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Africa accounts for 32% of piracy incidents globally, says Allianz report
Large shipping losses have declined by more than a third (38%) over the past decade, according to Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE’s (AGCS) Safety & Shipping Review 2018, with this downward trend continuing in 2017.
Yet recent events such as the collision of the oil tanker “Sanchi” and the impact of the NotPetya malware on harbor logistics underline that the shipping sector is being tested by a number of traditional and emerging risk challenges.
There was a total of 94 shipping losses reported around the world in 2017, down 4% year-on-year (98) – the second lowest in 10 years after 2014.
Bad weather, such as typhoons in Asia and hurricanes in the US, contributed to the loss of more than 20 vessels, according to the annual review, which analyzes reported shipping losses over 100 gross tons (GT).
“The decline in frequency and severity of total losses over the past year continues the positive trend of the past decade. Insurance claims have been relatively benign, reflecting improved ship design and the positive effects of risk management policy and safety regulation over time,” says Baptiste Ossena, Global Product Leader Hull & Marine Liabilities, AGCS. “However, as the use of new technologies on board vessels grows, we expect to see changes in the maritime loss environment in future. The number of more technical claims will grow – such as cyber incidents or technological defects – in addition to traditional losses, such as collisions or groundings.”
There are multiple new risk exposures for the shipping sector: Ever-larger container ships – longer than the Empire State Building is high – pose fire containment and salvage issues. The changing climate brings new route risks, with fast-changing conditions in Arctic and North Atlantic waters posing new hazards. Environmental scrutiny is growing as the industry seeks to cut emissions, bringing new technical risks and the threat of machinery damage incidents at the same time. Shippers continue to grapple with balancing the benefits and risks of increasing automation on board.
The NotPetya cyber-attack caused cargo delays and congestion at nearly 80 ports, underlining the threat of cyber risks for the sector.
Losses in Africa
The West Africa Coast maritime region is the eighth top location for shipping losses around the world in 2017 with three ships lost – the same level of activity as 12 months earlier. Losses occurred in Senegal, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.
The area is the sixth top loss location over the past decade with 51 ships lost at an average of five a year.
The West Africa Coast is also the tenth top location in the world for shipping incidents with 707 reported incidents in 10 years.
The East Africa Coast maritime region saw two ships lost in 2017 – making it the joint tenth top hotspot overall. Losses occurred in South African and Kenyan waters. The East African Coast is the eight top loss location over the past decade with 34 ships lost at an average of three a year. The Red Sea region has seen 12 ships lost over the past decade.
Piracy levels are down
Piracy activity levels are down year-on-year across Africa with 57 incidents in total during 2017, down 8% (62 incidents in 2016). Africa accounts for 32% of piracy incidents globally (180 in total in 2017), second after South East Asia region.
The Gulf of Guinea remains the regional piracy hot spot with 36 reported incidents in 2017; accounting for 63% of African piracy incidents. However, incidents off the coast of Somalia – which has seen dramatic safety improvements in recent years – increased year-on-year from two incidents in 2016 to nine in 2017.
Drones will have an increasing role in spotting and avoiding hazards at sea. The European Union Naval Force’s anti-piracy naval mission has deployed drones to monitor the coast of Somalia and search for pirate activity.
“The threat of piracy remains, albeit less pronounced than in recent years. “Hijackings and the boarding of vessels continue, tied to inequality and the economic situation in parts of Africa and Asia. It behooves us all to understand that global economic and geopolitical conditions play on the security of shipping,” explains Senior Marine Risk Consultant, at AGCS.
Dangerous seas, Friday 13th and the unluckiest ship
Almost a third of shipping losses in 2017 (30) occurred in the South of China, Indochina, Indonesia and Philippines maritime region, up 25% annually, driven by activity in Vietnamese waters. This area has been the major global loss hotspot for the past decade, leading some media commentators to label it the “new Bermuda Triangle”.
