Business
Ports’ Efficiency: Abdulsalami Advocates Intermodal Transport System
A former Head of State, Retired Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, last Monday called for intermodal transportation system to improve cargo evacuation and the overall efficiency of the country’s ports.
Abubakar made the call at the first regional conference of the International African Ports and Harbour (IAPH) themed: “African Ports and Hinterland Connectivity,” in Abuja.
Abubakar, who chaired the conference, said ports investors should tap the opportunities in connecting the ports with the hinterlands through various means of transportation.
“We can now imagine African potential if there are visible means of transportation connecting the entire countries.
“There is need for the development of the supply chains for the hinterlands through optimal utilisation of the rail, road and waterways as viable mechanisms for conveying cargoes to various locations.
“African countries should also include the strategy of hinterland connectivity in their ports’ master plans in order to ensure seamless evacuation of cargoes at the ports, “ Abubakar said.
He stressed the need to improve the movement of cargoes to various destinations to remove the existing gridlock on ports’ access roads.
The former head of state added that funding was paramount in achieving the main objective of hinterland connectivity.
He urged participants to come out with innovative strategies and practical methods that would facilitate the efficiency of hinterland connectivity.
In his goodwill message, the Olu of Warri, Ogiamen Ikenwoli, said the movement of cargoes through rivers and sea was the bedrock of industrial development and rapid growth.
He commended the Minister of Transportation, Mr Chibuike Amaechi, for making Niger/Delta rivers vibrant, and appreciated the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for working to improve hinterland connectivity.
The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, who was represented by Chief Nurudeen Agoro, the Ojomu of Lagos, urged government to decongest the port access roads, which he said extended to major roads in Lagos.
Akiolu said the constant traffic logjam on Lagos roads had affected the business operations of the city.
The traditional ruler urged government to improve on the interland connectivity in order to stop the gridlock caused by trailers parking on the highways.
Head of Facilitation, Maritime Safety Division, International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Mr Julian Garcia, said its strategy for regulating international shipping provided an ambitious 50 per cent improvement in shipping by 2050.
Garcia said to enable the ports achieve the desired improvement, there was need for efficiency, supply and provision of sustainable offshore operations.
According to him, IMO is also helping in securing an environment for sustainability which would come into force in January. 1, 2020.
“We have significant impact on the implementation of regulation and we need to ensure ports are connected to the hinterlands.
“African countries should also reflect on the importance of Blue Economy on the 2050 Africa in connection with maritime strategy for robust resources in African oceans and seas,” Garcia said.
He urged the various governments of African countries to establish mechanisms to leverage on the Blue Economy concept in the national development policies and securities.
Garcia said the conference, being the first in the existence of IAPH, should work toward competualising the Blue economy concept with the national pioritiess and development plans.
“Payment of tuition fees for undergraduate/postgraduate studies shall be subject to a maximum limit of $25,000.00 per semester,” the Manual states.
The expansion of international card limits also reflects growing confidence among lenders that foreign exchange liquidity has improved enough to support retail dollar transactions.
Speaking recently at the BusinessDay 14th Annual CEO Forum in Lagos, CBN Olayemi Cardoso, governor of the CBN said buying and selling activities now increasingly determine outcomes in the foreign exchange market, unlike in the past when market participants relied heavily on routine Central Bank interventions.
According to Cardoso, Nigeria’s net foreign exchange reserves have risen from just over $3 billion at the start of the reform programme to more than $40 billion, while gross reserves have climbed to about $52 billion, providing stronger confidence for investors and enabling the Central Bank to reserve interventions for periods of market stress rather than day-to-day liquidity management.
The restoration and expansion of international naira card spending limits are increasingly being seen as one of the clearest signs that the benefits of the CBN’s foreign exchange reforms are beginning to reach households, students and businesses making legitimate cross-border payments.
The Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer, WEC, Dr Angela Wilkinson, disclosed this in a statement, last Thursday.
“Nigeria’s participation comes at a pivotal time as the country seeks to expand energy access, strengthen energy security, accelerate gas development and mobilise the capital required for industrialisation and sustainable economic growth.
“WEC Nigeria will convene leaders from across the energy ecosystem, apply the WEC’s globally recognised Energy Trilemma framework to Nigeria’s unique context, and promote evidence-based dialogue, practical collaboration and informed policymaking.
“It will also ensure that Nigerian and broader African perspectives contribute meaningfully to global energy conversations,” she said.
Wilkinson expressed confidence that Nigeria would play a significant leadership role at the World Energy Congress scheduled for Riyadh in April 2027 and beyond.
The statement also quoted the Chairman of WEC Nigeria, Isa, as describing the country’s participation as an opportunity to deepen national and African leadership within the global energy community through practical solutions tailored to regional development priorities.
He said the platform would promote collaboration across sectors and attract sustainable investments into Nigeria’s energy sector.
The Chief Executive Officer of WEC Nigeria, Wunti, was quoted in the statement as saying that the council would connect leadership, evidence and investment to build a secure, affordable and sustainable energy system.
“This system will be capable of driving economic growth and shared prosperity.”
According to him, the platform will also connect Nigerian institutions and businesses with international knowledge, technology, partnerships and investment opportunities through the World Energy Council’s global network.
Recall that WEC, founded in 1923, is the world’s oldest independent and impartial community of energy leaders and practitioners, advancing informed, collaborative and practical action across the global energy system.