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Law Enforcement: Amaechi Explains Army, TIMARIV Collaboration

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Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi has assured Rivers people and residents of Port Harcourt that military personnel working with officials of the Rivers State Traffic Management Agency (TIMARIV) would be withdrawn from the streets as soon as the roads were rid of illegal trading and hoodlums.

Amaechi spoke during a radio phone-in programme in Port Harcourt, Wednesday.

Explaining to Rivers people why the military were drafted to assist TIMARIV, Governor Amaechi also urged the people to exhibit responsibility to themselves and to the State in the bid to uphold law and order.

Before we called for soldiers, we had used the police, we got reports that people were beating up the Policemen and the TIMARIV officials, chasing them with machete and guns.”

“As the Chief Security Officer of the State, I’m responsible enough to know that this is a democratic State and that the soldiers should not molest anybody, but you too must be responsible to the State. When TIMARIV was set up, we said these civilians should set out on the streets and enforce law and order. Instead of obeying them they were being beaten and every time we had to take TIMARIV staff to hospitals.”

“ We also discovered that some of those who pose as roadside traders and hawkers carry guns to rob people on the roads and streets particularly when there is hold-up. So we decided that the Army should accompany TIMARIV to ensure that people obey the law. If the Police try to make you understand and you don’t, then the soldiers will.”

“It won’t last for too long, we only need six months. Once we clear the roads and junctions, the Army will return to their barracks.”

Governor Amaechi recalled that the State was insecure when he first came in as Governor, but after enforcing law and order using the Army, the State has recorded progress.

“Business is returning. There is an improvement in our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). We were doing 2.5 billion naira, now we are doing 4.5 billion. So I’m proud to say that people are beginning to regain confidence in Port Harcourt. I will ensure that that confidence continues to grow even if it means bringing out the Army.”

Answering questions on education and health, Governor Amaechi stated that out of the over 436 completed Primary Schools, 200 would be fully functional by September, while 100 Health Centres  have been completed with doctors and nurses working.

“175 of those schools are being furnished rapidly and before the end of the year we will increase the number of schools that are functional. We don’t owe salaries. Since I became Governor we have paid salaries,” he said.

Asked why he is yet to form a full cabinet, Governor Amaechi said, “We have seven Commissioners in place now, we have sent a list of eight more to the State House of Assembly to make it 15. There is no law that  says we must exceed 7 or 8.

The Permanent Secretaries are the accounting officers of the different ministries and they are functioning now in the absence of political heads.”

He further assured the people of better service delivery this second tenure. “Just wait and see. I’m not a Governor seeking for popularity; I’m a Governor seeking to change the lives of our people.”

The Governor expressed his determination to achieve the objectives of providing water, power, health, education, transportation, infrastructure and other basic developmental facilities.

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NPA Assures On Staff Welfare 

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The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said the management will continue to accompany its port infrastructure  and equipment  modernization drive  with the development of the welfare of its personnel.
Dantsoho made the disclosure recently while responding to the commendation by the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) and the senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASGOC) on the  clearing  of the age-long problem of employee stagnation, when the union paid him a courtesy visit at the Authority’s headquarters in Lagos.
A Statement by NPA’s General Manager Corporate & Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, quoted Dantsoho as saying,  “our Port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive will go hand-in-hand with continuous staff welfare improvement”.
The NPA MD disclosed that human capital development constitutes the key strategy for creating and sustaining superior performance under his watch, adding that “talent development constitutes a critical success factor for the actualization of the big hairy audacious goals we have set for ourselves especially in the area of Port competitiveness.
“The only way we can meet and indeed exceed stakeholders’ expectations is to deepen the competencies of our human resources assets and boosting their morale.”
Speaking further, Dantsoho commended the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for approving the strategic proposal of the Dantsoho-led Management team that solved the over a decade-long problem of lack of promotion that had fuelled industrial disharmony.
“I must specially appreciate our amiable Minister for graciously approving the multi-pronged stratagem we deployed that cleared all outstanding cases of employee stagnation by conducting examinations in one fell swoop and instituted timelines to forestall a recurrence of such anomaly”, he sad.
Speaking on behalf of the joint maritime labour unions, the President  of Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations & Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Comrade Bodunde stated, “In addition to clearance of the backlog of stagnated promotions, we also wish to express our appreciation for the increase in productivity bonuses, provision of end-of-year welfare packages for staff, and the revision of the Financial Guide to the Condition of Service, which now addresses our members’ concerns about inflationary pressures.”
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

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National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Elder Olumide Fakanlu, has been elected Vice President of the Federation of ECOWAS Licensed Customs Brokers Association (FELCBA).
The election took place during the FELCBA Congress, held from Tuesday, June 17th to Thursday, June 19th, 2025, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Fakanlu’s emergence as Vice President marks a significant achievement for Nigeria within the regional customs brokerage community.
Apart from Fakanlu, Secretary of the Seme Chapter of ANLCA, Austin Nwosu, was also elected, securing the role of Secretary of Relations with Institutions.
The Nigerian delegation played an active role in the congress, with Michael Ebeatu nominated as a member of the electoral officer team, ensuring a fair and transparent election process.
The three-day congress concluded with delegates undertaking a visit to the Sierra Leone Port, offering insights into the host nation’s maritime operations, followed by a recreational trip to the Tokeh Beach.
The newly elected executives are expected to lead FELCBA in its efforts to harmonize customs brokerage practices, promote trade facilitation, and advocate for the interests of licensed customs brokers across the ECOWAS sub-region.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement 

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In a bid to enhance more enforcement in the nation’s Port, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to stronger inter-agency collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The Council said the collaboration is aimed at enhancing stronger enforcement, compliance and improve operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.
Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of  NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, made this known during a visit to the  Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The visit, which he said, focused on strengthening institutional synergy, comes in the wake of growing responsibilities for the NSC under the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
Akutah emphasized the critical role of security agencies in supporting port operations and ensuring regulatory compliance.
He called for the posting of police officers to assist the Council’s monitoring and enforcement teams at key port locations including Lagos, Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.
“The posting will complement the activities of our revived task teams and enhance our ability to enforce standards across the maritime logistics chain”, he said.
Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Egbetokun, assured the Council of the Force’s readiness to continue supporting the growth of the maritime sector.
The IGP acknowledged that compliance enforcement is essential to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s Blue Economy objectives.
“The NSC and NPF are expected to deepen collaboration in the months ahead, with a shared focus on building a secure, efficient, and competitive port environment”, to the IGP emphasized.
Chinedu Wosu
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