Business

RSG Tasks Housing Professionals On Building Code Implementation

Published

13 years ago

May 23, 2012

The Rivers State Government has urged professionals in the building industry to ensure that the implementation of Laws and Codes guiding the building industry achieve the desired technical, social and economic outcome, which can guarantee quality health, safety and general welfare of the public.

Speaking at the breakfast meeting with members of the built environment profession in Port Harcourt, yesterday, the Commissioner for Housing, Mr Marshal Uwom stated that the National Building Code of 2006 which attempted to address issues of pre-design, design, construction and post-construction or occupation has been beset with numerous challenges.

The commissioner noted that the challenges range from the lack of implementation by requisite legislative and Public Service Authorities, to general lack of public awareness.

He said, “while the government must enact laws and make regulations to guide those who build, the professionals in the building industry must ensure that the implementation of such Laws/Codes achieve the desired technical, social and economic outcome”.

Uwom however recognised the imperative for professionalism in project planning and execution, and promised that his ministry will work with professionals in addressing the housing challenges in Rivers State, as there will be synergy between the ministry and the professionals.

He also urged professionals in the built environment to create a synergy among themselves and always come up with decisions that will fast-track development in the building industry in the state.

In his speech, the Chairman, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Port Harcourt branch, Engineer Dennis Daniah noted that there was need for synergy in anything that has to do with housing, between professionals and the government, especially at the planning stage.

The NSE boss said there must be local content, for any project to be sustainable, without which there will be no sustainability.

He also harped on the training and retraining of professionals in modern trends of operations.

The meeting was well attended by professionals in the built community, including the chairman of Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyor (NIQS) Otonye Ekine, chairman, Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyor and Valuers (NIESV) Emma Wike, Mr Ikiriko Opiriba, chairman, Nigerian Institute of Town Planning (NITP), as well as representatives from the Nigerian Institute of Architecture and Nigerian Institute of Builders (NIOB) Rivers State branch who spoke on how to move the industry forward in the state.

Also present at the meeting are some officials of the ministry, including the Director of Research and Training, Emenike Isah and Mrs Pepple who is the Director of Administration.

Corlins Walter

Business

NPA Assures On Staff Welfare

Published

5 days ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

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

Business

ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

Published

5 days ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

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

Business

NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement

Published

5 days ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

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