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Auto Industry Can Create Over 200,000 Jobs …As 500 AICON Staff Protest Sack

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The Director-General of the National Automotive Council (NAC), Mr Aminu Jalal, said yesterday that the nation’s automobile industry had the potential to generate over 200,000 jobs.
Jalal said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
“The auto industry is very huge and a car has over 2,000 components and each of these components is an industry,’’ he said.
He said the areas of job opportunities included mechanics, insurance, financing and logistics, noting that   the new automotive policy of the Federal Government was investor-friendly.
Jalal said that already, 23 car assembly plants had shown interest to invest in the country, and listed the companies to include Piaggio Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing Company and National Trucks Manufacturers in Kano State.
Jalal said that to ensure that the auto industry was developed; the Federal Government had given incentives to the tyre manufacturers to encourage them to invest in the economy, noting that tyre manufacturers like Michelin and Dunlop had shown interest to return to the country.
He listed the incentives to include free-duty on their equipment and incentive to import 20 per cent of tyres components into the country.
Jalal said that Nigeria was currently spending more than N1trillion on the importation of vehicles and their spare parts.
He said substantial part of this figure would be saved if the nation’s automotive industry was fully functional, noting however that the industry still faced the problem of skepticism on the art of potential investors who were doubtful of government’s commitment to the full implementation of the new automotive policy.
Jalal said the Federal Government remained fully committed to the implementation of the policy.
He said that this year, NAC would commit itself to local content development and assist local entrepreneurs in accessing financial assistance to boost their operations.
However, about 500 workers of ALCON Nigeria Limited, a sub contracting firm handling NLNG project site in Bonny local Government Area of Rivers State have petitioned to the Federal government over what they described as unlawful termination of their appointment by the company.
In a thirty page petition addressed to the Zonal Coordinator, South-South, Federal Ministry of Employment, Labour and Productivity, Federal Secretariat Complex, Port Harcourt with the heading “unlawful termination of employment of five hundred workers from AlCON Nigeria Limited Nigeria liquefied Natural gas (NLNG) project site Bonny on request to be unionized”.
The petition which was signed by Allison Awoiyala S. (Electical unit) Kelvin B. Abbey (Iron Bender), Sombonibo Biobioley (Labour), Hamnton P. Allison (Manson), Blessing Blue-Jack (Iron Bender) Kalada (Carpenter), Tamuorokoro Jonah (Scafolder), Inye hart (Painter), Sampson J. Allison (Iron Bender) and Tamunokro Brown (Iron bender) for the affected workers.
The workers averred that before they were engaged into the employment of the company, they met all the requirements for recruitment as stipulated out by the company and wonder why they would be sacked without any justification.
The workers alleged that the only reasons they were sacked by the management was due to their quiet to get unionized adding that some of the workers were invited by the Divisional Police Officer in Finima with a false allegation of ‘hostage taken, site destruction and attempted kidnap” only to be dragged to the Bonny Integrated Recruitment Centre (BIRC) where they were forced to sign and collect their termination letters. the meeting site.
The affected workers among other things demanded that the Bonny Integrated Recruitment Centre by extension the Bonny Chiefs Council stop interfering in Alcon Nigeria Limited over workers matters, withdrawing of termination letter and recalling back all the affected staff, appointment of a union executives, as well as negoitaton of condition of service through effective bargaining.
When contacted on phone, Alcon project services Manager, Ukie Ezeali never responded to the text message put across via the GSM 08033104401.

Lydia William

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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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