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PH Airport: FAAN Throws Light On Cab Operators’ Rift 

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5 years ago

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Following continuous fracas among car hire operators at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has said that only groups authorized by the management will henceforth, be permitted to carry passengers from the airport.
FAAN also said that online booking car hire operators that are not registered with FAAN would henceforth, drop off departure passengers at the airport without interfering with the arrival passengers.
Acting Head of Corporate Affairs of FAAN at the airport, Kunle Akinbode, who made the clarifications in an interview with The Tide, last Friday, said that it would be unfair for some car hire operators to pay to carry passengers at the airport, while others pick passengers without paying anything to FAAN.
According to him, FAAN only recognises the accredited car hire operators and the car rental group, who are duly registered for passengers service at the airport.
He said other online booking operators like bolt operators are not registered with FAAN and are not permitted to carry passengers at the moment.
“The reason why there is always quarrels and flexing of muscles between them is that bolt operators would like to pick passengers, while the car hire operators feel cheated for their coming to disrupt what they have paid heavily for.
“For now, only those who have paid for the service will carry passengers, while others will not. FAAN is working out something for them in a short period, but it is with a cost.
“In the FAAN operations guideline, such issues of online booking and digital operations were not envisaged, but we have to do some things to accommodate them, since it is in operations in this modern day”, he said.
The Tide reports that the Accredited Car Hire Association of Nigeria at the airport recently launched an offensive against unregistered taxi operators at the airport.
The onslaught has led to the impoundment of an average of 15 to 25 vehicles that are not registered with FAAN, on daily basis.
Accredited car hire operators have consistently monitored the activities of bolt operators and others through the use of data application.

The chairman of the Car Hire Task Force, Mr Chimezie Amadi, popularly known as ‘Machine’, described taxi operators that are not registered with FAAN as opportunists who want to ground their business.
According to him, these intruders come to the airport to pick passengers at very low charges that are not favourable to those those who registered with FAAN.
“How can we allow these people, particularly the so called ‘Bolt’ operators, to come here and spoil work for us. We have taken their matter to FAAN for them to register, if they want to operate here, but they refused, and they want to carry passengers here. It will not work.
“We can’t be paying such huge amount to the airport management, and then bolt operators and others will come here to carry passengers, while our members will have non, that we will not allow again.
“If they want to operate here, there is no problem, let them register and pay for it, but not to operate in their own area, and also come to operate here at the airport”, he said.

 

By: Corlins Walter

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Association Woos Govt, Coys On  Boat Operators  Employments

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6 days ago

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June 12, 2026

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The leadership of Bonny Maritime Boat Association has called on Rivers state Government and oil companies operating in the state to provide sustainable employment to unemployed boat Operators.
The Association also want the government, companies and other relevant employers of labour to provide trainings for boat Operators to enhance their skills
Safety Officer of the Association, Comrade Kingdom Kingsley made this known in  a  telephone interview with  The Tide.
He noted that most of the boat Operators and owners plying Bonny route lacks jobs due to the fleets of boats introduced by Bonny Road Transport that had taken over the passengers to the Island
He noted that passengers are no longer patronizing boats owned by the Association, thereby rendering the operators redundant
“Most of our operators can not afford to feed their families due to no jobs, we don’t want to indulge in crime, government should fix our members with  sustainable jobs to take care of their immediate needs”
He called on oil companies operating in the state to engage their skilled boat Operators in their companies to reduce the sufferings faced by the Association.
The Safety Officer called on the state government  to made funds available to unemployed youths in the state to start up business than roam the streets.
He noted that provision of funds to youths would reduce crime rates and reposition their mindsets for a better life
“The  youths of Rivers state are suffering, have no job to feed their families, thereby indulging in criminality daily”
“The youths need empowerment,  jobs,  recreational facilities and better things of life as citizens of this Nation”, Kingsley said.
CHINEDU WOSU
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FG Approves $1 Bn AFCFTA Credit Facility For Nigerian Exporters

