The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman, has expressed confidence that the National Maritime Transport Policy would unlock the huge potential and vast opportunities in the nation’s blue economy.

The MD expressed the view during the  stakeholders’ validation workshop  on the National Transport Maritime Policy, which was hosted by the Federal Ministry of Transportation, in Lagos.

A statement by Ibrahim Nasiru, the Assist. General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communication of the NPA, quoted the MD as saying a well-articulated National Maritime Transport Policy would support local content development, create good value jobs and attract high impacting direct foreign investments within the context of the Federal Government’s Economic Growth and Sustainability agenda.

She said: “we look forward to a policy with clear standard operating procedures (SOPs) that would guide our various operations, that would be strengthened by critical legal frame work and legislation from the National Assembly.”

She added that : The policy should engender a competitive maritime domain with clear rules on institutional governance, service capacity and accountability.”

The MD called for greater synergy and collaboration between the public and private sector stakeholders to advance the interest of the maritime industry in Nigeria.

On the recently-launched Electronic Call–Up System for Trucks , ETO, by the Authority, Ms Bala Usman said: “the web application would control the movement of trucks in and out of the ports in an orderly and safe manner, on a first come, first serve basis.

She listed some of the benefits that would accrue to the sector and the country to include quick truck turnaround, reduction in port cost, transparent traffic management system and above all – a business friendly and globally competitive port system in Nigeria.

The Minister of State for Transportation, Senator Gbemisola Saraki, has expressed confidence that the National Maritime Transport Policy being developed by Nigeria would lead to improved Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflow and enhance the ability of the Nigerian maritime sector to compete internationally.

She said this in Lagos at the opening of a stakeholders’ validation forum on the draft policy.

The minister said the transport policy would give Nigeria pride of place in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.

The free trade area, the world’s largest, was founded in 2018, and scheduled to come into effect from January 1, 2021.

The meeting was organised by the Federal Ministry of Transportation to get stakeholders’ buy-in and input, as the policy document was being fine-tuned.

The transport policy is expected to usher in a regime of robust maritime transport system in the country in line with international best practice.

Saraki underscored the strategic economic importance of maritime transportation, saying adoption of the transport policy would mark a paradigm shift in Nigeria’s economic competitiveness.

The minister stated in her address, which was delivered by Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, “The National Maritime Transport Policy is a framework that will guide and sharpen the activities, actors and modus operandi in the maritime sector.

“It is an all-encompassing document that will skyrocket the sector to compete favourably in the global market. That is why this   document is extremely important and crucial to the development of the sector.”

She said the National Maritime Transport Policy, which industry stakeholders had clamoured for since nearly two decades, “Will change the narrative in the maritime sector of our dear country and result in a paradigm shift that is generational.”

Saraki added, “It is encouraging to know that the maritime policy is coming up at a time when Nigeria has ratified the AfCTA Agreement and deposited it with the AU Secretariat. This is an agreement that will place Nigeria in place of leadership if we adequately prepare for the protocols.

“Therefore, it is expedient for us to make the maritime sector ready for the AfCFTA Transit Protocols and other international protocols for us to compete favourably in the regional and global market.”

Nigeria deposited its instrument of ratification of the AfCFTA agreement on December 5, 2020, becoming the 34th member state to formally ratify the treaty.

The free trade area was created by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement among 54 of the African Union’s 55 member states.

It is the world’s largest free trade area since the World Trade Organisation, and a game-changer in African and world trade, with a market of more than 1.2 billion people, about $3 trillion combined GDP, and the potential of growing intra-African trade by over 50 per cent, according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

In her own speech, the permanent secretary said policy was the bedrock of development, and the condition of the maritime sector of a nation determined its future development.

Ajani said, “Nigeria, like other nations, has recognised the integral role policies play in developmental process and, as such, engendered different processes to drive her quest for a sustainable, feasible and generic National Maritime Transport Policy. This will boost the maritime sector and widen the horizon to enable it serve the domestic market and have comparative advantage globally.”

