Business

PH Airport: FAAN Throws Light On Cab Operators’ Rift

Published

4 years ago

April 19, 2021

Following continuous fracas among car hire operators at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has said that only groups authorized by the management will henceforth, be permitted to carry passengers from the airport.
FAAN also said that online booking car hire operators that are not registered with FAAN would henceforth, drop off departure passengers at the airport without interfering with the arrival passengers.
Acting Head of Corporate Affairs of FAAN at the airport, Kunle Akinbode, who made the clarifications in an interview with The Tide, last Friday, said that it would be unfair for some car hire operators to pay to carry passengers at the airport, while others pick passengers without paying anything to FAAN.
According to him, FAAN only recognises the accredited car hire operators and the car rental group, who are duly registered for passengers service at the airport.
He said other online booking operators like bolt operators are not registered with FAAN and are not permitted to carry passengers at the moment.
“The reason why there is always quarrels and flexing of muscles between them is that bolt operators would like to pick passengers, while the car hire operators feel cheated for their coming to disrupt what they have paid heavily for.
“For now, only those who have paid for the service will carry passengers, while others will not. FAAN is working out something for them in a short period, but it is with a cost.
“In the FAAN operations guideline, such issues of online booking and digital operations were not envisaged, but we have to do some things to accommodate them, since it is in operations in this modern day”, he said.
The Tide reports that the Accredited Car Hire Association of Nigeria at the airport recently launched an offensive against unregistered taxi operators at the airport.
The onslaught has led to the impoundment of an average of 15 to 25 vehicles that are not registered with FAAN, on daily basis.
Accredited car hire operators have consistently monitored the activities of bolt operators and others through the use of data application.

The chairman of the Car Hire Task Force, Mr Chimezie Amadi, popularly known as ‘Machine’, described taxi operators that are not registered with FAAN as opportunists who want to ground their business.
According to him, these intruders come to the airport to pick passengers at very low charges that are not favourable to those those who registered with FAAN.
“How can we allow these people, particularly the so called ‘Bolt’ operators, to come here and spoil work for us. We have taken their matter to FAAN for them to register, if they want to operate here, but they refused, and they want to carry passengers here. It will not work.
“We can’t be paying such huge amount to the airport management, and then bolt operators and others will come here to carry passengers, while our members will have non, that we will not allow again.
“If they want to operate here, there is no problem, let them register and pay for it, but not to operate in their own area, and also come to operate here at the airport”, he said.

By: Corlins Walter

Business

NPA Assures On Staff Welfare

Published

5 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

5 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

5 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