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NIMASA, Police Partner On Waterways Security

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15 years ago

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The Nigerians Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) says, it is set to forge a strategic alliance with the Nigerian Police to curb the escalation of armed bandit and other criminal attacks against visiting ship within the nation’s port access channel and inland waters.

Director General of the agency, Mr. Temisan Omatseye, who was on a courtesy visit to the newly appointed inspector general of Police Mr. Hafiz Ringim, at the force headquarters in Abuja, expressed the willingness to work closely with the Nigerian Police to check criminal activities in the waterways in particular within the port area as well as in the creck of the Niger Delta.

Mr. Omatseye told the police chief that in line with the agency’s mandate to make the country’s waterways safe and secure for maritime commerce, we have had engagement with organisations like the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Airforce to Safeguard the nation’s maritime assets and arrest the piracy scourge in our waters.

A statement by the Deputy Director of NIMASA, Mrs. Ego Nwakocha quoted Mr. Omatseye as saying that the Agency is seeking a Similar collaboration with the Nigerian Police on Security of Ships at anchorage in the Ports and in the crecks. He disclosed that the agency has been receiving reports on largo ships being attacked by the armed bandits at Apapa Port, a development, he further said was of great concern to the Agency due to the negative impact of the incidents on the cost of shipping service, just as it puts the country in bad light.

The NIMASA also disclosed that the menace has attracted the attention of president Goodluck Jonathan, saying that the agency is determined to flush out the criminals from the Nigerian waterways.

It would be recalled that the federal government early this year handed over 59 specialised security combat patrol boats to the Nigerians police to boost their patrol of the nation’s inland waterways. The flects which is to be managed by the police marine unit, consist of four unit of 20-meter specialised landing craft, fully armed with heavy and light machine guns and hand held grenades, 15 units of 16 meter patrol personnel launches with ballistic protected wheel houses, and 40-units of 12-meter patrol personnel launchers with full complement of security combat equipment.

Omatseye was also quoted to have told the inspector general of police that NIMASA’s proposal which enjoys that backing of the federal ministry of transport would assist the Nigerian Police to sustain regular patrol of the nation’s port access, channels and creeks, saying that the agency is prepared to support the Nigerians police in the area of logistics, manpower, development, intelligence and the requisite hardware to effectively police the inland waters and creeks.

According to NIMASA’S image maker, the D.G further suggested that the two agencies consider the adoption of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that would guide the relationship between them.

Nwokocha said the police chief to his guest that the Nigeria police is interested in the proposal as he believes it would add value to current efforts by the police to improve security in the country whether on land or sea.

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NPA Assures On Staff Welfare 

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1 week ago

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June 27, 2025

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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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1 week ago

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June 27, 2025

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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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1 week ago

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June 27, 2025

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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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