Chairman of the National Maritime Transport Policy Committee, Dr. Paul Adalikwu, said, “The maritime sector cannot be administered successfully without a policy document that contains genuine, reliable and updated data that can stand the test of time.”

Adalikwu, who is also Director in charge of Maritime Safety and Security in the Federal Ministry of Transportation, said the maritime transport policy document aimed to develop “a maritime industry that is income generating, self-sufficient, competitive with comparative advantage in the regional and global markets.”

The event featured goodwill messages from Chairman, Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Senator Danjuma Goje, and Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education, and Administration, Hon. Lynda Ikpeazu.

There were also messages from captains of industry, including foremost maritime lawyer and Chairman, Nigerian Ship Owners Forum, Mrs. Margaret Orakwusi; Chairman, National Seafarers Welfare Board (NSWB), Otunba Kunle Folarin; and President, Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), Dr. MkGeorge Onyung.

Dignitaries present at the occasion included Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman, and Managing Director, National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Dr. George Moghalu.

Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, was represented by the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mr. Chudi Ofodile.

There were representations from all the parastatals in the Federal Ministry of Transportation as well as major associations in the country’s maritime industry.

The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman has assured the youths of the organisation of the support of the management at all times, especially towards developing the capacity to grow the nation’s maritime industry.

The MD, who gave this assurance in Lagos, Saturday, spoke at the virtual official inauguration of the NPA-Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport CILT Chapter, codenamed: NPA/CILT NEXT GENERATION CHAPTER.

According to her, it was a thing of particular delight that youths of the organisation could come together to explore the opportunities that the CILT presents for the development of not only their individual careers but also the progress of the nation’s maritime sector as a whole.

She observed that such efforts of the youths will give people like her the confidence that the future will be better, adding that with young people who are diligent at work and committed to continuous search for knowledge and professional development, the sky can only be the limit for the industry.

This, according to her is given the antecedents and personal experiences where youths have been found to be unable to accept responsibilities and take advantage of opportunities at their disposal for their future growth and advancement.

She said: “In my experience, I have come to realise that one of the greatest pitfalls of youth is the inability to quickly come to terms with the responsibility that the future places on them. When youths do not understand the roles that they have in the future of a society, they are unable to explore the opportunities that the present offers them and build the necessary capacity for the future.

“This is why on a lot of occasions, when opportunity falls on the laps of young people, they are not sufficiently prepared to make the best of those opportunities to the benefit of society. This is why I am happy about NPA/CILT Next Generation Chapter.

“It is heartwarming that you have not just come together in unity as one would expect of every staffer of any organisation that aspires for progress, but you also made it a point of duty to develop yourselves and build the capacity of your members through your regular Zoominar series.

“I encourage you not to relent in these efforts. Regardless of the challenges that you face, be rest assured that you will reap the reward of every investment that you put into the initiatives in the future to the benefits of yourself, the maritime industry and Nigeria, at large.”

She also thanked the Chapter for the award of honour given to her and promised to continue to make you proud by staying the course in the single-minded mission of leaving the Nigerian Ports Authority and the ports industry in Nigeria better and re-positioned to play a leading role in the sub-region.

In his remarks, the CILT national president, Alhaji Ibrahim Jibril, encouraged the youth chapter to put their best, collaborate with sister organisations and most importantly, align themselves with the vision of NPA, which is built around excellent service delivery.

A highpoint of the event was the presentation of merit awards to deserving individuals led by the MD, NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman and immediate past General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications (C&SC), Engr. Jatto A. Adams (rtd.).

Others award recipients are Pharm. Christy E. Akpa (Mrs.) GM, Medical Services, Mr. Innocent Gamboro Umar GM, BS/LA, Mrs. Josephine Moltok, AGM London Office, Mrs. Bolanle Olufunmilayo Olotu, Port Manager, Lagos Ports Complex LPC, Principal Manager SERVICOM, Calabar Port, Mrs. Funmilayo Loremikan FCILT and Principal Manager C&SC, Calabar Port, Dr. Chijioke K. Ukadike.

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has approved the constitution of a Special Traffic Management and Enforcement Compliance Team to resolve the traffic gridlock in and around Apapa.

