Headlines

NPA pledges support to establish arbitration centre in Lagos

Bello-Koko, Ag. NPA MD

—–as Bello-Koko reiterates NPA’s resolve to reopen training school to enhance manpower development

Eyewitness reporter

The Acting Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has urged arbitrators to ensure quick and speedy resolution of disputes in the maritime industry even as he disclosed that the management of the agency has resolved to reopen the NPA training school to enhance manpower development.

He noted that failure to promptly address perceived grievances will be inimical to the growth and development of the sector.

He said to forestall situations that result in prolonged litigations among players in the industry, the NPA will support the Maritime Arbitrators of Nigeria (MAN) in its efforts to establish an Arbitration Centre in Lagos.

The centre, he assured, will help to fast track conflict resolution within Sub Saharan Africa, saying that disagreements are bound to happen amongst players in the Industry and urged stakeholders to approach the centre rather than take the path of litigations which are oftentimes not necessary, time-consuming and costly.

The NPA boss spoke in Lagos when he received the newly elected executives of the Maritime Arbitrators of Nigeria who visited him in his office.

Mr Koko expressed delight over the decades-long synergy between both agencies in the area of support, consultancy and exchange of ideas that has been beneficial to them and the industry at large.

The NPA boss lauded the impacts of maritime arbitrators in solving legal issues in the past, saying the NPA is poised to give all the necessary support to the body to achieve a conducive business environment.

Bello- Koko urged the group to further seek support from the authorities at the Ministry of Transport and Justice respectively which he explained would effectively enhance their operations at enforcement of disputes at the nation’s seaports.

The leader of the team, Mr Bodunrin Adewole said they were at the NPA to intimate the management of their recent election into the office and to solicit for the agency’s support.

He called for the establishment of a Complaint Desk at the Ports across the country just as it operates at other government agencies, stating that they will help fast track dispute resolution which the MAN authorities are willing to key into.

He reiterated that MAN is of the view that swift resolution of disputes at the ports would automatically enhance efficiency and also assist the NPA to realize its mission statement.

Meanwhile, manpower development in the Nigerian maritime industry is set to be enhanced with the planned reopening of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)’s training school following the renovation of the facility after years of being abandoned.

Acting Managing Director of the NPA, Mr. Mohammed Bello Koko affirmed that when training commences at the institution, it will alleviate the difficulties hitherto faced by stakeholders in locating training facilities for manpower development and capacity building and also save cost to the Authority.

Mr Bello-Koko spoke when he received the outgoing management team of the Nigerian Institute of Shipping (NIS) led by its Vice President, Chief Segun Olufioye Johnson who paid him a courtesy visit at the NPA’s Corporate Headquarters in Marina, Lagos.

He assured industry players of the agency’s willingness to partner with them in order to boost the manpower and capacity building in the sector, even as “we are ready to reach out to other various training institutes for the development of appropriate training curriculum”.

“We would also engage our retired staff who have vast knowledge to share in our dream of becoming the centre of skills and academic excellence.

According to him, the renovation of the NPA’s training facility is a testament to his administration’s commitment to ensure that adequate and recurrent training is undertaken as and when due by relevant workers in the maritime industry.

The NPA boss disclosed that the newly renovated NPA resource centre has the capacity to accommodate over 250 participants.

He said, “Management is proud of our workforce which can stand out anywhere in the world in the area of efficient delivery of Port services.”

He commended the outgoing NIS management for their immense contribution towards the development of the country’s maritime sector, pointing out that the synergy developed amongst relevant shipping agencies during their tenure in office was worthwhile, saying “your tenure has been rancour-free”.

Koko however assured them that his administration is open to ideas that will bring about positive development in the sector, especially in the drive towards achieving a hub status across the sub-region.

Earlier, the leader of the NIS delegation thanked the Koko- led management for the positive contributions it had recorded since the assumption of office which was undoubtedly phenomenal to the sub-sector.

He applauded the existing collaborations with the NPA that span over 25 years especially in the area of capacity development.

Chief Segun Olufioye Johnson explained that the NIS is seeking stronger ties with the NPA in the area of Research, Development and Consultancy.

He informed the Acting MD that as a result of the efforts made by the NIS in the past, the University of Lagos has established a centre for Multi modalism studies with emphasis on Rail, Road and Sea.

