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Plateau Can Contribute N120b To Nigeria’s Tourism – Runsewe

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Plateau State alone can contribute N120billion to the national coffers if its tourism potential is maximized, Chief Olusegun Runsewe, the Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), has said.

“With its rocks, the natural falls, the weather and many other tourist attraction centres, Plateau can contribute nothing less than N120 billion in tourist funds to Nigeria,’’ Runsewe said in Jos on Tuesday.

The NTDC boss, who is in Jos for a ‘National Peace Week’, organised by the Ministry of Defence in collaboration with the NTDC and Plateau Government, said, however that exploring the potential was not possible without peace in the troubled north central State.

He pointed out that Plateau was always the destination of foreign and local investors, as well as foreign and local tourists until peace took a flight and scared everyone away.

“As a body, we have always scheduled our conferences here; at a time, every other year, the Federal Government held conferences in Plateau. That is no longer the situation.

“What we are targeting is a Plateau that will, in the next four to five years, add value to tourism. The sector is a crucial money spinner and the pillar of many economies worldwide,’’ he said.

Runsewe said that it was the resolve to restore peace to Plateau and consolidate on the gains so far made, that the NTDC chose the Christmas season, which was “a season for love’’, to meet stakeholders and work out ways toward permanent peace.

“Where there is insecurity and rancour, tourism cannot thrive, hence the need to explore all the options toward ending the violence on the Plateau,’’ he said.

He said he had found out that the generality of people wanted peace so as to live their normal lives, stressing that the goal of the programme was to encourage the people to come together and do the right thing.

According to him, the NTDC has resolved to join hands with President Goodluck Jonathan and the government of Plateau to bring back peace in Jos and its environs by sending the message of peace to the communities, interest groups, as well as religious and political leaders.

Runsewe, however, observed that the situation in Jos was not as bad as the picture painted, and advised information managers to always be on the positive side while reporting on security issues.

The week-long programme shall involve various meetings with traditional rulers, youth groups, as well as religious and political leaders.

Also in the programme are Lawn Tennis and Golf tournaments, a major peace concert, as well as interactive sessions with stakeholders,

Organisers of the programme will also plant a “Peace Tree’’ at the Plateau Peace Square located at Catering Rest House donated by Plateau Governor Jonah Jang.

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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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