Business

FG Plans Border Markets To Boost Non Oil Export

Published

13 years ago

October 22, 2012

The Federal Government has in Abuja said it had concluded plans to establish international border markets in six locations across the country.

The Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Mr Samuel Ortom, disclosed this at a news briefing on the 3rd Nigeria Non-Oil Export Conference, Exhibition and Award (NNECEA) 2012.

His message was delivered on his behalf by Malam Abubakar Aliyu, an Assistant Director in the ministry.

The minister said the measure was part of its strategy aimed at checking the problem of smuggling as well as enhancing the non-oil export growth.

He said the measure was to serve as a means of formalising the informal trade.

“The ministry will be working with all the stakeholders so that the quantum of trade in the sector will be captured,” he said, adding that “with the measure, Nigeria will be better off”.

The co-chairman of the Joint Planning and Implementation Committee of the conference, Mr Femi Boyede said there was a need for an aggressive development of the non-oil export.

He said the three-day conference, scheduled to hold between November 4 and November 6, was borne out of concern that the nation’s survival could no longer be anchored solely on crude oil export earnings.

Boyede stated that the conference, which would be attended by flourishing foreign companies across the globe, would also help to teach the participants about the products’ currently being exported and those with high export potential.

“NNECEA 2012 is not a talk show and that is the reason why the conference is not on the classroom presentation format.

“The format adopted is actually an interactive forum approach,” he said.

Mr Olajide Ibrahim, Director, Special Services, NEPC and chairman of the conference committee, said it was organised by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) in collaboration with Koinonia Venture Ltd.

He said it was being organised with the aim of expanding the country’s revenue base by focusing more on non-oil products in order to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on crude oil.

The director noted that the NEPC-Koinonia collaboration conference was in synergy with all the stakeholders in the sector which included NAFDAC, the Customs Service and other regulatory agencies.

Ibrahim also said that a major component of the conference would be the Presidential Export Awards which was incorporated to support highly performing companies and encourage upcoming ones to work judiciously to boost the economy.

“The award is not a social award; it is performance recognition as a tool that has been used by countries that are at the top ten of the world’s economy.

“The company which gets the best exporter award will be a challenge to other companies in the sector,” he said.

Business

NPA Assures On Staff Welfare

Published

4 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

4 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

4 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