The NIS team later presented a pre-fellowship award to the NPA helmsman in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the development of the sector.

Headlines

IGP grieves over assault on policewoman

Prof. Zainab Duke Abiola

— orders prosecution of culprits

Owolola Adebola

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has strongly condemned the grievous assault of a female Police Officer, Inspector Teju Moses, by her principal who is a Legal practitioner and human rights activist, Prof. Zainab Duke Abiola and her domestic staff comprising the housemaid, one Rebecca Enechido and a male suspect currently at large.

Zainab Duke, a Mbaise-born activist, grievously assaulted her orderly in the company of some accomplices on Tuesday 20th September 2022 at her residence in Garki, Abuja, due to the refusal of the orderly to breach professional ethics by carrying out menial and domestic chores at her house.

The IGP also directed the express prosecution of the arrested suspects who are currently in Police custody, as the preliminary investigation shows overwhelming evidence of culpability on the part of the Professor and her domestic staff.

The IGP has equally tasked the investigative team to ensure that the fleeing suspect is arrested and made to face the wrath of the law.

It is pertinent to clarify that the suspect, Prof. Zainab, who name-drops the IGP, his family members, and other officers in the top hierarchy of the Force has no acquaintance with the Police in any form as erroneously peddled on social media.

The Inspector-General of Police who similarly ordered the withdrawal of all Police personnel attached to the Professor expressed consternation at the fact that an individual who claims to be an advocate for Human Rights could stoop so low as to violate the rights of another individual, a police officer tasked with ensuring her protection.

Customs

Customs collects N1.7trn revenue in 8 months

CGC, Ali

–embarks on aggressive revenue hunts to meet target

The Eyewitness reporter

The Nigeria Customs Service has collected a whooping sum of N1,755,386,486,390.02 as revenue in the first eight months of the year spanning January and August.

The service made the highest monthly earnings of N241,903,781,854.46 in August as the service intensifies its aggressive revenue drive to meet the expectations of the Federal Government which has come to rely on the revenue from the service to fund its critical project.

This follows the diversification of government to non-oil sectors and expands its tax base due to the dwindling revenue from the oil sector.

The revenue in the first eight months of 2022 is N363,436,321,614.95 higher than N1,391,950,164,775.97 the customs collected in the corresponding period of 2021.

Abuja has increased its focus on non-oil revenue sources, prompting higher expectations from revenue collection agencies such as the NCS, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), among others.

Headlines

Jamoh wears OFR diadem as Buhari confers national honour on NIMASA DG

The Eyewitness reporter

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Bashir Jamoh, has expressed deep appreciation to President Mohammed Buhari for being conferred with one of the highest national honours in Nigeria, Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR).

The Office of the Honourable Minister, Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, has conveyed this good news to Dr Jamoh in a letter of Award which has slated the investiture ceremony for the International Conference Center (ICC), Abuja on Monday, 10th October 2022.

Recall that Dr. Jamoh had served the Nigerian maritime sector as an administrator for over 30 years when he was appointed by President Buhari as the NIMASA DG in March 2020.

Since that time, he has overseen the successful deployment of the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure otherwise known as the Deep Blue Project which has played a major role in achieving a reduction of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea to its barest minimum since 1994 and culminating in Nigeria being removed from the infamous piracy red list by the International Maritime Bureau, IMB.

A hallmark of his tenure at the helm of NIMASA has been his institutionalization of collaboration among stakeholders, within and outside the country, to achieve significant milestones in the sector.

One notable example of this is his initiation of the Gulf of Guinea Maritime Collaboration Forum/ Shared Awareness and De-confliction (GOG-MCF/SHADE), which has demonstrated the positive outcomes of information sharing among regional and non-regional military forces in achieving a secure maritime space.

Reacting to the news on his social media handle, Dr Jamoh expressed gratitude for being considered for the honour stating:

“Words cannot express how humbled I feel to be so considered for the National Honour as an Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR).

“When I began my maritime journey 30 years ago, little did I know that Almighty Allah would so favour me to rise to the position of NIMASA DG, let alone to be considered for one of the highest honours in the land”.

Dr Jamoh especially thanked His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, and the Standing Committee on National Honours Award for deeming him worthy of the honour while also appreciating everyone who had supported him throughout his tenure as NIMASA Director General, especially the maritime stakeholders.