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6 days ago

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June 12, 2026

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The Federal Government has approved a whooping $1bn credit facility to support Nigerian exporters and small scale businesses to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in order to boost production, competitiveness and intra-African trade.
The $1bn AfCFTA Adjustment Fund Credit Facility is also expected to address some of the financing gap being faced by Nigerian exporters and enhance the competitiveness of African businesses within the continental market.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, disclosed this  during the second quarter 2026 meeting of the AfCFTA Central Coordination Committee held in Abuja.
According to a statement issued by the ministry’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Obilor-Duru Okechi, Oduwole said the financing facility represented a major opportunity for Nigerian businesses seeking to expand operations, modernise production processes and increase exports to African markets.
The statement partly read, “?The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating Nigeria’s export-led growth agenda under the African Continental Free Trade Area, unveiling opportunities for businesses to access a US$1 billion AfCFTA Adjustment Fund Credit Facility aimed at boosting production, competitiveness, and intra-African trade.”
She noted that despite the progress Nigeria had made in implementing the continental trade agreement, many local businesses continued to face obstacles that limited their ability to take advantage of the single African market.
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“Many businesses still face challenges relating to export documentation, certification, standards compliance and market access,” the minister said.
She explained that the Federal Government was addressing these bottlenecks through enhanced trade facilitation measures, simplified AfCFTA guidance tools, stakeholder engagement programmes and stronger collaboration with institutions such as the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council.
Oduwole stressed the need to strengthen Nigeria’s legal and regulatory framework by domesticating key AfCFTA protocols, particularly the Digital Trade Protocol, to position the country as a major player in Africa’s growing digital economy.
The minister also highlighted some of the gains recorded in Nigeria’s AfCFTA implementation efforts.
According to her, the expansion of Nigeria’s Air Cargo Corridor Initiative to Rwanda, increased collaboration with development partners and private sector players, as well as sustained engagement with state governments, were helping to deepen awareness and participation in the continental market.
In her welcome address and first-quarter update, the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, Mrs Patience Okala, provided details of the financing initiative.
Okala said the $1bn AfCFTA Adjustment Fund Credit Facility was targeted at large African businesses with a minimum financing capacity of $10m.
She revealed that the National AfCFTA Coordination Office was working closely with fund managers to facilitate access for eligible Nigerian companies and had begun assembling a pilot group of businesses to ensure that Nigeria maximised the opportunities provided by the facility.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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NIWA Harps On  Avoidance Of Leaking Boats

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6 days ago

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June 12, 2026

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The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has advised Nigerians against boarding boats that require constant bailing of water in the interest of their safety.
 NIWA Area Manager for Cross River and Ebonyi, Mr Stanley Onuoha gave this warning in an interview with Newsmen in Calabar.
Onuoha who spoke on waterway
safety, said that passengers should take responsibility for their safety by inspecting boats before embarking on any journey.
According to him, repeated scooping of water from a boat is a clear indication that the vessel may be leaking.
“If you are entering a boat and see people using a bailer to remove water, it is the first signal that the boat is leaking,” he said.
He urged passengers to check the integrity of boats, including seating arrangements and other visible safety features.
The Manager restated the importance of using safety jackets, saying that damaged jackets may fail during emergencies.
He further said that passengers should ensure that safety jackets were appropriate for their body sizes in order to guarantee effective flotation.
 Onuoha reiterated the need for passengers to fill manifests before departure to aid accountability during emergencies.
The NIWA official further advised travellers to monitor weather conditions and avoid boarding boats when the weather is unfavourable.
According to him, poor weather conditions can trigger strong tidal waves capable of affecting small boats commonly used on inland waterways.
He said that waterway journeys should be embarked upon between 6.00a.m and 6.00p.m for clearer visibility.
Onuoha said  the Authority had continued to sensitise riverine communities to the need for safety precautions during waterway journeys.
He stated that sustained awareness campaigns and enforcement measures had contributed to safety waterway safety in Cross River.
CHINEDU WOSU
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