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Debt Recovery: PHED Seeks Chamber’s Support

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Worried by the huge debt owed the agency, the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, PHED, has solicited the support of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA in the debt recovery drive.
The Chief Executive Officer, PHED, Naveen Kapoor made the appeal while receiving members of the association in his office who were on courtesy visit as part of the activities marking the 3rd Quarterly Council Meeting taking place in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Kapoor expressed unhappiness over the non-payment of electricity bills by various categories of customers valued at over N138.5 billion as at close of business in July 2018.
In his breakdown of the amount, Ministries, Departments, Agencies, MDAs are indebted to PHED to the tune of over N10.2Billion, while Premium customers otherwise known as Maximum Demand, MD and Non MD, mostly residential customers were owing N13.7Billion and N123.2Billion respectively.
On energy theft, the PHED Boss said that the company was losing over N3Billion annually, which he said would further plunge the company into serious financial difficulties if the situation continues unabated.
He stated that energy theft was usually done through diversion of load and outright meter by-pass.
Kapoor listed other challenges facing the company as entitlement mentality where some people erroneously believe that electricity should be free because oil is produced in their region.
Other challenges he said are non- cost reflective tariff in the industry, non- implementation of minor tariff review and regulatory uncertainties.
The CEO therefore, sought for the involvement of the Association in assisting PHED get attention of the government at various levels with a view to combating the enormous challenges facing the company.
“We appeal to you (NACCIMA)
to use your good offices in the various ministries to influence the Federal Government in settling the prolonged outstanding MDA debt and reduce the collection loss of PHED thereby enabling the company to invest more in her network.
“It is also a known fact that non- payment in any business is a killer. We appeal to our maximum demand customers to pay their bill as at when due”, Kapoor said.
Pesently, Kapoor said that enumeration of consumers have started in order to curb estimated billing and improving on service delivery.
In his response, National President, NACCIMA, Iyalode Alaba Lawson expressed l happiness over the warm reception accorded her members by the PHED leadership and promised to work together with company.
Lawanson thanked the management of PHED for the platform offered the Association to interact and form a common front in the company’s desired interest in service delivery improvement.
She said, “We are partners in progress. We are here to show you our solidary for partnering with NACCIMA
“In unity lies strength, we need to work together either in the private sector or public sector, all hands must be on deck”, the Lawson stated.

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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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