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Adopt Tech In Service Delivery, Stakeholder Urges NDDC
A legal luminary and the Principal Attorney of Malachy Ugwummadu’s Chamber, Malachy Ugwummadu, has urged the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to adopt technology in its interventionist services to achieve efficiency.
Ugwummadu said this at the 2024 retreat of the Directorate of Legal Services of the NDDC held in Lagos at the weekend, where he spoke as one of the keynote speakers.
He underscored the importance of procurement of cutting-edge and state-of-the-art infrastructure and technology to fast-track outputs and improve productivity in the commission.
“If you remain analogue, when indeed you ought to be at the same pace with the evolution, the tech evolution that has come, and come to think of it, it is paramount more, even in these oil companies and their operations, just so that you must be properly equipped and resourced in that regard to be able to engage”, he enunciated.
On his part, the Director in charge of the Directorate of Legal Services, NDDC, Stephen Ighomuaye, mentioned that the theme of the retreat: “Promoting Legal Service Efficiency and Excellence in the Public Sector”, was particularly fitting as it reflected the directorate’s avowed commitment to continue to raise the bar of excellence in all aspects of its service delivery.
“The role of the Directorate of Legal Services remains pivotal and centrally important in the operations of the NDDC and will continue to be so in the years to come.
“Therefore, we cannot afford to drop our guard of excellence, hard work and effective service delivery to the commission and the region. We must continuously strive to be the best not just as a directorate but also as individuals. “We must embrace the ideals of continuous personal development and teamwork while making giant strides. The Commission and the region require nothing less from us”, he declared.
Also Speaking on the topic: “Driving Legal Service Efficiency and Excellence through Technology and Innovation”, Adebomi Adekeye of Jackson Etti & Edu, noted that without the adoption of technology, NDDC risked inefficiencies, delayed project execution, and diminished trust among stakeholders.
“Conversely, a tech-savvy legal team positions the NDDC as a forward-thinking organization capable of tackling contemporary challenges with agility. As the Niger Delta seeks sustainable development, technology is a catalyst for transformation.
“By embedding technology into their core operations, legal officers can ensure compliance, uphold governance standards, and drive impactful socio-economic outcomes across the region”, she stated.
According to Adekeye, studies show that up to 22 per cent of a lawyer’s tasks can be automated, allowing professionals to focus on strategic activities.
She added that AI tools achieve up to 95 per cent accuracy compared to 85 per cent for humans, and automating routine tasks reduces operational costs by up to 30 per cent.
The NDDC was established in 2000 to promote sustainable development in the oil-rich Niger Delta region by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
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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
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
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