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Ports Concession Regulation: Operator Seeks NPA Replacement

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A maritime operator in the eastern zone has called on the Federal Government to without further delay replace the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) with a neutral concession compliance regulator.
Making this known in Port Harcourt while speaking to reporters, the General Manager of ECM Terminal Calabar, Mr. Kingsley Iheanacho, said that it is not healthy that the NPA presently doubles as the Leassor (landlord) and the regulator.
According to him, “the current arrangement has been a learning process for all parties with occasional disagreement by the parties. In the realm of natural justice, it is often said that you cannot be a judge in your own case”.
He also explained that the proposed establishment of a National Transport Development Commission (NTDC) with a mandate to play a supervisory and regulatory role over parties involved in the transport sector concession has not been implemented.
The ECM General Manager further posited that the role of NPA as landlord and regulator in this post-concession regime, has posed some difficulties and challenges to the operations of concessionaires terminal operators, adding that this does not portend well for the proper development of the port system.
For meaningful progress to be made, Mr. Iheanacho posited that speedy creation of an independent regulatory body for the ports concession in the country be made.
He stated that a bill that may eventually transform the Nigerian Shippers Council into the National Transport Development Commission is in the making in the National Assembly.
He said the proposed transport commission, according to the draft bill, when passed into law perform certain functions, which will be advantageous and create a balance in ports concession.
Part of these advantages he said are the facilitation of the financial viability of regulated industries and related services, as well as facilitation of effective competition that will promote competitive market conduct.
Also, such body will facilitate the creation of an economic regulatory frame work in respect of the provision of transport services and facilities which will promote and safeguard competition, fair and efficient market conduct, or in the absence of a competitive market, prevent the misuse of monopoly or market power.
Other advantages, according to the ECM General Manager, are to ensure that the misuse of monopoly or non-transitory market power is adequately prevented.
The body, he said, will be responsible to protect the interest of users of transport services by ensuring that prices are fair and reasonable, while having regard to the level of competition in and the efficiency of the entire transport industry.
Iheanacho also posited that the regulatory body will also facilitate the incentive for efficient long-term investment in Nigeria for the provision of transport services and facilities, if the regulatory body will be made to see the light of the day.

Corlins Walter

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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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