Business

Economic Growth: Perm Sec Advocates Space Technology Usage

Published

10 years ago

August 28, 2015

The Permanent Secretary,
Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, has called on the Federal Government to use space technology to grow the economy.
Oyo-Ita made the call recently in Abuja at the Annual Space Dialogue 2015 of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA).
Oyo-Ita, Guest Speaker at the event, said the status of the country could be improved if emphasis was placed on utilisation of space technologies.
“This will speed up our drive towards realising a viable socio-economic status as a nation.
Director-General of NASRDA, Prof. Seidu Mohammed, said investment in space technology, particularly communication satellites, could reel out immense economic development potentials for any nation.
He, however, described as disturbing the fact that 97 per cent of satellites hovering above and covering the African continent were owned by non-African nations and organisations.
“The owners of these satellites realise colossal financial benefits running into millions of dollars far exceeding the annual budget of some African countries.’’
Mohammed said the huge benefits of space science and technology were the driving force for developed and emerging nations like USA and India respectively.
“Although we may have started late, we have been wise enough to leap into the realm of space faring nations possessing space technology capabilities,’’ he stated
He called on all stakeholders in the space industry to key into the successes recorded so far by the agency in the capabilities of her satellite technologies, especially the communication satellite.
1R) to NASRDA.
“I urge the Federal Government to return the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NigComSat-1R) to NASRDA.
“It is the original parent body, under the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, mandated to effectively manage and utilise the nation’s satellite.
“This will bring about the required synergy to enable full and successful implementation of the Nigerian space programme for the overall benefit of the Nigerian people’’, he continued.
According to Ibiyemi, 42 months after its successful launch, the NigComSat-1R had not recorded any appreciable achievement or impacted on the lives of the people.
“The satellite has been under-utilised due to high level of incompetence and lack of proper supervision and commitment on the part of leadership of the Nigerian communications satellite agency.
“The under-utilisation has hindered concerted efforts of the agency to better the lot of Nigerians’’, Ibiyemi said.
He suggested that communications satellites be domiciled in a commercial department under NASRDA in line with global best practice.

Business

NPA Assures On Staff Welfare

Published

19 hours 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

20 hours 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

20 hours 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