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Gas Explosion: Senator Tasks Agip On Compensation

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The Senator  representing  Rivers East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator George Thompson  Sekibo has assured  the people of Evekwu community in Emohua Local Government Area that he would compel Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) to pay adequate compensation to  them over  the gas pipeline  explosion that  killed  some  persons in the community, maimed others and destroyed their crops and farmlands recently.
Sekibo gave the assurance during a visit to the community to console them over  the tragedy as his  constituents from  the community held on Saturday.
According to him,  Evekwu Community that played host to the oil company had  nothing  to show  except  the  pollution occasioned by explosion of Agip  pipelines that  affects their environment, the farmlands, crops, air and even their drinking water, adding that time had come for justice to be done.
The federal lawmaker frowned at  the neglect of host communities by oil companies,  and stressed  that there would be no hiding  place for Agip as damages done to Evekwu community must   be recovered.
He promised to present  the matter before the Senate  during  plenary, so that  Agip and the Community involved would be summoned to  appear  before  the House,   and appealed  to the  company to immediately do the needful and make public their findings on the explosion.
The senator thanked the paramount  ruler and the people of Evekwu Community for not  taking the laws into their hands by  destroying the facilities  belonging to Agip in the area over the neglect, but rather  took  the  process of dialogue, reiterating that he would do everything possible to ensure adequate compensation for the  Evekwu Community.
On other  demands by the community, he promised to channel it to the Governor,  Chief Nyesom Wike,  whom he said was concerned about infrastructural  development  despite  the lean resources, urging them to remain faithful  and supportive to the administration.
Earlier in their  address  read by the chairman,  Gas  Explosion  Management  Committee, Evekwu community, Rev Canon Chris Idika, appealed  to the  senator  to use his good offices to prevail  on NAOC  and the Ministry of Environment to release the report of  the Joint Investigation Report (JIV), embark on proper clean-up of the environment, adequate  relief  materials  for the people, evaluate the damages  done to lives,  properties  and the environment for compensation, construction of road and town hall  as well as call on the  government and others to come to their  aid.
Meanwhile,  a former chairman of Emohua  LGA, Chief Damian  Ejiohuo, further  appealed to Agip to live up to their social  responsibilities  not minding  the peaceful  disposition of the people of  Evekwu community and also thanked  the Senator  for  the visit, which  he said is  historic.
It would be  recalled that on February 22, 2017,the gas pipeline which  passes  through Evekwu community conveying the nation’s liquefied  natural  gas to Bonny exploded leaving five persons dead.

Collins Barasimeye

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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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