Maritime Agencies
EASE OF DOING BUSINESS: Port Industry Expert Advocates ‘Ports Area Logistics Ring’ At MAJAN Parley
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
Relevant authorities in the ports sector have been charged to come up with a redesigned ports masterplan to delineate and include critical geographic areas that must be reserved only for port activities.
This should form part of the measures government is putting in place to ensure that the ease of doing business in the ports system bears the desired fruits across board.
This will also enable municipal area planners, port administrators, state governments, federal authorities and other agencies to effectively regulate and control the proliferation of non-port businesses that may want to encroach into the areas so designated as port zones.
Port operations expert and key member, Nigerian Ports Consultative Council (NPCC), Capt Iheanacho Ebubeogu stated this in Lagos, Thursday, while speaking during a roundtable organized by the Maritime Journalists Association of Nigeria (MAJAN) for
the Chairman and executive members of the NPCC.
Calling for the creation of what he called the ‘ports area logistics ring’, Capt Ebebeogu who retired as General Manager, Public Communications and Strategy of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) emphasized the need to deepen barge operations, toll collection and other measures to ensure that the efficiency of the ports system is logistics-based.
Oil tankers and haulage trucks, he emphasized, must be made to submit to the Eto electronic system of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). Their movement on the ports access corridor should be streamlined and a dedicated lane reserved for them so as not to cause any obstruction for commuters and other road users who also have the right to enjoy the common-user facility the ports access corridor offers to all and sundry.
He said the geographic triangle encompassing Mile 2, Babs Animashaun Junction (Surulere), Orile and Ijora Olopa should be designated a ports area logistics ring in Lagos to serve as a special area to serve the ports. By her nodal location, he explained, Mile 2 forms the closest gateway to the major ports of Tincan Island and Apapa.
He frowned at a situation miscreants and hoodlums brazenly line up at Mile 2 and freely waylay, beat up and even kill truck drivers exiting the ports all in efforts to extort money. He also condemned the rate at which non-port related businesses spring up along the corridor, thereby contributing to traffic gridlock and making nonsense of the ease of doing business effort of the NPA.
Speaking about barge operations, Capt Ebebeogu highlighted the advantages in the port system. Rather than operating as individual business concerns, he advised, barge operators should come together, form combines under one viable body to qualify to source reasonable funds to maintain the capacity and integrity needed for meaningful investment as barge operation is capital-intensive.
Speaking earlier, Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Consultative Council (NPCC), Prince Bolaji Sunmola described the NPCC as a vital decision-making body overseeing port-related matters including operations, safety and environmental impacts.
“We are composed of a diverse set of industry experts, government representatives and community stakeholders. Since its formal establishment before Nigerian independence in 1960, the NPCC has played a pivotal role guiding the policies, operations and long-term strategies for the Nigerian port industry. Initially formed when Nigerian ports were mere wharves, our history reflects significant milestone in ports modernization such as the digitalization of operations and public-private partnerships.”
“The mission of the NPCC is rooted in fostering stakeholder collaboration for sustainable development in the ports sector. Our vision is to create a collaborative platform where industry leaders, stakeholders and local communities can come together to drive innovation, dialogue and economic expansion in the port industry. We are committed to maintaining best practices, ensuring safety and promoting environmental starwardship as pillars of our activities.”
He pledged that going forward, NPCC would collaborate with MAJAN, to project her activities and all engagements that promote positive activities in the port sector.
Members of the NPCC executive council who accompanied Prince Sunmola to the MAJAN Secretariat were the NPCC Vice Chairperson, Mrs Jean Chiazor Anishere (SAN), Capt Iheanacho Ebebeogu, Chief Basil Opara and Madam Jamila Haladu who represented the NPA.
Others were Messrs Tokan Lawal Babatunde and Babamusa Dannasir of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.
Maritime Agencies
Alleged Mosque Demolition: Structure was Erected Without Approval, says Ogun 1 Customs.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
The Ogun 1 Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Idiroko, has strongly debunked a recent viral video alleging that the Officer in Charge of Building directed the demolition of an ongoing mosque construction at the Nigeria Customs Secondary School, Idiroko.
The rebuttal contained in a release by Chief Superintendent of Customs Hammed Bukoye Oloyede, the Command’s image maker, on behalf of the Customs Area Controller, James Ojo, says the content of the viral video is far from the truth as it failed to unveil the real circumstances.
“Following a thorough investigation,” Oloyede explained, “it has been established that the mosque construction was initiated without approval. This contradicts the master plan for the school and junior barracks premises.”