Members of the team are:

• Hon. Toyin Fayinka (Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation);
• Engr. Olajide Oduyoye (General Manager, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority LASTMA);
• Hon. Sola Giwa (SSA to the Governor on Central Business Districts); and
• Ayodeji Laurent: (SSA to the Governor on Political Security Intelligence).

The Special Traffic Management & Enforcement Compliance Team is saddled with the responsibility of ensuring zero tolerance of traffic offenders and a seamless traffic management system specifically designed to restore sanity in and around Apapa and create a cohesive system that would aid the resurgence of business activities and ensure that residents live in a conducive environment devoid of traffic-induced stress.

Mr. Governor said that the area of coverage of the Team’s operations includes:

• Ikorodu Road to Oshodi – Mile 2 – Apapa
• Ikorodu Road – Funsho Williams Avenue (Surulere) – Alaka – Iganmu – SIFAX – Ijora 7up – Apapa
• Surulere – Alaka – Eko Bridge – Ijora Olopa – Ijora 7up – Apapa.

With the development, it is expected that traffic within Apapa and its environs will be better managed by a team of dedicated LASTMA, FRSC, POLICE and Intelligence service Officers.

Mr. Governor added that the Policemen from Area ‘B’ Police Command will tentatively provide security back-up for the team, pending the announcement of the new security architecture by the State Government.

Mr. Governor’s action followed his December 28, 2020 visit to Apapa and his pronouncement on the takeover of traffic management from the Presidential Task Team on the decongestion of Apapa gridlock.

The head of the new Special Traffic Management & Enforcement Compliance Team, Hon. Toyin Fayinka (Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation) and other members of the team are expected to work with the designated team of the Inspector-General of Police and collaborate with the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu and other members of Law Enforcement Agencies in and around Apapa to ensure success of the team’s assignment.

Lagos State Government.

The Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) has kicked against the constitution of another taskforce for the enforcement of traffic regulations in the port city of Apapa.

Chairman of AMATO, Chief Remi Ogungbemi, said in a chat on Sunday that past experiences with traffic management taskforces showed that a digitalized truck call-up system would offer the best solution to the traffic gridlock in Apapa.

Ogungbemi said: “As we are in computer age, what we need and which we believe is the only solution, is to embrace technology in form of an automation system with a view to removing human interferences in admitting trucks into the Apapa and Tincan Ports, including all the factories around Apapa and Tincan Ports and Petroleum tank farms.

“Therefore, introducing another Taskforce as solution is of no use and unacceptable. Except if it is deliberate to allow some few individual to continue to enrich themselves at the detriment of the majority others or to further compound the problem of truckers.”

The AMATO chairman alledged that the deployment of the Presidential Task Team (PTT) earlier, did not provide the needed solution to the traffic problem in Apapa, rather it brought about corrupt practices.

He said: “Why does government always see the deployment of security operatives as the best solution to Apapa and Tincan traffic gridlock, even when the same strategy has failed to resolve the problem in the past?

“When the Presidential Task Team (PTT) was inaugurated to resolve traffic gridlock in Apapa/Tincan road axis, it eventually led to the institutionalization of bribery and extortion of truckers by different road cabals in collaboration with the security operatives who became a problem instead of providing solution to the problem of traffic they were sent to resolve in Apapa and Tincan port access roads.

“Eventually, the PTT was dissolved and disbanded by government following an avalanche of complaints of gross abuse of its mandate for selfish ends in the maritime trucking industry.”

Ogungbemi said that the truckers would work with theTruck Transit Park Limited (TTP) appointed by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to manage Lilypond Transit Park and to introduce an automation system of admitting trucks seamlessly into the ports.

He expressed confidence that the system, which is scheduled to take off by Feb. 27, 2021, would address the traffic congestion problem in Apapa.

He added that “As an association, we also came up with a Truck Scheduler System (TSS) for seamless admission of trucks into the ports without hassles. But unfortunately, the federal government is planning the formation of another task team to control traffic in Apapa and Tincan road axis.

