Connect with us

Business

ECOWAS Trade Group Arrives Rivers

Published

15 years ago

on

A trade delegation from the Economic Community of West African States {ECOWAS}has arrived Port ton  an enlightenment mission for private companies within the South-South zone on how to access business opportunities available within the ECOWAS sub-region.

Speaking during a courtesy call on the State Governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Prince Ogbonna Nwuke, on Monday, the leader of the delegation, Mr. Limane Barage, said the team was in the state to disseminate information to Niger Delta entrepreneurs on the existence of a system that allows firms within the sub-region to collaborate.

Mr. Barage, who is also the Principal Programme Officer of ECOWAS, said the regional body has developed a web-based system where companies are encouraged to get registered free of charge to enable them access prospective partners in terms of goods and services offered by other companies within the region.

The leader of delegation, explained that the system was developed over lOyears ago, but it has not gotten down to the people, hence the need to hold seminars in various business cities like Port Harcourt to assist propagate the concept for a better business relationship . According to him, “if you want any information on Cote d’voire, Guinea, Senegal etc, you don’t have to travel there, but to go to the website and you will have the idea of what business opportunities that exist in terms of exporting or importing from the country”.

He condemned a situation where West African people rush outside the region for business transactions when such opportunities exist just next door, stressing that the essence of the seminar is to highlight available options within the sub-region.

Responding on behalf of the Rivers State Governor, the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Prince Ogbonna Nwuke, thanked the ECOWAS business delegation for the choice of Port Harcourt as one of the centres for the sensitization workshop, noting that their present mission was one of the reasons why the founding fathers of the organization went to work to reduce the dependence on foreign powers.

Prince Nwuke, said the successes recorded by ECOWAS so far has justified the vision behind its establishment, pointing out that those driving the system needs special commendation for keeping the cooperation and collaboration hope of the body alive, because within the West African region there is increased cooperation.

He observed that there is a limit to what government can do in Jmanaging businesses, and had therefore encouraged the organized private sector by adopting Private Public Partnership {PPP}as a policy.

The Commerce and Industry Commissioner, said the ministry is in the forefront of promoting made in Nigeria goods to encourage local production, adding that it was in tandem with what ECOWAS is doing, and pledged the support of the State Government towards the success of their mission to the state.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Business

NPA Assures On Staff Welfare 

Published

2 weeks ago

on

June 27, 2025

By

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
Continue Reading

Business

ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

Published

2 weeks ago

on

June 27, 2025

By

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
Continue Reading

Business

NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement 

Published

2 weeks ago

on

June 27, 2025

By

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
Continue Reading

Trending