Maritime
activities closed for the week with seizures of pirated boos and fake drugs,
valued at N1.77 billion at the Lagos Port Complex.
The Customs Area Controller, Apapa Area 1 Command, Mr Eporwei Edike, handed
over the three containers of pirated books valued at N1.5 billion to the
Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC).
Edike advised importers of prohibited items to stop the act.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) also
seized five containers of imported counterfeit drugs (aphrodisiacs) known as
`Heragra’ and `Ziagra’.
An aphrodisiac is a substance, which, when consumed, increases sexual desire.
The Director-General of the agency, Dr. Paul Orhii, told newsmen that the
suspected importers had been paraded.
He said that officials of the agency intercepted another container of fake
drugs at the port complex.
The fake products seized by the agency, in collaboration with the officials of
the Nigeria Customs Service and the Port Health Services were valued at N270
million.
Orhii said the consumption of the seized drugs could lead to heart attacks,
liver failure, kidney damage and death, in its victims.
During the week, Chief Kunle Folarin, the Chairman of the Ports Consultative
Council (PCC), said Nigeria could create over 60,000 jobs through trans-shipment
operations.
He said that with the nation’s vast natural opportunity of being surrounded by
landlocked countries, it could serve her neighbours by making the ports
attractive for patronage.
Folarin said countries like the Philippines had made the maritime sector a huge
revenue earner, with an estimated six billion dollars annually by supplying
seafarers to the world.
In the week under review, the NCS joined the rest of the global customs
community to mark the 2015 International Customs Day.
The Secretary General of the World Customs Organisation, Mr Kunio Mikuriya, in
a message, said the 2015 International Customs Day heralded an era in which
customs administrations were encouraged to promote the partnership they had
built, to improve border processes.
Also during the week, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) held a two-day
sensitisation seminar on Ebola Virus Disease for the port community.
The Apapa Port Manager, Mr Nasir Mohammed, told the News Agency of Nigeria
(NAN) that the effort was necessary to keep the port community alert, in case
of unforeseen circumstances.
The port community was given refresher training on how to identify the Ebola
Virus symptoms and how to seek appropriate medical help when necessary.
During the week, the ports authority also advised dock workers on the need to
observe safety regulations by ensuring that they used their safety kits while
at work.
During the week under review, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) at a
stakeholders meeting, bemoaned the attitude of terminal operators and shipping
companies to a downward review of some port charges.
Mr Hassan Bello, Executive Secretary of the NSC, said the regulation of port
charges was in the best interest of the nation’s economy.
Also in the week under review, the Planning Committee of the 2015 Nigeria
Maritime Expo (NMAREX), announced that the exhibition would have as its highpoint,
the issue of regenerating the nation’s economy.
Dr Omogbai Omo-Eboh, the Head of the Intellectual Group of the Committee, said
this year’s event would enable stakeholders in the sector to take advantage of
the opportunities in the industry to diversify the nation’s sources of income.