“The TTP “ETO” system or TSS technological automation truck call-up system can seamlessly admit trucks into the ports, petroleum tank farm depots and factories without trucks clogging the roads and bridges.

“Under this arrangement, all trucks would be made to leave the roads / bridges and go back to their private garages, while the Terminals /NPA decide / approve which container or cargo is ready for loading and which truck is in turn to leave its park in order to go and load at ports, factories and depots through the automation system.”

The AMATO chairman said that the system would work with the issuance of a TAG allocated to trucks that are approved by the automation system to make sure that only trucks with approved tags are allowed to move on the ports access roads without clogging the bridges and port access roads.

That way, he said, would be unlike the manual system of passing trucks where road sides are converted to truck parks and where hundreds of trucks clog the bridges and port access roads in the struggle to enter ports, factories and tank farms.

He added that “Therefore, we are using this forum to say capital NO to the introduction of battalion Police or any Task Force to be on the road for manual control of traffic into the ports.”

Ogungbemi blamed the persistent gridlock on “rise in human traffic into the port area, increased business activities of importation and exportation without corresponding increase and expansion of road network infrastructure.”

Welcome and thank you for joining us on the programme At The Marina Today. We have the privilege of being joined for discussion by Chief Isaac Jolapamo, a shipowner and Chairman/CEO of Morlap Group.

Chief Jolapamo talks  with us on how hard hit the shipping sub sector was in 2020 while the Covid19 pandemic ravaged the world. He also talks on  what Nigerian shipowners have been doing, looking at planning for life after leaving active service from the shipping world.

Transcription

How did you see the covid19 situation disruption of the shipping sector?

I will first say that we have various areas in the shipping industry and the hard hit was actually the cruise boat operations. That is the area where there is high volume and close human contacts.

For us, it is mostly tanker operations and service boats going offshore.

The only area where is concern is in crew change, because they have to interface. But that has kept most seafarers at sea longer than is expected. Over all, it has not been a disastrous situation. But we have other areas begging for attention in our own clime, than how it affected the global space.

How did you see the outlook eventually and what do you think of it for 2021?

There is still prospects. Globally they are still building new ships. But in our own environment, I will say we have not done much and it is not the pandemic that is affecting the growth, rather, it has always been affected by other factors.

What are expectations by indigenous shipowners for 2021?

People are being sensitised to begin to look inward and I suppose that we are getting some fillers that people will begin to cooperate.

I said something some time ago that when the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) came on stream, we realised that all the powers rested on the major seven then, there was no means to take bunkers to ships that the NNPC was going to charter. NNPC was not known, so they had to charter vessels and pay in advance. So the people there encouraged Nigerians to take up the opening and we found a few people, of course, if you have a job and you have the heart of steel, why not. It was going to grow like that, but something happened along the line and it was jettisoned.

What is the attraction of the campaign?

Nothing really special. It is just like a service to the country.

Touching life through shipping?

We are not on course and not on the right direction.

Shipping development has to be the bedrock, be on the front burner.

What it should entail should be like in five or 10 years, we should own x number of tankers, we should own cargo carriers of different sizes. Until that is done then we will know that we have a maritime sector.

FG’s move to start a National Fleet?

FG has started it, but there must be government will to make it happen, in the sense that of you have a national fleet, there should be cargo and assess to it. Something must give way to make it happen, either some policy or other hindrances.

It is only when we stop putting the cart before the horse that it would happen.

What are we not doing right and what should be done?

If we are going to have national fleet, we can have people with experience, like minds to work together, she them up and give them the business they are going to do. We saw how the PIL was coming to partner, but the conditions were not right. And the condition is just the cargo.

We are not talking of a national all fleet like the NNSL, we are talking of group of Nigerians who would pool their resources and have a fleet flying Nigeria and have access to cargo carriage either wet or dry.

Government does not need to fund. We just need the capable operator, the financial institution, the cargo.

It also just need a track record of those going to be involved, integrity and commitment -wise.

Flip side

How has it been planning for life after active service in the sector?

There hasn’t been any success story.