The major loss factors are actually weather – in November 2017, Typhoon Damrey caused six losses – busy seas and lower safety standards on some domestic routes. Outside of Asia, the East Mediterranean and Black Sea region is the second major loss hotspot (17) followed by the British Isles (8). There was also a 29% annual increase in reported shipping incidents in Arctic Circle waters (71), according to AGCS analysis.
Cargo vessels (53) accounted for over half of all vessels lost globally in 2017. Fishing and passenger vessel losses are down year-on-year. Bulk carriers accounted for five of the 10 largest reported total losses by GT.
The most common cause of global losses remains foundering (sinking), with 61 sinkings in 2017. Wrecked/stranded ranks second (13), followed by machinery damage/failure (8).
Analysis shows Friday is the most dangerous day at sea – 175 losses of 1,129 total losses reported have occurred on this day over the past decade. Friday 13th really can be unlucky – three ships were lost on this day in 2012 including Costa Concordia, the largest-ever marine insurance loss.
The unluckiest ship of the past year is a passenger ferry operating in the East Mediterranean and Black Sea region – it was involved in seven accidents in 12 months.
Human error, still a big issue. Data can help.
Despite decades of safety improvements, the shipping industry has no room for complacency. Fatal accidents such as the “Sanchi” oil tanker collision in January 2018 and the loss of the “El Faro” in Hurricane Joaquin in late 2015 persist and human behavior is often a factor. It is estimated that 75% to 96% of shipping accidents involve human error[1].
It is also behind 75% of 15,000 marine liability insurance industry claims analyzed by AGCS – costing $1.6bn[2].
“Human error continues to be a major driver of incidents,” says Captain Rahul Khanna, Global Head of Marine Risk Consulting, AGCS. “Inadequate shore-side support and commercial pressures have an important role to play in maritime safety and risk exposure. Tight schedules can have a detrimental impact on safety culture and decision-making.”
Better use of data and analytics could help. The shipping industry produces a lot of data but could utilize it better, producing real-time findings and alerts, Khanna believes.
“By analyzing data 24/7 we can gain new insights from crew behavior and near-misses that can identify trends. The shipping industry has learned from losses in the past but predictive analysis could be the difference between a safe voyage and a disaster.”
Shippers get serious about cyber threat, as penalties increase
Cyber incidents like the global NotPetya malware event have been a wake-up call for the shipping sector. Many operators previously thought themselves isolated from this threat. “As technology on board increases, so do the potential risks,” says Khanna. At the same time, new European Union laws such as the Network and Information Security Directive (NIS), which requires large ports and maritime transport services to report any cyber incidents and brings financial penalties, will exacerbate the fall-out from any future failure – malicious or accidental.
“The current lack of incident reporting masks the true picture when it comes to cyber risk in the marine industry,” says Khanna. “The NIS directive will bring more transparency around the scale of the problem.”
Other risk topics identified in the review include:
Container ship fire struggles continue: Container-carrying capacity has increased by almost 1,500% in 50 years. Today’s “mega-ships” create new risk exposures and there have been a number of fires at sea in recent years. Fire-fighting capabilities have not necessarily kept pace with increasing vessel sizes.
Climate change brings new route risks: Climate change is impacting ice hazards for shipping, freeing up new trade routes in some areas, while increasing the risk of ice in others – over 1,000 icebergs drifted into North Atlantic shipping lanes last year[3], creating potential collision hazards. Cargo volumes on the Northern Sea Route reached a record high in 2017.
Emissions rules bring problems: Estimates suggest that the shipping sector’s emissions levels are as high as Germany’s, prompting a recent pledge to reduce all emissions by 50% in the long-term, alongside existing commitments to reduce sulphur oxide emissions by 2020.
As the industry looks to technical solutions to achieve these aims, there could be accompanying risk issues with engines and bunkering of biofuels, as well as operator training.
Autonomous shipping and drones: Legal, safety and cyber security issues are likely to limit widespread growth of crewless ships for now. Human error risk will still be present in decision-making algorithms and onshore monitoring bases.
Drones and submersibles have the potential to make a significant contribution to shipping safety and risk management.
