Transport

Expert Tasks RSG On Seafarers Dev

Published

16 years ago

October 6, 2010

The Rivers State Government has been urged to embrace the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) aimed at enhancing capacity building in the Maritime sector.

The call was made by a maritime expert, Captain John Ibibo, on Tuesday in an exclusive chat with The Tide at the Port Harcourt Port.

He said that the increase in oil and gas activities in the state which had majority of its operations on sea, made it imperative for the state, like Rivers to look inward and embrace the programme which has evolved three years ago and conceived to bridge and redress the dearth of seafarers in Nigeria.

Ibibo, who is a seafarer, and captain on board M/V Brass, maintained that 80 per cent of the activities of the oil companies is maritime-based and that people from other states (non-indigene) dominate the sector, because Rivers people lacked the trained manpower to fit in, saying that “we end up in crying out that oil companies are not employing out indigenes, whereas, these are technical jobs that require expertise as regulated by International Maritime Organisation standards”.

According to him, the NSDP which was introduced by the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is meant to enhance capacity building with a view to bridging the gap in manpower deficit in the maritime sector of the economy.

The initiative, he further said was also a scholarship programme aimed at encouraging Nigerian youths to embrace seafaring careers to enhance efficiency in the maritime industry in the country.

Captain Ibibo said that already, seven states, namely Lagos, Kaduna, Niger, Ondo, Ekiti, Kogi and Benue had so far, embraced the programme.

He asserted that the programme initiative was targeted at building capacity for the entire country to fast track economic growth and development within the industry and other sectors of the economy where government could also benefit in terms of revenue generation in the long run.

He enjoined the Rivers State Government to emulate the other seven states already involved and send more youths on seafarers training so that the indigenes would have better opportunity to work in the sector

Mr Kunle Folarin, the Acting Chairman, Port Consultative Council (PCC), Lagos, says Nigeria has not taken full advantage of its shipping potential in the last 50 years.

Folarin, a shipping economic analyst , said this in an interview with newsmen recently in Lagos.

He said that Nigeria had immense shipping potential that had yet to be harnessed.

He noted that Nigeria was endowed with a large stretch of coastline and contiguous economic zones within the West and Central Africa sub-region.

“We have great maritime wealth and resources that could translate into Nigeria becoming a powerful maritime state within the sub-region” Folarin said.

He said that as an import-dependent country, a large number of ships came to Nigeria annually.

“This suggests that we can build human capacity in marine navigation, marine engineering, naval architecture and other areas like maritime law”, he said.

Folarin expressed concern that indigenous shipping activities were just about three per cent of the total demand for shipping industries such as ship building and ship-yards which could build small crafts and low tonnage ships.

The shipping economist said the “Cabotage Act 2003 makes it mandatory that all ships in the cabotage areas and the nation’s inland waterways should be fully built in Nigeria.

“We must, therefore, look in future to areas where we have comparative advantage”, he said.

Folarin said that the nation must look at allied industries such as ship building, dry docking and the possibility of manpower development for seafarers.

Business

ABC Transport Founder Bags Transport, Logistics Award

Published

6 days ago

June 29, 2026

The Tide

The Founder of ABC Transport Plc, Mr. Frank Nneji, has been honoured with an award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the growth, development and transformation of Nigeria’s transportation and logistics industry.

The award was presented by the management of City Business News Online during the organisation’s 10th Anniversary Celebration held in Lagos recently.

The event, which attracted leading stakeholders from the maritime, logistics, transportation, energy, banking and capital market sectors, marked a decade of impactful business journalism and industry reporting.

It also served as a platform to recognise institutions and individuals whose contributions have significantly impacted national development and economic growth.

Presenting the award, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, former Corp Marshall of FRSC, President, Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport (CILT) and Keynote Speaker at the 10th Anniversary Lecture held in Lagos recently commended ABC Transport PLC for sustaining innovations.

For more than three decades, Nneji has remained at the forefront of efforts to modernise intercity transportation in Nigeria through the introduction of world-class operational standards, passenger safety initiatives and innovative transport solutions.

As the founder of ABC Transport Plc, he transformed what began as a modest transport enterprise into one of West Africa’s most recognised transportation and logistics brands, adding that the company today operates in more than 100 locations across Nigeria, Ghana, Togo and the Benin Republic, providing passenger transport, logistics and related services.

ABC Transport Plc also made history as the first transport company to be listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, a milestone that opened new opportunities for investment in the transport sector and broadened public participation in the company’s growth.

The company currently boasts over 22,000 shareholders.

Beyond transportation services, Nneji has played a significant role in advancing local vehicle assembly and industrial development through TSS Motors, a subsidiary of ABC Transport Plc.

