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Nigeria-China Trade Volume Exceeded $16bn In 2014 – Official

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The trade volume between Nigeria and China in 2014 exceeded 16 billion dollar in 2014, Deputy Chief of Mission, Chinese Embassy, Mr Zhang Bin has said.
Zhang told newsmen  yesterday in Abuja that the figure exceeded that of 2013, which he put at 13.5 billion dollar.
According to him, China is currently the third largest trading partner of Nigeria adding, that the country is looking at possibilities of improving balancing of trade with Nigeria.
“In 2013, the trade volume between Nigeria and China was 13.5 billion dollars and then according to our statistics, from January to November 2014, the trade volume already amounted to 16.47 billion dollars.
“So, that means that in the first 11 months, the trade volume exceeded that of the year 2013, which indicates an increase of 35 per cent over the previous year.
“We do have this problem of trade imbalance and the Chinese side is going all out to solve it.
“One of the solutions is that we encourage more Chinese enterprises and companies to import more from Nigeria especially from the agriculture products and also some of the manufactured products,” he said.
The envoy explained that just few years ago, China started importing cassava and some agriculture products like cocoa and palm oil from Nigeria.
He said due to the joint efforts of both sides, the import of China from Nigeria increased by a large margin last year.
According to him, in the first 11 months, there was an increase of 93.7 per cent in China’s import from Nigeria, saying the import percentage was almost doubled.
Zhang said China was interested in Nigeria’s oil and that when President Goodluck Jonathan visited China in 2013, the country discussed the possibility of importing more oil from Nigeria.
“And I think we are working on this and we hope that the Nigerian side could allow us to import more.
“Actually what we are looking at is improved economic cooperation between the two countries, we are the third largest trade partner with Nigeria.
“And when we talk about projects like infrastructure, construction, we have many Chinese companies here, especially constructions companies.
“But what is more important is if the cooperation can benefit both two sides; the Chinese government encourages support from Chinese companies to put more investments in Nigeria.”
The Chinese official said that China encouraged its companies in Nigeria to invest in telecommunications, agriculture, automobile assembling, food processing, energy, mines and solid minerals.
He said China has very good telecommunication companies like Huawei and ZTE, as they currently supply the Nigeria’s network operators with terminus and broadbands.
Zhang said the business volume of just one Chinese telecommunications company in Nigeria for a year is huge, putting it at about $1 billion.
According to him, China and Nigeria have some cooperation projects like the rehabilitation projects for the Nigerian Railway Corporation and the Zungeru hydropower project, in Niger State.

Executive Chairman, Rivers State Internal Revenue Service, Onene Osila Obele-Oshoko (middle) making an opening address during the media dinner organised by (RIRS) at Viontel Hotel, Stadium Road, Port Harcourt recently. With her are Board member representing Rivers East (RIRS), Sir Nelson Wali (left) with Board member (RIRS) Christian Ogbowu (right). Photo: Egberi A. Sampson

Executive Chairman, Rivers State Internal Revenue Service, Onene Osila Obele-Oshoko (middle) making an opening address during the media dinner organised by (RIRS) at Viontel Hotel, Stadium Road, Port Harcourt recently. With her are Board member representing Rivers East (RIRS), Sir Nelson Wali (left) with Board member (RIRS) Christian Ogbowu (right). Photo: Egberi A. Sampson

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NPA Assures On Staff Welfare 

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1 week ago

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June 27, 2025

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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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June 27, 2025

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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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1 week ago

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June 27, 2025

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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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