The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is to sanction all erring
shipping companies and terminal operators that failed to comply with an
agreement on the use of holding bays.
shipping companies and terminal operators that failed to comply with an
agreement on the use of holding bays.
The Managing Director, NPA, Ms Hadiza Usman made this known on
Thursday in Lagos.
Thursday in Lagos.
According to her, the agreement which was reached in November,
2017 between the shipping companies, terminal operators and the NPA, was to
provide holding bays for their trucks and containers through the newly- adopted
call-up system.
2017 between the shipping companies, terminal operators and the NPA, was to
provide holding bays for their trucks and containers through the newly- adopted
call-up system.
“These were part of the resolutions adopted at the end of two
meetings between the managing director NPA and the leadership of truck drivers
and Maritime Workers Union in response to recent protests by truck drivers at
the Lagos Port Complex and Tin- Can Island Port.
meetings between the managing director NPA and the leadership of truck drivers
and Maritime Workers Union in response to recent protests by truck drivers at
the Lagos Port Complex and Tin- Can Island Port.
“We had a meeting on 11th July, 2018, and informed the operators
that the Authority had launched an investigation into the level of compliance
or non-compliance with the agreements reached between the Authority, shipping
companies and terminal operators.
that the Authority had launched an investigation into the level of compliance
or non-compliance with the agreements reached between the Authority, shipping
companies and terminal operators.
“Any company found to have contravened this agreement will be
sanctioned, ” Usman said in a statement signed by the Assistant Spokesman for
NPA, Malam Isa Suwaid.
sanctioned, ” Usman said in a statement signed by the Assistant Spokesman for
NPA, Malam Isa Suwaid.
On the newly adopted call-up system for trucks accessing the
port, Usman explained that the authority had consulted widely with all
stakeholders before the introduction of the system.
port, Usman explained that the authority had consulted widely with all
stakeholders before the introduction of the system.
She said that the system had proved to be the most effective way
of managing traffic in the Apapa axis till date.
of managing traffic in the Apapa axis till date.
Commenting on complaints over allegation of extortion by some
security agencies, the managing director assured that the Authority would
investigate the allegation and culprits would be made to face the appropriate
provision of the law.
security agencies, the managing director assured that the Authority would
investigate the allegation and culprits would be made to face the appropriate
provision of the law.
The Chairman of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners
(AMATO), Chief Remi Ogungbemi and the President-General of the Maritime Workers
Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Mr Adeyanju Waheed said that the call-up system had
sanitised traffic congestion on the Apapa axis.
(AMATO), Chief Remi Ogungbemi and the President-General of the Maritime Workers
Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Mr Adeyanju Waheed said that the call-up system had
sanitised traffic congestion on the Apapa axis.
The managing director said that the meeting between the NPA
management and the union leadership was in furtherance of getting amicable
solution to issues arising from the operation of the call-up system as part of
the Authority’s Traffic Management Strategy.
management and the union leadership was in furtherance of getting amicable
solution to issues arising from the operation of the call-up system as part of
the Authority’s Traffic Management Strategy.
Usman noted the allegation of extortion by security agencies and
the utilisation of holding bays by shipping companies and terminal operators as
defined by the November, 2017 agreement.
the utilisation of holding bays by shipping companies and terminal operators as
defined by the November, 2017 agreement.
In another development, Rep. Jones Onyereri, the Chairman, House
Committee on Banking and Currency, on Thursday said the National Assembly
(NASS) would ensure speedy passage of the Nigerian factoring bill.
Committee on Banking and Currency, on Thursday said the National Assembly
(NASS) would ensure speedy passage of the Nigerian factoring bill.
Onyereri, said this at the Nigerian Factoring Roundtable, a
breakout session at the ongoing Afreximbank Annual Meeting in Abuja.
breakout session at the ongoing Afreximbank Annual Meeting in Abuja.
According to him, factoring is a financial position whereby a
business sells its account receivable to a third party called a factor at a
discount.
business sells its account receivable to a third party called a factor at a
discount.
He said the process made it possible for a business to convert a
readily substantial portion of its account receivable into cash.
readily substantial portion of its account receivable into cash.
“Factoring in the world all over has become a going source of
external finance for small enterprises, and Nigeria firms should not be
excluded from its benefits.
external finance for small enterprises, and Nigeria firms should not be
excluded from its benefits.
“The introduction of factoring in the financial sector will
serve as complementary financing to conventional financing and will largely
target Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
serve as complementary financing to conventional financing and will largely
target Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
“This will enable the provision of cash flows to MSMES,
especially those that have quality receivables and may not be in the position
to obtain adequate conventional bank finance due to high interest rate,
collateral or credit profile constraints.
especially those that have quality receivables and may not be in the position
to obtain adequate conventional bank finance due to high interest rate,
collateral or credit profile constraints.
“NASS strongly believes in the importance of this bill as a
revolutionary financing tool that will help the MSMEs in Nigeria, we therefore,
seek for a quick passage of this bill.
revolutionary financing tool that will help the MSMEs in Nigeria, we therefore,
seek for a quick passage of this bill.
He said the bill would provide for the scope of application of
the law as well as the regulation and supervision of factoring activity by the
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
the law as well as the regulation and supervision of factoring activity by the
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
“It will criminalise any act by the factor, client or debtor
that constitute fraud or misrepresentation, provide jurisdiction for conflict
dispute resolution.
that constitute fraud or misrepresentation, provide jurisdiction for conflict
dispute resolution.
“It will also give the Federal and State high court jurisdiction
to criminal matters arising from factoring activities.
to criminal matters arising from factoring activities.
“This is essential, so we should ensure that the factoring law
in Nigeria works, especially for our MSMEs that forms the bulk of the private
sector which is where the bulk of the wealth for any positive thinking
nation should be,’’ he said.
in Nigeria works, especially for our MSMEs that forms the bulk of the private
sector which is where the bulk of the wealth for any positive thinking
nation should be,’’ he said.
The chairman then said it was imperative that the legislature
and critical stakeholders worked together to ensure a right and workable model
of factoring for Nigeria’s collective populace.
and critical stakeholders worked together to ensure a right and workable model
of factoring for Nigeria’s collective populace.
He said the NASS would take a critical look at the bill to come
up with a workable law that would be of best benefit to the nation.
up with a workable law that would be of best benefit to the nation.
Onyereri assured of the commitment of NASS to come up with
legislative intervention that would guarantee efficacy and effectiveness in the
banking sector of the country.
legislative intervention that would guarantee efficacy and effectiveness in the
banking sector of the country.
