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NRC Cancels Lagos-Kano Train Service

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11 years ago

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The Nigerian Railway
Corporation on Friday cancelled its Lagos-Kano train service due to rail tracks washout between Offa and Ilorin, following a downpour on Thursday afternoon.
The Corporation’s Director of Operations, Mr Niyi Alli, told newsmen in Lagos on Friday, that heavy rainfall in Ilorin caused more harm on the tracks.
“We were working on the washout that happened between Offa and Ilorin on Tuesday to be able to embark on a trip to Kano today, but unfortunately more heavy rains came yesterday afternoon and caused more washout.
“We do not want to take a risk; the reason we had to cancel the trip was because safety is our primary objective.
“We are indeed sorry for inconveniences it might have caused our customers,” Alli said.
Meanwhile, the Iddo Train Terminus was overcrowded on Friday as the free train ride for Osun indigenes entered Day Two.
Osun Government approved free train tickets for the state indigenes in celebration of Eid-El-Kabir (Sallah).
The free ride began on Thursday.
Many passengers sat on train floors while some hung on the doors to be able to reach their destinations on Friday and celebrate Sallah on Saturday.
On the other hand, commercial bus operators at Ijora and Ojota, Lagos, motor parks are decrying low turnout of passengers.
An interstate bus driver at Ijora, who simply identified himself as Tajudeen, said that it took more than one hour to load the first bus and more hours to load subsequent ones.
“I have been here since 6.00a.m., and I am the third to load; you can imagine that I am still on the line by 11a.m. When am I going to load and embark on the journey?
“I do not know why people refuse to travel for the festival,” Tajudeen said.
A passenger, Mr Mufu Ariyo, told reporters that the low turnout could be as a result of school resumption immediately after Sallah holiday.
“I am embarking on this journey because it is necessary to see my aged mother; otherwise, I would have stayed back in Lagos to celebrate the festival.
“Things are hard; students will be going back to school for a new session; house rents are to be paid,” Ariyo said.
Reports  say that a trip from Lagos to Ilorin by a Federal Government Mass Transit bus costs N2,500 as against N2,000 before now, while smaller buses charge N3,000 in stead of N2,500.
A trip from Lagos to Kaduna in a small bus costs N6,700  while Lagos to Kano costs N6,500.

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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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