Future use could include pollution assessment, cargo tank inspections, monitoring pirates and assessment of the condition of a ship’s hull in a grounding incident.
Source: TechEconomy.ng
… Plant to create 5,000 jobs, produce 100 cubic metres of oxygen, 45 cubic metres of acetylene per hour
… Nitrogen, argon gas; carbon dioxide, CNG Stations in the pipeline
… Dr. Uduji: Mbah, Nehemiah of our time, rebuilding broken walls
…Kanayo O. Kanayo: Security is working in Enugu
Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, on Thursday, unveiled Nigergas Company Limited, revamped and upgraded by his administration after over three decades of dormancy.
Mbah said Nigergas had so far created direct employment for over one hundred skilled and semi-skilled workers, and would further create over 5,000 indirect jobs across distribution, fabrication, transport and supplies chain.
He stressed that the revival of Nigergas company, which was established in 1962 as part of Dr. Michael Okpara’s after decades of abandonment, was another proof of his administration’s commitment to reviving state-owned moribund assets and grow Enugu State’s economy from $4.4bn to $30bn.
“What we have revived and unveiled today is not simply metal and a network of pipes; it is the restoration of purpose, dignity and productivity to a site that once symbolised Eastern Nigeria’s industrial promise.
“When we speak of the goal to grow our GDP from $4.4bn to $30bn, it is not mere posturing. It is rooted in the conviction that Enugu can become a truly diversified, self-reliant economy, if we muster the will to do things differently to launch us to the future we dream of,” he stated.
On Nigergas’ rehabilitation model, capacity, and expansion plan, Mbah said, “we approved a full rehabilitation scheme and a management model that blends public ownership with private-sector performance discipline.
“The intention was clear: retain public ownership, but run the facility on modern, accountable, commercially viable lines.
“So, today, Nigergas returns to production with modernised equipment and clear technical specifications designed to meet immediate healthcare and industry needs.
“The plant’s installed capacity has been upgraded to produce significant volumes of medical and industrial gases, ensuring steady local supply and reducing dependence on distant, expensive suppliers.
“Crucially, the plant will supply liquid oxygen, medical and industrial oxygen, and acetylene gas to our hospitals, welders, agro-processors and manufacturers, improving clinical outcomes and reducing production costs for businesses that are the backbone of local livelihoods.
“The new plant has a capacity to produce 100 cubic metres of oxygen per hour; and 45 cubic metres of acetylene per hour.
“We will soon bring on stream these additional products: nitrogen; argon gas; carbon dioxide; and CNG stations,” he said.
He maintained that Nigergas’ revival would guarantee access to reliable medical oxygen saves lives, on-demand industrial gases to lower operating costs, speeds turnaround and keeps workshops and factories turning.
“These improvements ripple outward: increased industrial activity strengthens our revenue base, and deepens opportunities for MSMEs,” he said.
He commended the Managing Director of the Enugu State Investment Authority, and the Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Industry, Dr. Sam Ogbu-Nwobod; the engineering firm, Ten Gas Development Ltd (a division of INDEV GROUP and the community leaders of Emene for their roles in resurrecting Nigergas.
speaking, Dr. Ogbu-Nwobodo expressed joy that although the firm established by Dr. Okpara Administration in partnership with Siad Machine Impianti was abandoned for over three decades due to mismanagement, misappropriation of revenue, abuse of company resources, nepotism, and weak corporate governance, Governor Mbah had restored the lost dreams.
The Managing Director, Ten Gas Development Ltd., Chief Chike Madueke, noted that the restored Nigergas would provide training and thousands of employments for the youths of the state.
The Chairman, Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Samuel Asadu; community leader and health consultant, Dr. Joy Uduji; Chairman of Enugu East LGA, Pastor Beloved Dan Anike and a businessman, Engr. George Ndubeze Ugwu, also commended Mbah for not only breathing life into dead state-owned assets, but for also building infrastructure that make lives better and enable businesses to thrive.
“You are the Nehemiah of our time. Like Nehemiah, who came and supervised the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, you have also come to rebuild Enugu State,” Dr. Uduji said.
