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AU Set To Improve Intra-Africa Trade

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The Chairman of the AU Commission (AUC), Dr Jeaa Ping recently said that arrangements had been concluded to improve trade between African countries from the current 10 per cent to a higher level.

Ping said this in Addis Ababa at the opening session of the 19th Summit of African Heads of State and Government.

He stressed that while trade between African countries remained at 10 per cent, countries from other continents had attained more than 30 per cent trade improvement among the states.

Ping said that the Commission was working toward correcting the perceptible anomalies, while reviewing the implementation of previous agreements to improve Africa’s economic growth and development.

“For Africa to develop there is a need to strengthen her trade with other continents. It is also imperative to improve maritime transportation and agricultural development,’’ he said.

Ping, however, said that in the last six months, the AUC had initiated an agenda for Africa’s educational development through the new Pan AfricanUniversity, which would commence its academic session in September in five centres located across the continent’s five regions.

He said that the Commission was making efforts to ensure the sustainability of the university and its programmes.

Ping said that the priority focus of the AUC was also on areas such as capacity building, resource mobilisation, infrastructure and transport sector.

He said that the Commission had also strengthened its partnership with development partners such as the G8, G20 and Rio+20, among others, as part of its efforts to fast-track the development of the continent.

On peace and security, Ping said that the Commission had initiated some conflict prevention strategies via the AU Border Programme, as issues relating to national boundaries had been a major source of conflicts between African countries.

Ping commended ECOWAS for its efforts in restoring peace and security in Mali and Guinea Bissau and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) for its role in managing the crisis in Madagascar.

He pledged that the AUC would continue to work with all member states in efforts to strengthen their democratic process.

The AUC chief said that the Commission would also collaborate with member states in sustained efforts to fight organised crime, drug and human trafficking and in efforts aimed at eradicating conflicts.

“We need to translate the dreams of our founding fathers into reality; we also have to meet the aspirations of Africans, especially our youths,’’ Ping said.

Ping condoled with the government and people of Nigeria over the recent fuel tanker accident in RiversState, which claimed more than 100 lives.

Speaking, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said that the UN would continue to collaborate with the AU in fighting piracy and restoring peace in Guinea Bissau, as well as in curbing trans-border crimes and other illicit activities across Africa

Ban, who was represented by Mr Jan Eliasson, the Deputy UN Secretary-General, said that the UN and the AU would also collaborate to develop a strategy that would address the crises between the Republics of Sudan and South Sudan, as well as the crisis in Mali with the aim of restoring the country’s territorial integrity.

He noted that more than 18 million people were in need of assistance in the Sahel region, while more than one million children in the region were ravaged by hunger and famine.

Ban, therefore, urged the two organisations to collaborate and solve some of the problems affecting the African continent.

In his address, President Boni Yayi of Benin, who is the AU Chairman, said that the summit would adopt an agenda for the work programme, while adopting the 2012 budget of the AUC.

He also said that it would consider the report of the ad-hoc committee on the election of the key AUC officers, adding that it would also appoint three judges for the Africa Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

He noted that the summit’s theme — “Boosting Intra-Africa Trade’’ – was apt and pertinent.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Goodluck Jonathan was represented at the summit by Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru, the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

NAN further reports that Dr Aisha Abdullahi, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Republic of Guinea, is contesting for the post of Commissioner for Political Affairs in the AUC.

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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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