He referred to facilities for religious activities within the Command’s jurisdiction, including mosques and a chapel in the border area, as well as in the CAC’s residence, senior and junior officers’ barracks.
The mosque within the junior barracks, he explained, was recently renovated and expanded under the same Officer in Charge of Building.
“To foster mutual respect and address concerns, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller James Ojo, has personally intervened in this matter. He has committed to laying the foundation for a new Mosque at a designated site within the premises and ensuring necessary support and timely completion of the mosque project in line with the Command’s protocols.”
The CAC implored all esteemed stakeholders to respect the sensitivity of religious matters and exercise patience and understanding.
He further cautioned the school administration to uphold harmony and good relations within and around the barracks community.
Maritime Agencies
ANPP Leadership Crisis: High Court Pronounces Aniebonam As Authentic BOT Chairman.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
In what comes out as an obvious resolution of the current internal wrangling over the leadership of the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP), the Uzoakoli Division of the Abia State High Court, Friday, pronounced Dr Boniface Aniebonam as the authentic leader and Board of Trustees (BOT) Chairman of the Party, directing him and his BOT to assume authority immediately and take over the running of the party in line with her Constitution.
Making the pronouncemnt, the presiding judge, Justice C.U. Okoroafor referred to a motion on notice with suit No: HUZ/11/24 which three members of the party in Abia State brought before the court seeking a resolution to the ongoing leadership crisis bedeviling the party.
Going forward, the judgment directed, the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) and all other relevant electoral bodies owe it as an abiding duty to accept candidates put forward by the Dr Aniebonam-led BOT until proper congresses are convened and relevant organs of the party such as the National Working Committee (NWC), Zonal, Local Government and Ward Executive Committees are constituted.
The judgment further directed the Abia State Independent Electoral Committee (ABSIEC) and all other state electoral organs nationwide where preparations are underway for local government elections to accept only the list of candidates presented to them by the Dr. Aniebonam-led BOT and no other set of persons or faction purporting to do so on behalf of the NNPP.
The court further directed the immediate organization of congresses to fill and activate all relevant organs of the party and submit same to INEC.
It can be recalled that in an exclusive report by NewsDissect, the NNPP Founder, Dr Aniebonam, had said that Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso was making futile attempts to take over NNPP, insisting that the presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 gen,eral election can never achieve such inordinate ambition.
Maritime Agencies
ZAMFARA: PDP Members Recall Matawalle’s Tenure With Relish, Protest Against Governor Lawal.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
Poor governance under Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State took centre stage Monday with members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Talata Mafara Local Government protesting and taking him to task.
According to them, the tenure of former governor of the State, Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle, MON, was far better than the present one in terms of economic opportunities, job creation and security.
The demonstrators accused the governor of neglecting citizens’ welfare, worsening hunger, and imposing candidates in local elections against the will of the people.
As they longed for the return of former Governor Bello Matawalle, the protesters described him as more responsive to the people’s needs than what they experience presently.
“We miss former Governor Matawalle,” the demonstrators chorused.
“At least he cared for the people. We’re calling on him to run in the next election, and we will vote for him.”
Led by Muhammad Ibrahim Talata Mafara, the PDP local leader, the protesters assembled at the local government headquarters, voicing their displeasure with the current administration.
They criticized the governor for allegedly prioritizing personal luxury over the well-being of residents.
“We are tired of Governor Dauda’s policies,” Ibrahim said.
“The people are suffering; hunger is rampant and has worsened. Meanwhile, the governor lives a lavish lifestyle, ignoring the plight of the ordinary citizen.”
The protesters also accused the governor of interfering in the party’s internal processes by imposing candidates in the recent local elections, a move they argued undermined democratic values.
“This is not democracy,” Ibrahim stated. “The people’s choice was disregarded. It feels as though Dauda is only interested in furthering his personal agenda, not addressing the needs of Zamfara.”
In addition to electoral concerns, the protesters raised alarms over rising insecurity, saying that the region remains increasingly exposed to bandit attacks. They also lamented the soaring cost of food and the general economic hardship residents are facing.
“The hunger situation here has gotten worse, and there seems to be no solution in sight,” one protester said.
“People here are hungry.”
All these happening in the State must have necessitated the Federal lawmaker from Zamfara State, Hon. Sulaiman Abubakar Gummi to leave PDP to Join APC.
Hon. Sulaiman Abubakar Gummi, a Federal House of Representatives member for Gummi/Bukkuyum Constituency, has dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The activities of Governor Lawal will spell doom for PDP in the State as the party will soon be hit with more defections.
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