Speaking, Nollywood veteran actor and movie produce, Kanayo O. Kanayo, said, “It is not praise-singing, security is working here because when I come to make movies here, we usually stay out late into the night at Nike, and we are safe.”
Transport
August24news Publisher, Ajagbe, Set to Present Best Driver and Best Conductor of The Year Awards
As part of efforts to sanitize and project the image of the transportation system in Lagos State and ability to reward good deeds and eliminate the bad eggs among the drivers and conductors in the state, Lagos-based frontline journalist and publisher of Nigerian Online Newspaper, August24news.com, Mr. Ajagbe Adeyemi Teslim is set to present the best driver and best conductor awards to deserving professionals in the state.
The competition is expected to start in January 2026 and end by December 2026 and it has been designed to be a yearly competition after the maiden edition.
The parameters and measures put in place to pick the Best Driver and Best Conductor in the state is through commuters’ commendations, score cards, online voting system by the general public, public opinions and other relevant methods.
Many drivers and conductors in Lagos State are known for their lackadastical attitudes, but there are still good ones among them, which is the reason we want to reward the good ones among them so that the wrong ones will emulate from the rewarded ones.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, the convener of the Award and Publisher of August24news.com, Mr. Ajagbe Adeyemi Teslim highlighted some of the marks expected in every drivers and conductors before winning the awards.
He said they must possess good characters, good dress sense, good driving skills, saying that drivers and conductors must charge their passengers reasonable transport fares, possess good communication skills and relate well with their passengers, they should avoid stoping at undesignated bus-stops, avoid handling our naira with care because the way they are mishandling our naira is one of the reason why our currency is fading and changing faces.
In addition, he said that they should avoid bribing officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and other road transport officials because they want to have their ways, they must receive and welcome their passengers with smiles and greetings, avoid pushing and roughhandly their passengers into and outside the bus, they must not smoke and drink before or while on duity.
He said they should be able to help passengers with free ride if the person pleads with them and they should not fight passengers whose fare is not completed, they must not make calls while driving, they should sit properly and avoid hanging on the bus, avoid picking passengers at unapproved bus stops and his or her bus must be in good condition before plying Lagos roads.
On what would be the benefits of the winner, Ajagbe stated that the winner will go home with over dozen gifts which include, a brand new bus, a brand new private car, a duplex, free 20 liters of fuel daily for a month, twenty four million naira cash, brand ambassador contract, driving contract, tour of 10 notable places in the state, courtesy visit to 10 dignitaries in Lagos State, automatic employment for two of his children in Lagos State, 24 different native and English attires from a popular designer, 24 new tyres, an award plaque, conductor and driver bet, a befitting gala night and Letter of commendation from the Lagos State Government, adding that the best conductor will also get whatever the driver gets.
When asked about what prompted the idea, the publisher said that he had witnessed many ugly incidents among Lagos drivers and conductors, which he said made him think of a way to change the narrative and to rebrand the profession.
According to him, “we want to put them on the watch, we want to set an agenda for them, we want to curb thier lakadastical act and non-challantant attitude such as drinking and smoking while on duty as well as reward the best among them, eradicate the bad ones and also encourage others so that they can be emulated.
He added that there is no agency that monitors thier activities in the state, claiming that what the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and local governments does is just to collect fees and levies from them.
Speaking further, he said; “I have witnessed a situation where drivers and conductors beat passengers because of a mere 10 naira change during argument.
“I have witnessed, where drivers and conductors abused and insulted passengers which led to trauma. I have seen where a passenger was stranded, trekked home and even begged for transport fares simply because a wicked conductors took his change away. I have seen where people where properly dressed, clean and neat, unfortunately a public bus tore and dirty thier cloth. These are people who are set for their daily jobs, going for job interviews and attending social gathering.
He said that on numerous occasions, he had seen situations where conductors and drivers returned lost phones, gadgets, loads and even bags of money to their passengers, saying that “we must not shy away from the truth or be economical with the truth, the good ones are still living and must also be recognized and rewarded.”
