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Plateau Re-Stocks Jos Wildlife Park With N25m

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The Plateau Government is re-stocking the Jos Wildlife Park with N25 million, Mr Michael Zi, the General Manager, Plateau State Tourism Corporation, has said.

Zi, who made the plan known during a courtesy call on the Jos Zonal office of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday, said Plateau would be made a first choice in tourist destinations in Nigeria.

“The sum of N25 million has been approved in the 2012 budget for the re-stocking of the Jos Wildlife Park. Also, other monies have been approved for the improvement of Safari tracks, animal enclosures and paddocks.

“These will subsequently provide more facilities for tourists on both self and guided tours,” he said.

The manager explained that Plateau recorded more than 200,000 tourists annually when it was peaceful because of its unique sites, weather and topography.

He expressed regret that the tourists influx to the state had dropped to an average of 16,000 since 2010 and stressed that there could be no tourism without peace.

“The tourism industry in Plateau was attracting more than 200,000 before the crisis and this had multiplier effects on other sub-sectors.

“When visitors come in, because we don’t have hotels of our own, we take appointments from privately-owned hotels to book people into them.

“These people go into the markets to buy various food items and pay for other services, like light bills, water bills and transportation services because some tourists don’t come in their personal cars.

“So from the airport, the airport generates revenue, the airport taxi cab operators smile to the banks, hotel taxis charge money.

“Some of the tourists use public vehicles but some prefer motorcyclists to know the nooks and crannies of the metropolis.

“So, the hoteliers, the banks, the beer distributors, butchers and foodstuff sellers in the market feel the multiplier effects which cannot be quantified.

“The corporation only provides the enabling environment but it is the private sector people that are smiling to the banks and that is why hotels are springing up everywhere in the state,” he said.

Zi, however, said that Plateau still remained the first tourist destination in Nigeria in spite of its security challenges, pointing out that new tourist sites were being discovered and would be developed.

He said the corporation was partnering with hotel owners and the security agencies to provide guests information to safeguard the lives and property of tourists and prevent criminals from using them as hideouts.

Zi said the state government was working hard to overcome its security challenges and called for support from NAN in the peace process through its prominent role of sensitising the people on peace.

The Zonal Manager of NAN, Mr Ephraims Sheyin, said Plateau used to be the preferred tourists destination in Nigeria.

He said that in the past, Plateau hosted many conferences but expressed regret that the tourism potential of the state was being undermined by insecurity.

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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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