Connect with us

Business

Shippers’ Council Becomes Stricter On Port Regulations Compliance

Published

9 years ago

on

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), is set to fully enforce compliance among service providers in the maritime industry, having received the full support of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The new Assistant Inspector General of Police, Maritime Police Command, Pius Imue, during a visit to the NSC Head office in Apapa, assured that the Command was ready to dedicate a team that will accompany the council in its monitoring of the industry.
This move will go a long way in restoring sanity in the industry, as many erring firms would be sanctioned and the ethics of the shipping business strengthened. Besides, the NSC would be more active in playing its statutory role.
Imue disclosed that a desk for this assignment and other matters affecting the industry had already been set up, adding that the team of the Police Unit would be ready to  accompany the council officials on target missions once it is given a notice for the operation.
The AIG was quoted as saying in a statement: “If you want to visit any of the companies, give us 24 hours notice. We shall give you police team to go for enforcement.”
The Police support came following a request to this effect by the Executive Secretary of the Council, Hassan Bello, who said that monitoring compliance in the industry was imperative. It would be recalled that maritime industry stakeholders had called on the Council over two years ago to seek the support of the Police in enforcing some of its statutory obligations.
The stakeholders had referred the council to the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), NAFD AC, among others who have dedicated Police Units to enforce their statutory functions at any given time.
The management of the council had however played this down, preferring a gentleman’s approach, a style that appears not to be helping the council.
Bello also called on the AIG to put an end to a situation in which some police officers were intercepting containers cleared at the ports on the high way, as this has been affecting trade facilitation due to attendant delays.
Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Transportation in collaboration with the NSC, and Kings Communications Limited, are organising a two-day National Summit on Establishment, Management and Operations of Truck Transit Parks (TTPs) in Nigeria.
The forum, aimed at facilitating investments in TTPs and enhancing trade and investments for the revival of Nigeria’s economy, is scheduled for 11th and 12th July, in Abuja.
The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, is the chief host and will deliver the welcome address, while the Minister of Power, Works, and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, will deliver the keynote.
The Summit, themed: ”Truck Transit Parks: Providing Critical Infrastructure for Trade and Transit in Nigeria,” seeks to assemble stakeholders in transport and logistics sector to optimise the potential and investment opportunities in TTPs. It will also harmonise and standardise truck parking facilities on Nigerian roads; adopt financial models for developing and sustaining TTPs; and establish the role of stakeholders in managing such parks, among others.
According to the spokesman for NSC, Ignatius Nweke, among those expected to attend the Summit are critical stakeholders in the project, which include state governors, transport commissioners, haulage truck owners, transport unions, construction companies, relevant National Assembly committees, prospective investors, and leaders of thought in the sector.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Business

Boat Mishap Kills Pastor, Wife And Church Members  In Brass Water

Published

6 days ago

on

May 18, 2026

By

A boat accident in Bayelsa state has killed a serving Pastor, Wife and other church members along Brass waterways
The sad incident happened at Odioama in Brass local government area of Bayelsa State when the Pastor, wife and  members of his church were in a programme.
?
?Tide confirmed that the lifeless body of the Pastor’s wife has been found and deposited in a mortuary while the remains of her husband ,the Pastor is yet  to be recovered
as search party are still ongoing.
Although the real cause of the boat Mishap is not yet known as at the time of this report,  our Correspondent gathered  that the identities of the Pastor, wife and church members were not disclosed to the public.
The mishap, Tide gathered occurred on Friday morning when the church members were on a boat transit
The Bayelsa State government and the state police command are yet to issue official statement’s  on the sad accident
By: CHINEDU WOSU
Continue Reading

