Headlines

NIWA begins enforcement of approved safety jackets among boat operators —as ATBOWATON inaugurate Gbaji Yeke jetty

Oladimeji Ige

The National Inland waterways Agency (NIWA) has warned boat operators in Lagos State to adhere strictly with the use of orange colour life jacket to escape the sledge hammer of the agency.

The NIWA Lagos Area Manager, Mrs Sarah Braimah, issued this warning at Badagry while commissioning the newly constructed Gbaji Yeke Jetty.

Mrs Braimah, who was represented by Mr Shehu Shuaibu, disclosed that the agency will commence strict enforcement of the directive in May.

While commending ATBOWATON and the Gbaji Yeke jetty facilitator for the construction of the entire important jetty, Mrs Braimah warned that the jetty must not be used for illegal activities such as smuggling or to aid anti developmental activities.

She further disclosed that NIWA’s Area office in Lagos would mount surveillance on the use of the jetty, warning boat operators to strictly adhere to the use of the orange colour life jacket sanctioned by International Maritime Organisation.“NIWA Lagos will begin massive enforcement from the month of May.

“NIWA has noticed the growing trend of various colours of life jackets in use by boat operators and hereby sent notice that it will no longer be business as usual as we shall begin enforcement from next month to enable ATBOWATON members comply,”
Mr Shehu Shuaibu, who represented the NIWA Lagos Area, declared.

At the inauguration of the jetty constructed by the Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria (ATBOWATON), Mr Gani Balogun, the President of ATBOWATON, said that the initiative was to facilitate ease of movement and safety of growing numbers of boat operators and water users in the area.

He commended initiatives of the Gbaji Yeke jetty facilitator, Mr Joseph Phillip, for putting up the facility, constructed in line with extant safety regulations of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).

He reiterated that under his watch as ATBOWATON President, more of such water transportation facilities would be provided by prominent members across the state.

He pointed out that it was to help rural littoral communities to commute to and from other communities, and the city centres, thereby, driving development, speedy growth of the rural areas and creating jobs.

“As much as we appreciate the support given to us to manage some jetties in Lagos by NIWA and Lagos State government, we are not relenting to provide more jetties to most unreached communities as veritable partners to national and states water transportation development agenda.

“Though it is an expensive venture, ATBOWATON believes that it is part of our mandate to help unlock and link the treasures in most remote communities in Lagos and help drive rural development and create jobs,” he said.

Balogun also praised the dedication and sacrifice of the Badagry chapter Chairman of ATBOWATON, Mr Tope Fajemirokun, for making the area new bride of water transportation in the state.

He added that the Gbaji Yeke jetty would help to solve the demand for additional jetty facilities in and around the strategic intra water transportation ecology between Badagry West local government, Ogun and Porto Novo.

Earlier in his address, Phillip said that the Gbaji Yeke jetty initiative was primarily to help open up the community which was at the heart and centre of Badagry West local government for development and to create jobs for the young and old.

He added that the boat operation known as “Only God”, needed a jetty hub in the area to effectively provide water transportation services to its growing clients and for other boat operators under ATBOWATON leadership.

Freight Monitor

President Buhari to commission multi-billion naira Dala Inland dry port Monday –Ahmad Rabiu

The Eyewitness reporter

All is set for the commissioning of the Dala International inland dry port on Monday 31st January 2023 by President Muhammad Buhari at Zawachiki in Kumbotso local government area of Kano state.

The Managing Director of the international inland dry port Ahmad Rabiu, stated this while addressing newsmen on the preparation for the inauguration of the port at its headquarters in Kano.

Ahmad Rabiu, who was joined by the chairman of the inland dry port, Alhaji Abubakar Sahabu Bawuro, said its the first international inland dry port where cargoes will go anywhere in the world from Kano state without follow up to any sea ports across Nigeria.

Ahmad Rabiu told newsmen that the federal government under President Muhammad Buhari has given all the support required for the take-up, noting that they have met the requirement on infrastructure and other critical amenities.

The MD said the stacking area has the capacity of containing 20 thousand units of containers before moving anywhere at any time, noting that the area covers six hectares of land and the management is willing to add more.

According to Ahmad Rabiu, all the requirements needed for clearance by businessmen, and customs duty will be done right from Kano without follow-up to any seaport in Nigeria.