South of Saharan, we have just taken the bull by the horn. They have realised the importance of the water, but inconsistency in government policy has not helped, unlike Europe where you see family businesses in shipping for over a century.

Generally, it is advisable you keep money elsewhere when you make money in shipping, particularly in our area where we do cowboy shipping, all comers’ affairs. People had made attempts to see that they changed baton, bit it has not worked much because of the inconsistent policies.

For some good reasons, it is now in the open how much we are losing for not developing shipping, in-house.

#AtTheMarinatoday

#CEOsTalkBusiness

#MaritimeRealityCheck

On the  Maritime LookBook, master mariners including president of the association, Capt. Tajudeen Alao, visit the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron Akwa Ibom, to see the newly-installed training simulators.

The China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) on Monday confirmed connecting the Lagos-Ibadan rail line to the Apapa Port, Lagos.

The company wrote in a tweet that: “On the morning of Jan. 25, 2021, the #LagosIbadanRail was officially connected to the Apapa Port in #Lagos, the largest port in #Nigeria.”

It also disclosed that “with the successful pouring of the last 25-meter monolithic track bed superstructure of Apapa Port Break Bulk Line, the Lagos-Ibadan Railway was officially connected to the Apapa Port in Lagos.

“The Apapa Port Spur Line of Lagos-Ibadan Railway starts from the Mobolaji Johnson Station, Ebute Metta and extends southward to Apapa Port, with a total length of 8.72km.”

According to the CCECC, linking the Lagos-Ibadan railway to the port is very important considering that it serves the import and export transportation passage, which is also a significant guarantee for the operational efficiency of the railway.

It added that “The Apapa Port Spur Line, passing through the old town of Lagos, was an extremely tough nut to crack because of its dense underground pipelines, high underground water level, complex geological conditions and numerous ground constructions. The project department made full preparations at the very beginning. Through nearly three years of unremitting efforts, the project is now progressing smoothly.

“CCECC worked around the clock, whilst ensuring pandemic prevention and control, and finally completed construction of 2 culverts, 9 groups of switch laying, 2.2km of ballasted track laying, and pouring of the 793m monolithic track bed within one month, demonstrating the “CCECC Speed” and the responsibility of CCECC constructors.”

The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has said that the recently launched Nigerian Port Process Manual (NPPM) is developed to address operational gaps as well as improving transparency and accountability in the nation’s seaports.

The Minister disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja at a sensitization meeting of stakeholders on the NPPM, organised by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC).

The manual was developed to address operational gaps as well as improve transparency and accountability in the system. It aims at eliminating operational bottlenecks in the port and accelerate economic growth.

It is a step by step trajectory of processes at the ports. It outlines the actors and timelines for each process, it guides the user by highlighting all required documentation, payments, timelines, and responsible agencies.

It equally guides the port operators by detailing the implementation chain and provides clarity on the time required for each process.

According to Amaechi, the successful implementation of the NNPM, would complement the modernisation of critical transport infrastructure being driven by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“The maritime sector offers the best alternative for economic diversification, as it has the potential for employment, investments and as an outlet for the facilitation and strengthening of Nigeria’s international trade,” he said.

News Agency of Nigerian reports that the minister implored other organisations at the port to cooperate with Nigerian Shippers’ Council saddled with the responsibility to drive the process and implementation of the process manual.

Amaechi urged regulatory authorities, operational agencies, service providers, users of shipping services and other stakeholders to support and comply with the Government extant directives and provision of the NPPM.

“The NSC, being the lead agency for the implementation, shall coordinate the implementation of the manual and ensure strict compliance with the rules.

“NSC also reserves the right to handout sanctions to any agency, service providers and users of shipping services for non-compliance as provided under its economic regulatory mandate.

“The ministry shall lend its support to the NSC in ensuring compliance with the manual by all stakeholders, not only in the implementation of the manual, but in other areas such as enforcement,” he said.

The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Mr. Hassan Bello, said that the essence of NPPM was to ensure transparency and efficiency.

He said that the whole essence was to attain world class standard in the maritime sector through the implementation of NPPM.