Business

Rivers Workers Seek Scrapping Of Contributory Pension Scheme

Published

6 days ago

on

May 18, 2026

By

The Rivers State Council of  Nigeria Civil Service Union has called on the State Government to urgently scrap the contributory pension scheme, describing it as unfavourable to long-serving civil servants in the state.
Chairman of the union, Chukwuka Osuma, said this in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt,  recently.
Osuma said the current pension structure has continued to worsen post-retirement hardship for workers.
He noted that  the contributory pension scheme had failed to provide adequate retirement security for workers who had spent many years in service, especially those approaching retirement age.
According to him, civil servants who had served for more than 20 years were among the worst affected under the scheme, insisting that many retirees could no longer cope with prevailing economic realities.
He also  informed that the Union has made moves to showcase their concerns, pleading with Governor Siminalayi Fubara to abolish the pension policy and introduce a more favourable arrangement for affected workers.
“The union was not opposed to pension reforms, the contributory scheme should only apply to newly employed workers or those with fewer years in service”, he said.
Osuma explained that workers who had already spent decades in the civil service ought to remain under a more secure pension structure capable of guaranteeing stability after retirement.
The labour leader further noted that inflation and the rising cost of living had continued to erode the value of retirement savings, thereby increasing the suffering of pensioners across the country.
He also appealed to the state government to consider extending the years of service in the civil service from 35 to 40 years and the retirement age from 60 to 65 years.
Osuma argued that such adjustment had become necessary in view of present-day economic realities and changing conditions in the workplace.
The unionist also reviewed that similar policies had already been adopted in some sectors and jurisdictions, expressing optimism that the State could also implement the reforms for the benefit of workers.
He however, commended Governor Fubara for approving an N85,000 minimum wage for workers in the state, noting that the amount was above the national benchmark of N70,000.
Osuma also acknowledged the government’s efforts in the area of workers’ promotions and bonuses, but insisted that pension reforms and extension of years of service remained critical to the long-term welfare and stability of civil servants in Rivers State.
By: King Onunwor
Continue Reading

Business

FG Begins South-West Tour To Promote New Cooperative Bank

Published

2 weeks ago

on

May 13, 2026

By

The Federal Government has launched the South-West zonal engagement and ministerial advocacy tour on the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria share capital mobilisation, sensitisation and cooperative sector digitalisation.
 Reports say the initiative was launched through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
According to reports, the advocacy tour, organised by the ministry’s Federal Department of Cooperatives, began on Monday in Lagos.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security and Supervising Minister of Cooperative Affairs, Dr Aliyu Abdullahi, said the initiative was part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Abdullahi described the exercise as a strategic effort to reposition the cooperative sector as a key driver of inclusive economic growth, financial inclusion, enterprise development, food security and national prosperity.
“Today represents a defining moment in our collective determination to reposition the cooperative sector as a major driver of inclusive economic growth, financial inclusion, enterprise development, food security and national prosperity,” he said.
The minister noted  the modern cooperative movement in Nigeria originated in the South-West following the 1934 Strickland Report, which led to the enactment of the Cooperative Societies Ordinance of 1935.
According to him, the decision to commence the sensitisation and share capital mobilisation tour in the region is symbolic, as it marks a return to the roots of cooperative development in the country.
Abdullahi said the advocacy tour was a direct outcome of resolutions reached at the 8th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Cooperative Affairs held in Abuja in March 2026.
He said the council approved the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme, a comprehensive framework designed to strengthen the cooperative sector and align it with the administration’s goal of building a one-trillion-dollar economy.
“The reform programme focuses on seven strategic pillars, including governance reforms, cooperative financing and the establishment of the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria, digitalisation, capacity building, value chain development, inclusion of youths, women and persons with disabilities, and strategic partnerships,” he said.
He said the establishment of the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria and the digitalisation of the cooperative sector were the two major transformational initiatives under the programme.
“The Cooperative Bank of Nigeria is aimed at rebuilding a strong cooperative financial system capable of supporting cooperators, farmers, artisans, traders, SMEs, youths, women and persons with disabilities with accessible and affordable financial services,” he said.
Abdullahi emphasised that the proposed bank would be government-enabled but not government-funded.
“Government is not establishing the bank as an owner, nor will it rely on Treasury Single Account funds.
“The role of government through the FMAFS is to provide policy support, stakeholder coordination, regulatory facilitation and an enabling environment under the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme,” he said.
Also speaking, the Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to cooperative sector transformation.
She described cooperatives as critical tools for promoting inclusive growth, grassroots productivity, food security, financial inclusion and community wealth creation.
Ambrose-Medebem said Lagos State would continue to support reforms and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme (2025–2030).
“Together, let us build a cooperative ecosystem that is modern, transparent, digitally enabled, financially inclusive and globally competitive.
“Let us build cooperatives that not only mobilise savings, but also mobilise prosperity,” she said.
Continue Reading

Trending