Maritime
Don Wants FG To Revive Eastern Ports
The Director, Academic Planning, Ben Idahasa University, Dr. Osondu Akoma, has called the Federal Government to rise up to the challenges in reviving the moribund Eastern ports.
Dr. Akoma, made the call when members of the Association of Indigenous Importers and Exporters in the Niger Delta led by its President, Mr. Somiari Prince Halliday visited him in his office recently, as part of their fact finding mission on the poor utilization of the various ports in the Eastern zone of the country.
According to him, the Ports of Warri, Koko, Calabar and Port Harcourt which are almost dead are natural ports and not inland ports as was the speculation of some persons in authority, adding that Koko Ports which has been abandoned lies at the lower reaches of Benin river that is one of the rivers in the country that has torrential current with internationally acceptable draught channels.
He however dismissed reports that these Ports lacked dredging as reasons being given for their abandonment, saying that the dredging of Ports should not Supercede operations at the Ports.
“Dredging is a routine operation that is not limit the capacity of Ports to function”, he further said.
The University Don reiterated that such exercise is a diversionary statements put up by those who are bent on ensuring that these ports do not function, stressing that owners of ocean liners have no problem coming to these ports, but that of administration.
Dr. Akoma, a renowned Umnologist and Algologist , said Nigeria is blessed with natural Ports that should not be tied to dredging before they could function and called on the federal Government to urgently look into reviving these ports for economic and other reasons.
He also called on government to review the operation of Maersk line and Pacific Int’l line to service the Eastern Ports, while granting deep sea operation licence to Brawal shipping to ensure effective competition as well as promote indigenous operations, in the spirit of local content policy in the industry.
In his speech, the Presdient of the association, Mr. Halliday had intimated the University lecturer of their mission and to proper solution, stressing that all hands must be on deck to ensure that Eastern ports are revived to compete with their counterparts in the West, adding that for Federal government to allow Warri and Koko Ports to be abandoned is a great concern to the association.
Collins Barasimeye
Maritime
Illegal Migration: NIS, NIWA Move To Strengthen Partnership
Following the spate of illegal migration into the country by migrants, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) have concluded plans to strengthen their partnership to curb illegal migration through the Lagos State waterways.
The plan to deepen partnership was discussed when the new Comptroller of Immigration Service in charge of Lagos Seaports and Marine Command, CIS Joseph Dada, visited the NIWA, Lagos Area Manager, Mrs Sarat Braimah in Lagos.
Speaking at the visit, Dada said the service would fare better in achieving its mandate with a strategic partnership with the waterways regulator.
“We have some challenges on the waterways, even though we do patrols. Collaborating with NIWA will guarantee stronger waterway operations.
“We are not saying people shouldn’t migrate or ‘japa’ from Nigeria. Migration is part of life and people have a right to seek greener pastures.
“However, they must do it the right way. They have to get their passports, visas and travel through the appropriate channels”, he said.
Dada lamented that several Nigerian ladies are victims of human trafficking for prostitution usually disguised as job offers for care workers abroad.
Also Speaking, Managing Director, NIWA, Mrs Sarat Braimah, welcomed the idea of strategic collaboration with the NIS, stressing that both agencies are working for the common good of Nigeria and its citizens.
“We expect this collaboration to prohibit illegal migration. Migration is part of life and as you observed earlier, it fosters tourism, culture and development.
“Nonetheless, we will assist the NIS in achieving their objective, which is that people shouldn’t migrate illegally.
“A lot of passengers board ferries from Marina jetty to Badagry and Port Novo. We don’t know their final destination or verify their identity; but we’re open to NIS partnership to carry out migration checks”, she said.
She noted that NIWA could train immigration officials on how to go onboard vessels safely, and also provide boats, lifejackets, among other equipment, when the Immigration make such requests.
Maritime
NPA To Generate N629bn Revenue In 2024 -MD
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) says the authority will generate N629.89 billion in 2024.
NPA is also seeking for N200 billion loan from Afrexim Bank for ports development.
Managing Director, NPA, Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, stated this while defending the 2024 budget before the House of Representatives Committee on Ports and Harbours in Abuja.
He said the United Kingdom Export Finance (UKEF) was also listed as one of the financial institutions from which to source the loan.
Koko said the total projected expenditure was N464.32 billion, while the operating expenses were projected at N212.03 billion and the capital expenditure stood at N252.29 billion.
“Part of the main trust of the 2024 budget is the urgent need to rehabilitate, reconstruct and moderate the dilapidated port infrastructure facilities”, he stated.
The Managing Director said defects in the facilities were hampering efficiency and productivity in the ports, saying that the defects include the quay walls and the replacement of old gravity walls.
According to him, another is need for rehabilitation of Escravos breakwaters.
“This is aimed at improving port efficiency and increasing cargo traffic through investment funding from the financiers, UKEF and Afrexim”, he said.
Earlier, Chairman of the committee, Nnolin Nnaji, said the agency is very dear to the country, hence the need for the committee to visit some of the facilities outside Lagos.
“We need to see those things you are telling us. The House of Representatives is very serious about budget defence, while they do screening on the other side, budget defence is here”, he said.
He commended the Managing Director for the budget presentation, saying that he believed in the subsequent budget
“We accept this budget, and we will move further with it”, he assured.
The lawmaker also said the drainage channels were full of wreckages and expressed concern over lack of information on wreckage removal.
Nnaji noted that as long as the NPA avoided the wreckage, it will keep occurring because of the abandoned ships facilities.
Maritime
COWA Distributes Food Items To Members In Abuja
In a bid to cushion the hardship and hunger faced by ordinary Nigerians, the Customs Officer’s’ Wives Association (COWA) has distributed food items to its members in Karu Customs Barracks, Abuja.
National President, COWA, Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi, who flagged off the exercise, said the distribution of the food items was part of COWA’s plans to ease life for its members.
“This is not the first time COWA is conducting this initiative of distributing food items to the members and non-members of the association, and we decided to distribute these items considering the season of Ramadan.
“Everything we are doing now is for you. Please register so we can make provision for all of you. This will help us keep proper data of everyone and we will continue doing this subsequently to alleviate the situation”, Adeniyi said.
She further said food items were also being distributed to COWA members across all Customs formations in the country.
Some of the food items distributed include rice, spaghetti, noodles and cooking oil.
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