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AU, ECOWAS Seek Free Trade Area

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West African Governments have been urged to harmonise efforts at ensuring the realisation of a Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) to boost trade and integration within the region by 2017.
The call was made on Wednesday in Abuja at the opening of ECOWAS Regional Consultative meeting on the CFTA and Boosting Intra-African Trade.
The objectives of the CFTA are to create a single continental market for goods and services, with free movement of business persons and investments as well as facilitate the establishment of a Customs Union.
In her address, AU Commissioner for Trade and Industry, Mrs Fatima Acyl emphasised the need for member states to develop effective mechanisms to facilitate trade and integration in Africa.
Acyl was represented by Mrs Treasure Maphanga, the Director, Trade and Industry, AU Commission.
Acyl said: “the successful implementation of the CFTA Initiative requires the participation of multiple stakeholders; these include the private sector, civil society, parliamentarians and academia among others.
“Our agenda for this meeting will provide us with an opportunity to review the opportunities and challenges that confront ECOWAS member states in the implementation of the Customs Union.
“As we move towards the implementation of the decision of our leaders to establish the CFTA by an indicative date of 2017, let us summon all our energies and prepare for the work before us.
“Members have agreed that the CFTA should include trade in goods, trade in services, investment, intellectual property rights and competition.
“For us to deliver on all these elements, we must put in place an efficient and effective mechanism for the CFTA negotiations.”
The commissioner also urged member states to provide resources for the implementation of the CFTA.
“The responsibility should not be left to development partners.’’
She called on governments to make provisions to fund the free trade initiatives and invest in human capacity and institutional building to facilitate delivery.
“We should not allow a situation where the financial situation of our development partners is allowed to affect our progress on this important initiative.
“As we move towards implementation, governments at the national level should endeavour to make provisions for funding the negotiations and the implementation of Boosting Intra-African Trade Action Plans,” she said.
The Coordinator for Africa Trade Policy Centre, Regional Integration and Trade Division, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Mr David Luke, commended the ECOWAS sub-region for its leadership role.
Luke said: “we also see a lot of improvement on non-tariff barriers, removal of road blocks and many of the impediments to trade; we are beginning to see this happen.’’
“Regional Economic Communities (RECs) that are the building blocks of the CFTA by virtue of their establishment have been making significant efforts to reduce tariffs on intra-regional imports to a relatively low level.
“Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, East African Community (EAC), ECOWAS and Southern African Development Community, have all taken significant measures towards transport facilitation and reducing non-tariff barriers.
“With regards to liberalisation of movement of people, progress has been made notably in EAC (particularly Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda) and ECOWAS.
“Steps have been taken to facilitate movement of their nationals between the member countries of the bloc.”
He, however, reiterated the need for governments to invest in infrastructural development and build competitive firms and industries in line with global best practices.
The CFTA negotiations were launched at 25th Ordinary Summit of Head of States and Governments in June.
To meet the 2017 implementation deadline, member states are expected to reduce trade barriers among themselves by drastically reducing export and import duties and, in some cases, waiving visa requirements.

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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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