On his part, the chairman of Dala Inland Dry Port, Alhaji Abubakar Sahabu Bawuro said the management of the port is prepared technically, and physically with interested partners and is going to boost businesses in Kano, Nigeria and Africa in general and urged members of the press to partner with the management in ensuring efficiency, emphasizing that the place is not a monument but a business venture.

The chairman said Dala Inland Dry Port is now a solution to the problems brought about by the seaports and they will introduce cargo tracking and door-to-door delivery of goods and services.

He said the success of the inland dry port is a joint venture between the state government, the business community, regulatory agencies and the Federal Government of Nigeria and to make business in Kano and its neighborhood more competitive.

Freight Monitor

CRFFN rejects re-appointment bid of ousted Sam Nwakohu

Ousted CRFFN Registrar, Nwakohu

— appoints Uromta as Acting Registrar

—-shops for substantive Registrar.

The Eyewitness reporter

The Council for the Registration of Freight forwarding Practice in Nigeria (CRFFN) has thrown out the re-election bid of the outgoing Registrar of the Council, Sam Nwakohu.

In an emergency meeting of the council Thursday at its Abuja liaison office, the Council appointed Mrs. Chinyere Uromta, the Director of Regulations and Enforcement, as an acting Registrar pending the time a substantive registrar will be appointed.

The decision of the council to reject the reelection bid of the ousted Registrar was based on the recommendations of its ad hoc committee to look into the request of Nwakohu for a second term tenure.

The outgoing registrar, last year, at the December meeting of the council, submitted a letter, requesting to be considered for a second term shot at the lucrative position.

Consequently, the Chairman of the Council, Alhaji Abubakar Tsanni set up an ad-hoc committee, headed by Efeanyi Isikaku, to look into the request of Nwakohu and submit its report in two weeks.

“Following the completion of its assignment and submission of its report, the council, therefore, convened today (Thursday)in Abuja to deliberate on the next line of action to be taken in respect of the committee’s recommendations.

” The AdHoc committee made important recommendations with reference to the provisions of Public Service Rules as well as the council’s Act.

“The committee however, recommended that in order to avoid a vacuum after the expiration of the Registrar’s tenure, the council shall start making arrangements for a handover of the Registrar’s office to the most senior management staff of the council.

“Similarly, the committee also recommended that the Appointment Promotion and Discipline committee of the council be directed to start making preparations for reappointment or appointment of substantive Registrar” Muftahu Ya’u, the chairman Committee on Media and Publicity of the governing council, declared in a statement he sent to our reporter.

“Finally, the council’s chairman soon after the adoption, approval, and ratification of the committee’s recommendations by members of the council directed the followings:
that arrangement for the Registrar’s handover to Mrs. Chinyere Uromta Director, Regulations and Enforcement on 31st of January 2023.

“That committee on Appointment Promotion and Discipline go ahead to start preparations for reappointment/appointment of a new Registrar” the head of media and publicity of the council concluded.

It could be recalled that soon after Nwakohu made his ambition known to succeed himself as the Registrar of the council, he went on a lobbying spree, trying to woo the council members to buy into his ambition.

But sources close to the council whispered to our reporter that the second term bid of Nwakohu was dead on arrival due to lots of baggage he carries.

“There was no way he could have succeeded in his obnoxious bid to succeed himself.

Firstly, it was a general consensus among the freight forwarding confraternity that Nwakohu failed woefully as the registrar.

“He is incompetent, arrogant and someone not ready to learn,” a highly placed source said.

“Also, several allegations of financial sleaze against him have not been cleared.

“Similarly, the council members were not happy at the way Nwakohu handled the purchase of the CRFFN Abuja liaison office which cost they felt was inflated.

“All these and other uncharitable behavior of the outgoing registrar are enough reasons not to reappoint him as the Council registrar” the source claimed.

Headlines

Transportation ministry inaugurates project committee for Ondo, Benin seaports

The Eyewitness reporter

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation, Dr Magdalene Ajani, has inaugurated

a Project Steering Committee for the proposed Ondo Deep & Benin Seaports.

Dr. Magdalene Ajani, while inaugurating the Committee on behalf of the Nigerian government at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja Wednesday, stated that the Committee is saddled with providing guidance and direction on the projects.

She also charged the members of the committee to also facilitate necessary permits, clearance & approvals for the projects.

The permanent secretary said it is also the responsibility of the committee to prepare the transaction for the Hon. Minister of Transportation, Alhaji Muazu Sambo, to obtain the approval of tte Federal Executive Council.

She charged them to hit the ground running immediately.