“I have not seen when conductors give passengers free ride out of the 365 days in a year. Some of them are not friendly with their customers, they should be able to give back to the society or their passengers and they should be ready to partake in CSR. Anyone who does this will win the award of the year,” he said
When asked what his organisation stands to benefit from the awards, Ajagbe told newsmen that his target are numerous because “we want the best for Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole. We want them to be responsible and accountable to their passengers and the general public. We want commuters to get value for their money, We want them to be good ambassadors because foreigners and the international communities see their practice.
“We want to set an agenda for them, we want to change the narrative, we want to change the public orientation that public bus drivers and conductors are respected people and not bad people as people see them.
“Some of them are always the cause of accidents on our roads due to their lakadastical attitude. We want the government to put them on a good pedestal. We want them to put a stop to their hooliganism and fighting during the cause of their business.
“The NURTW and the local governments are levies collectors. We want the state government to mandate drivers and conductors to start wearing uniforms and have numbers to identify the erring ones among them,” he stated.
Speaking on the measure and yardstick to pick the best driver and best conductor among the thousands in the business, Ajagbe stated that members of the public will engage in voting after evaluating all the requirements.
The drivers and the conductors will also appeal to their passengers to vote for them via hard copy forms, sms text code and online voting.
Ajagbe said that all commercial buses drivers and conductors in Lagos State are eligible to participate in the competition because it is free, adding that no payment is required to participate in the competition once he or she is a registered member of the union in a specific garage attached to a route in Lagos State.
When asked if the project will fly and accepted by members of the public and even get sponsors, Ajagbe said that 90 percent of Lagosians ply public busses on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis to their various destination and they must have had one or two experiences with some of these drivers and conductors and they will be willing to share their positive or negative thoughts.
He stressed that the job is taking a new look and dimensions, particularly when it’s coming with rewards and that sponsors are always keen to assist creative ideas and concepts like this.
“We would work in hand with the Lagos state government, the state Ministry of Transportation, Lagos State Branch of the NURTW State, local government branch and Unit Chairmen, drivers and conductors association and other relevant agencies attached to transport business in Lagos state”. Ajagbe added.
Ajagbe revealed that the whooping sum of one billion naira (1.000,000,000) is proposed for the project and then called on the Lagos state government, the ministry of Transportation, corporate bodies, well meaning Nigerians to key into the idea and response promptly to the proposal sent to them as he can be contacted through; [email protected] for sponsorship and partnership to produce the best Driver and Best Conductor in Lagos State.
Commenting on the project, is former LAGOS State commissioner for Transportation, Hon. Dr. Muiz Banire (SAN) stated that it is a laudable project that will add honour to the work of the commercial bus drivers and conductors in Lagos State as he kindly appealed to sponsors to fully support the project.
Finance
Tinubu Launches Personal Income Tax Calculator to Improve Compliance, Fairness
By ORJI ISRAEL
President Bola Tinubu has launched a Personal Income Tax Calculator to help Nigerians work out their tax obligations under the new tax law.
The tool is expected to make compliance easier and improve transparency in the system.
In a post on his X page, the president said the calculator shows how the recent reforms protect low-income earners while ensuring fairness.
“A fair tax system must never punish poverty or weigh down the most vulnerable. With the new tax laws I recently signed, taking effect from January 2026, we have lifted this burden and created a path of equity, fairness, and true redistribution in our economy,” Tinubu said.
Some months ago, he signed four major tax bills into law to bring Nigeria’s scattered tax system under one framework. These include the Nigeria Tax Administration Law, which sets out a uniform process for tax administration across federal, state, and local governments; the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, which replaces the current Federal Inland Revenue Service Act with a stronger, more independent revenue agency; and the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) and Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill, which creates a formal structure for cooperation between revenue bodies at all levels.
The introduction of the tax calculator, together with these reforms, is expected to reduce confusion for both individuals and businesses, while also making it easier for them to meet their obligations and contribute to national growth.
Tinubu added that the reforms are part of building renewed hope for the economy and urged Nigerians to trust in the country’s future for themselves and their families.
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