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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎The Maritime Seminar for Judges annually hosted by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has been described as a conduit for financial and human waste and must be discontinued and scarce resources directed to profitable endeavours with direct bearing on the agency’s statutory mandate.
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‎National Coordinator of Save Nigeria Freight Forwarders, Importers and Exporters Coalition (SNFFIEC), Chief  Patrick Osita Chukwu stated this in Lagos, Tuesday.  He called on the  Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Barr. Pius Akutah to suspend what he referred to as a jamboree and, instead, free the  funds involved to train freight forwarders and other operators for enhanced operations in the shipping industry.
‎He said that appropriating huge funds to judicial seminars while neglecting her core mandate as the nation’s port economic regulator is improper on the part of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.
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‎Organizing judicial seminars, he declared, falls under the purview of the National Judicial Institute (NJI), not the NSC. Chukwu warned that if the council goes ahead to plan for the Judge’s Seminar, going forward, SNFFIEC would seek legal interpretation as well as embarking on industrial action to insist that the right thing is done.
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‎He said: “Recall plans by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to continue hosting the annual Maritime Seminar for Judges. This is a waste of human and financial resources the agency would have used to take care of shippers and the ports.” Since becoming the economic regulator of the ports, he alleged, there have not been concrete actions by the agency to reposition the ports to make them as business – friendly as other ports across the globe.
‎”I say it that it is not only an economic waste but negates the principle of getting the right to things done for our ports and shippers. We have been trying our best to see that the trillions they are making in all Nigerian customs ports impact on the shippers. Transaction of business in Nigeria has remained so bad that whatever you’re seeing today is not what supposed to be.”
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‎The SNFFIEC boss said it is a huge challenge to his organization and others that the Council ‘s ES cannot be accessed because he hardly stays around to listen to genuine complaints by stakeholders who matter in the sector.
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‎”We are yet to feel the impact of the NSC’s regulatory role. Each time you visit the NSC, the Executive Secretary is not in the office. He’s always away, spending shippers’ money on training judges,” he said.
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‎”We need the NSC to resist whatever may be the pressure that will undermine the principle of accountability and all other actions that can jeopardize the economy by the way they are going.”
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‎”We have the National Judicial Council which can be very free and pragmatic enough to undertake seminars and training sessions for judges.”
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‎ SNFFIEC,  he indicated, considers sending a petition to the President, the National Assembly, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, and the Attorney General of the Federation on the need to probe  the activities and finances of the Shippers’ Council to ensure the proper things are done and accountability enthroned.
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‎Up to the time of going to press, efforts to obtain reactions from the Shippers’ Council yielded no fruits as calls to the Executive Secretary did not go through.
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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎The Badagry Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (BACCIMA), in conjunction with Portbizness News is set to host the second edition of her annual Trans-border International Trade Discourse in Badagry.
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‎According to a statement jointly issued by James Shodiya, the Project Director, and Alhaji Yahaya Oladiran Idris, the President of BACCIMA,
‎the conference slated for December 12 and 13 takes place by 2pm each day. Venue is Sycomore Hotel & Suites, Ajara, Badagry, Lagos.
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‎It is designed to discuss actionable strategies to strengthen regional cooperation and enhance competitiveness within the framework of the Continental trade agreements such as the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS)  and the African Continental Free Trade Area ( AfCFTA).
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‎The organizers note that in an increasingly interconnected global economy, Cross-Border Trade has become a critical vehicle to deliver regional growth, economic integration and sustainable development.
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‎But in Nigeria, trans-border trade  continues to grapple with numerous challenges such as tariff and non-tariff barriers, infrastructure gaps, inconsistent government policies and limited access to funds.
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‎”Against this backdrop, Portbizness News is partnering with  the foremost Badagry Chamber of Commerce, Industry Mines & Agriculture ( BACCIMA) to host the  2025 edition of its
‎ PORTS & TRANS-BORDER INT”L TRADE DISCOURSE – a  high level  Platform that brings  together policy makers, trade practitioners, business leaders, researchers and development partners to discuss challenges and opportunities in promoting seamless trade across borders.”
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‎The event’s theme is  ‘Bridging Borders, Building National Prosperity and Strengthening Regional Trade’. Day 1 covers Lecture, Discourse and Gala Night, while Day 2 will feature a Delegates’ Excursion to Tourist Destinations.
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‎ Chairman of the event is Hon (Dr) Segun Musa, Chairman/Chief Consultant, Global Transport Policy while Dr. Azeez A. Mustapha and Mr Kola Awe, Chairman, NACCIMA Export Group are the keynote speakers .
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‎ Hon. Babatunde Hunpe, Executive Chairman, Badagry Local Government is the Special Guest of Honour while Alhaji Olanrewaju  Akeem, MD/CEO, Taloid Group of Companies will be Father of the Day.
‎ Mother of the Day will be Comrade Onome Monije, ANLCA PRO, Tincan Chapter.
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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎A change of guards took place Thursday at the Ogun 1 Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Idiroko, with Comptroller Godwin Otunla, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), handing over to Deputy Controller Oladapo Afeni on acting capacity. The change in leadership is sequel to a directive from the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr Adewale Adeniyi.
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‎The Command’s image maker, Deputy Superintendent of Customs Chado Zakari, disclosed this in a press statement.
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‎At the handing-over ceremony, the image maker stated, the new Acting Customs Area Controller (CAC) expressed gratitude to the Comptroller-General of Customs for reposing confidence in him and pledged to advance and deepen ongoing reforms in trade facilitation, revenue generation and anti-smuggling operations.

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‎Describing the Ogun I Command as a strategic gateway to the nation’s economy and a critical line of defence against illicit cross-border activities, DC Afeni stated that he was aware of the unique operational challenges available.
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‎“It is a great honour to assume the leadership of Ogun I. I am fully aware of the vast and sensitive terrain of this Command and its importance to national security”.
‎He pledged to consolidate on the gains of his predecessors as he strives to deepen continuous improvement in efficiency, enforcement, intelligence-led operations, stakeholder collaboration and community relations.
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‎He further emphasised his commitment to deepening inter-agency cooperation, suppressing smuggling to the barest minimum and prioritising the welfare and professional growth of officers under his watch.
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‎DC Afeni, an accomplished administrator with nearly two decades of service, holds a B.Tech in Industrial Design from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, and a Master’s degree in Diplomacy and Strategic Studies from the University of Lagos. His professional training spans conflict management, international negotiation, strategic leadership and rural border patrol operations. He is also a member of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and a fellow of the Institute of Strategic Management of Nigeria (Chartered).
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‎In his valedictory speech earlier, the outgoing Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Godwin Otunla, described his tenure as challenging yet fulfilling. He highlighted strides made under him in curbing smuggling, enhancing trade facilitation and improving personnel welfare. He noted that strengthened inter-agency collaboration under his leadership significantly boosted security within the Command’s area of responsibility.
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‎He expresseed confidence that DC Afeni would consolidate on his achievements and lead the Command to greater heights.
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