task Force findings, only NIPCO Oil & Gas, OBAT Petroleum
and Ramaniyya have met the requirements and were operating within the standard
best practices.
Some other oil companies that are deficient in one way or the other have been
officially put on notice to address the situation especially in the area of
Health, Safety and Environment within a specified time frame, failing which
appropriate sanctions would be applied since the Task Force's mandate to ensure
complete compliance with the nation's laws in their operation remains sacrosanct.
The Task Force also identified two vessels MT WESTAF and MT OCEAN PEARL as
having committed several breaches including failure to declare arrival in
Nigerian waters and unauthorised mid-stream discharges. This discovery was
made during a sea trip/surveillance undertaken by members of the Task Force
on December 18, 2008.
As at December 11, 2008 there were about 128 vessels within the Lagos Bar
Beach with about 60 per cent of them engaging in acts of illegalities ranging
from unauthorised entry, non-declaration of correct cargo, evasion of duties
and port charges, unauthorised mid-stream discharges and environmental pollution
amongst others.
The Task Force added that investigation on one of the vessels MT JACKSONVILLE
revealed among other things that the ship arrived Nigeria on November 18,
2008 without due authorisation by Nigerian Ports Authority to ensure payment
of accruable charges, neither did the ship operators notify the Nigerian Customs
Service before arrival in Nigeria waters.
Besides false declaration of Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) which is a vital
index for billing, the ship has conflicting names. It has signalled a GRT
of 2,438 Metric Tons on AIS Data base as against GRT of 48,000 Metric Tons
captured on the Certificate of Registration by the Task Force investigators.
Whereas, the ship's real name is JACKSONVILLE , it was found to be registered
as ITB JACKSONVILLE with no proof of local shipping agent in Nigeria .
Her Certificate of Documentation was found to be invalid as it had expired
on November 30, 2008.
The Task Force in keeping to its mandate has impounded MT JACKSONVILLE pending
when her operators would comply with all extant maritime provisions and laws.
The sea trip/surveillance also led to the arrest of three ladies identified
as “miscreants” whose presence on board LADY DOJA constituted
a security risk. The ladies who were not mariners have been handed over to
the police for necessary action while the Task Force has vowed to stop at
nothing in its efforts to restore sanctity in Nigerian waters.