Through its assembly plant in Enugu, the company assembles FORLAND vehicles, TSS trailers and SHACMAN trucks, contributing to local content development, job creation and Nigeria’s automotive manufacturing aspirations.

Industry stakeholders have often credited Nneji with pioneering innovations that elevated standards in the transport sector, particularly in areas of fleet management, passenger comfort, safety compliance and professional service delivery.

A graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nneji has continued to enhance his leadership and management capabilities through executive education programmes, including the Chief Executive Programme at the Lagos Business School and advanced executive training at the Wharton Business School.

His contributions to transportation and logistics have earned him several professional and national recognitions. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) and has served in various leadership positions, including former President of the Owerri Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture.

The award, according to the organisers, is a testament to Nneji’s enduring legacy as a pioneer, industry leader and nation-builder whose contributions continue to shape the future of transportation and logistics in Nigeria and West Africa.

Business

FAAN Gives Deadline for Vehicle Standards, Tariff for Airport Taxis

Published

6 days ago

June 29, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has given October 2026 deadline for taxis operating at the Lagos and Abuja airports to abide by its directives of complying with operational standard and the increase of tariff from N500 to N1,500.

A statement from FAAN’s management explained that as an organisation committed to delivering safe, secure, efficient, and world-class airport services, FAAN considers it necessary to provide clarification on the issues raised and to reassure the travelling public that every action being taken is aimed at enhancing passenger experience and maintaining acceptable service standards at the airports.

“Airports are the gateways to any nation and often provide the first and last impression of a country’s image. Consequently, FAAN has a responsibility not only to ensure safety and security but also to uphold service quality across all touch-points that passengers encounter, including airport transportation services.

“So, the directive requiring airport cab operators to upgrade to newer vehicle models is informed by the need to improve reliability, comfort, safety, and overall passenger satisfaction. This is consistent with international best practices and aligns with FAAN’s ongoing efforts to elevate service standards across its airports,” the agency said.

It also noted that passengers who utilise airport taxi services deserve clean, roadworthy, comfortable, and professionally maintained vehicles that reflect the premium environment expected of a modern international airport.

“The adjustment from N500 to N1,500 should therefore be viewed within the context of prevailing economic realities and the need to sustain critical airport infrastructure and services. Even with the review, FAAN remains mindful of the challenges faced by operators and has continued to engage stakeholders constructively,” the agency said.

Transport

Automated Points Concession : FAAN Workers Gave 72hrs To Revise Decisions In PH

Published

4 months ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The trapatriate Unions conprising the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), and the Air Transport Service Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, (ATSSSAN), has given 72 hours Ultimatum to Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria FAAN, Omagwa Airport, Portharcourt to revise its recent decision on the concession of Tollgates and Parks to private hands.

The chairman of the Trapatriate Union, Comrade Felix Ohwoefe gave the Ultimatum yesterday immediately after the joint Unions meeting held at the Airport office of the union, Omagwa, Portharcourt.

Comrade Ohwoefe who double as the chairman of the National Union of NUATE said the two Unions have agreed to take drastic actions if the Authority of the Airport declined to step down it’s decision of concessioning the major revenue points to private hands.

According to the Union chairman, the two union was not aware of the concession plans, and that there were no due process to the procedures.

Comrade Ohwoefe said any attempt for the Airport Management to decline it’s demands towards the concession will result to barricading all entrance and access points of the Airport.

Expressing the the challenges associated to the concession, the Union Chairman said the gesture might resulted to massive sack of workers in the Airport.

The chairman also expressed foul play on the part of either individuals or government in the terms and conditions so given to the concessionaires, demanding the reasons of contracting the automated points to private hands for only 14 millions, when the FAAN is presently generating over 28 million naira monthly, even when the tariff was not reviewed upwards.

He describes the process to the procedures as fraud with intention to increase unemployment in the state.

“We are not against the concession of the Automated points, but due process must be followed. If government is concessioning the place, we are asking what will happen to our workers in the existing units.

“Secondly, if the concessionaires is taken over, they must pay higher than what the FAAN is generating presently, we are generating to the Management over 28 Millions monthly, but we had that the private company is required to pay only 14 Millions monthly, which is far below 5 percents of what we are generating presently, even when the tariff is increased, which means there is a foul play.

“The process is fraud either on the part of individual in the Government, or Government itself.

” The unions is saying no to the Concession until we come to a terms of understanding ourselves., we are afraid of loosing workers, we don’t want to loose any workers if due process is not followed in this hard of economy, we even demanding for employment of more workers in FAAN.” Comrade Ohwoefe said.

The Union used the opportunity to called on the minister of aviation, and the President of the Country, Bola Tinubu to intervene.

When contacting the Management of the Airport Authority through the head of Corporate Affairs, Dr Ngozi V. Onyeanwuna-Nwosu, she said the management has not given her the approval to say something.