Business

Stakeholders Hail FG Over NNPC Boss, Appointment

Published

10 years ago

August 10, 2015

Stakeholders in the oil and
gas sector have lauded Federal Government’s initiative in appointing a private sector-based knowledge to drive the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) operations.
President Muhammadu Buhari , last Tuesday appointed Dr Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, the Executive Vice Chairman of ExxonMobil Africa, as the new Group Managing Director (GMD) of the NNPC.
Managing Director, Integrated Oil and Gas Limited, Mr. Emmanuel Iheanacho, in his reaction, said that “it is a welcome development.
“While I congratulate him on his new appointment, I also urge him to reform the corporation and ensure it is corruption free.
“ The new man is a well-known experienced oil and gas captain of so many years; he will use his good experience to reform the corporation”.
Mr. Chinedu Okoronkwo said that the era of impunity in the corporation was over, adding that the oil and gas sector would begin to experience re-birth in the hands of private sector driven person.
Okoronkwo said “that is the change the people had been clamouring for. Buhari understands the system and he is the man for the job”.
According to him, the days when a single marketer or individual will be given allocation to control the sales of oil and gas market is over.
A source at NNPC told reporters that the appointment was a welcome development, adding that Kachikwu would address the issues of corruption and dubious accounting practices in the corporation.
The source said that Kachikwu, who had been scheduled to perform a wider role in his new portfolio, was a very well respected technocrat with an impeccable record.
It said he had never held a political appointment.
The source said that the new GMD was expected to use his vast experience to restructure the NNPC, pursue creditors and recover missing funds.
He is also expected to reposition the NNPC into a world-class corporation, amongst several other tasks.
The Tide reports that Kachiku is expected to take over from Joseph Dawha at the NNPC headquarters and hailed from Delta State.
He is a First Class Graduate of Law from the University of Nigeria Nsukka and the Nigerian Law School, where he was best graduand and multiple awards winner in both institutions.
Kachikwu, trained lawyer, was born and raised in Onicha Ugbo in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta.
He also has a Master’s and Doctorate Degree in Law from Harvard Law School USA, with distinctions.
A former investment attorney in the United States, the publisher of several magazine titles, he has also taught law at Harvard, Nigerian Law School and several globally acclaimed institutions.

Business

NPA Assures On Staff Welfare

Published

1 day 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