Business

SME Operators Laud FG Over Electricity Supply

Published

10 years ago

August 5, 2015

Some of the goods displayed during the Le Meridien Hotel’s Mini Trade Fair in Port Harcourt, recently

Some Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have lauded the Federal Government over the noticeable improvement in the nation’s electricity supply.
They said in separate interviews with The Tide source in Lagos on Monday that President Muhammadu Buhari’s character and commitment to nation building impacted the sector.
Some artisans, including salon operators, fashion designers, restaurant owners and vulcanizers, said the near steady electricity supply had impacted positively on their businesses.
Mr Salisu Tajudeen, a welder at Oyingbo, Lagos, expressed satisfaction with the drastic improvement in power supply.
Tajudeen said that the situation had challenged them to meet the demands of clients and assisted in retaining the bulk of their profits.
He also urged government to sustain and grow the current electricity profile, adding that its sustainability would leap-frog the ability of SMEs’ to expand the nation’s employment window.
“Most people within this place and environment can also attest to the fact that there has been significant improvement in electricity supply unlike in the past when we may not have electricity for some days.
“I will like to advise the government not to relax. Government should ensure that there is adequate supply of gas and at very affordable price.
“This will go a long way to help stabilise the improvement we are witnessing now,” he said.
Mrs Florence Simon, a hairdresser at Surulere, Lagos, said that President Buhari should be applauded for the improvement.
She said that during the last administration, electricity supply in Nigeria was a total disaster.
“Federal Government should privatise the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN); this will not only help to fully achieve the goals of privatisation but also help the private firms to invest in that segment of power supply value chain.
“ With the investment from the private sector, the transmission network will be expanded speedily and the problem of system collapses will be drastically reduced,’’ she said.
Simon said that the control of the transmission arm of the power sector by the government was slowing down the attainment of the privatisation goals.
Another small scale enterprise, Mr Kingsley Titus, a sachet water producer, said that the improved power supply had re-invigorated Nigerian’s hope in governance.
Titus also said President Buhari should put more effort to ensure that Nigeria achieved its dream of uninterrupted power supply.
He said that the only avenue the improved electricity supply would impact the economy was for the Federal Government to complement the situation by building new power plants.
Titus also urged government to critically study the private companies that acquired the successor companies of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).
Meanwhile, some experts said that the increase in power generated by the Egbin Power Plant was responsible for the significant electricity supply across Lagos State and its environs.
Sources close to the station said that the plant currently generated 1,050 MW compared with 500 MW it generated a few months ago.

Business

NPA Assures On Staff Welfare

Published

2 days ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

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

Business

ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

Published

2 days ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

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

Business

NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement

Published

2 days ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

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