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Group Wants Quick Passage Of PIB

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The Africa Network for Envi ronment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), recently in Lagos, commended the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for approving the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

Our correspondent recalls that FEC on Wednesday approved the new Petroleum Industry Bill and sent it to the National Assembly.

This is contained in a joint statement by the ANEEJ executives, Mr David Ugolor, the Executive Director and Mr Leo Atakpu, the Deputy Director and made available to newsmen in Lagos.

“We commend President Goodluck Jonathan and all members of the Federal Executive Council for coming up with the new Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

“The president has fulfilled the promise he made in his January broadcast to end the strike and protests by organised Labour and Civil Society over fuel subsidy removal.

“We are particularly pleased as the bill will promote rapid development of this sector and bring about revolutionary changes which include the unbundling of the NNPC into several companies.

“We are also interested in the bill as the interest of the host communities is being addressed with it,’’ Ugolor noted.

Ugolor, however, urged the National Assembly to swing into action immediately it received the bill and ensure its accelerated passage.

“We want the National Assembly to draw up a timetable for its speedy passage. The timetable should provide for public hearing and other avenues for civil society to make inputs into the bill.

“We are particularly interested in ensuring that the new law will make the industry transparent and accountable to the people of Nigeria,” he said.

He added: “the National Assembly must be on its guard to ensure that the private oil companies and multi-national institutions operating in the sector do not derail the intention of government.

“We want to see a Petroleum Industry Law that will address all major issues affecting the industry.

“A law that will reverse ‘the resource-curse phenomenon’ that has become the lots of Nigerian oil-bearing communities.

“ We want a law that will stand the test of time in line with international best practices. The law that will end corruption and the culture of impunity in the industry.

“We want to see a petroleum law that would end the mindless stealing and appropriation of the nation’s commonwealth by a few powerful individuals.’’

He called on the international community to assist Nigeria to get it right with its oil industry this time around in order to reduce poverty which had assumed a frightening dimension.

ANEEJ is a non- governmental organisation based in Benin which is focusing on eradication of corruption and championing due diligence in the oil and gas sector of the economy.

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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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