Business

Jonathan Seeks Professionalisation Of Freight Forwarding

Published

12 years ago

March 13, 2013

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said there was an urgent need to professionalise freight forwarding to reduce congestion at the nation’s ports.

Jonathan said this at the opening of the Nigerian Maritime Expo (NIMAREX 2013), with the theme “Nigeria Maritime: Invest Now.’’

The President, who was represented by the Minister of Transport, Sen. Idris Umar, said that government was concerned about the congestion at the ports.

Jonathan said that the congestion was impacting negatively on the clearing and movement of cargoes.

“To this end, a stakeholders’ meeting was organised and it was observed that the freight forwarders need to professionalise their practice in accordance with the CRFFN Act 2007,’’ he said.

The president said that the maritime industry played a significant role in the global economy with over 90 per cent of world trade carried by sea.

According to him, Nigeria generates about 70 per cent of the ship traffic, cargo throughput and volume of trade in West and Central Africa sub-region.

Jonathan said that Nigeria’s volume of trade had steadily risen from 82 million tonnes of cargo in 2008 to 93.7 million tonnes in 2009 and 100 million tonnes in 2012.

He said 1.4 million containers were used in moving cargoes in 2012.

“The maritime industry is therefore, growing and will no doubt position Nigeria in no distant future as the maritime hub for Africa,’’ he said.

He commended the organisers of the exhibition for providing a forum for the display of various maritime products, new technologies and expertise.

“I hope that the holistic business experience that NIMAREX will offer through a combination of conferences and exhibition will avail investors the desired opportunities to explore the industry,’’ Jonathan said.

The Chairman of NIMAREX 2013 Planning Committee, Mrs Margaret Onyema-Orakwusi, said that the exhibition was an annual event to showcase the nation’s enormous maritime endowments to the world.

According to her, the Nigerian maritime industry is like a virgin land full of untapped natural resources.

Onyema-Orakwusi said the industry had the potential and opportunities to achieve rapid and sustainable development.

“This sector is endowed with vast natural resources such as extensive coastline, aquatic animals and oil and gas deposits.

“Nigeria as a country generates about 70 per cent of the ship traffic, cargo throughput and value of trade in West and Central African sub-region.

“All these natural and economic factors combined to create huge investment potential and opportunities in the maritime sector,’’ The Tide source quotes her as saying.

Onyema-Orakwusi urged the Federal Government to urgently intervene in security of the nation’s maritime domain and reduce the cost of doing business at the ports.

“It is our view that if these challenges are addressed, it will create a more congenial atmosphere for investments to thrive,’’ she said.

In his address, Chief Isaac Jolapamo, Chairman, Indigenous Ship owners Association of Nigeria (ISAN), noted that there were enormous untapped potential in the Nigerian maritime sector.

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

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