The manual, he said, was to be instruments of promoting transparency and efficiency in the business environment, and designed to facilitate the ease of doing business and cost reduction.

“We should do as it is done everywhere and it is to make it electronics so that it will be simply adapted,” he said.

Bello said that an effective successful systemic intervention in the port sector would rapidly change the narrative, the perception and the ranking of Nigeria in the Corruption Perception Index.

“This is not just shipper council as the lead agency to coordinate because many agencies had been doing that but we need to make it perfect, we need to reduce the time cargo spent in Nigeria which average is about 21 days now to average of seven days, that is our target.

“As you know that Federal Government is building infrastructure towards this, because it involves so many things, we need to have infrastructure, we need to have the port processes, we need to have attitudinal changes,” he said.

Speaking, Chairman ICPC, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, stressed the need for agencies at the port to ensure transparency and elimination of operational bottlenecks in the port.

Owasanoye also urged the Ministries Departments and Agencies to respond to ethics compliance score cards deployed by the ICPC to stem corrupt practices.

“The ministry and the agencies should respond to the card which would indicate area of corruption index and then we communicate our findings, then the management can always take appropriate step.

“Sometimes, the leadership may not know exactly what is going but this would help.

“We encourage all the other agencies that have anything to do with Port including the ministry of transport, to respond to the ethics compliance score cards.

“Some agencies do not respond, it is the first sign of corruption issues, and we publish last year some agencies that do not response,” he said.

This edition of the #MaritimeLookBook captures the commissioning of three newly acquired simulators for cadet training at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria in Oron, Akwa Ibom.

The commissioning of the facilities was done by the Hon. Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, alongside the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, and other guests from the ministry; as the Rector, Commodore Duja Emmanuel Effedua(Rtd.) showed the team round the facilities.

The simulators are like real-life ships used in training cadets both in navigation and engine room operations. This training gives the cadets knowledge and hands-on experience in ship operations.

The Nigerian Navy, NNS Jubilee, said it destroyed 15 militant camps and arrested 17 suspected pirates and sea robbers within its area of jurisdiction in Akwa Ibom.

Commodore Abdulmajid Ibrahim, Commander, NNS Jubilee, disclosed this to newsmen on Thursday at the Jubilee Base in Ikot Abasi.

Ibrahim said the militant camps were discovered and destroyed and the suspects arrested during the anti-piracy and anti-sea robbery routine operations from May 2020 to January.

The commander said the destruction of the camps was made possible through the navy’s penetration of some of the creeks within the jurisdiction of the base.

According to him, during the period, the navy also seized 285, 000 litres of illegally refined AGO and different kinds of ammunition from the suspects.

“Within six months as commander of the base, we have destroyed 15 militant camps, arrested 17 suspects during our operations and recovered 285,000 litres of AGO and ammunition from them, and have handed over the suspects and items to the prosecuting agencies.

“We were involved in a joint patrol with the police across the base communities every day. This has led to relative peace and security in the area and brought illegal bunkering to the barest minimum.

“Our strategy is continuous aggressive patrol. We try to dominate the water space and maritime environment. Within the last six months, there has been no attack on the NNS infrastructure.

“We have maintained a good civil-military relationship with our host community, through our Corporate Social Responsibility.

“We carry out free medical consultations and give out drugs within our capacity in our medical rhapsody outreach programme,” Ibrahim said.

He said that the joint patrol operations of the navy and police had resulted in relative peace and security in the area and brought illegal bunkering and trade on the waterways to the barest minimum.

Ibrahim attributed the success of their operations to intelligence information gathered from members of the public, calling for more support in that regard.

He assured that the sources of such information would remain confidential and protected, stressing that to effectively deal with piracy and sea robbery, members of the public must volunteer credible information to the navy.

The commander reminded the people that perpetrators of illegal maritime activities, live within the communities and were known to the people.

He urged the people to volunteer information on nefarious activities, adding that such would help the navy and other security agencies to tackle crime.

On infrastructure development in the base, the commander said that in January this year, the Chief of Naval Staff inaugurated 1×36 rooms rating arrival hall constructed by the Naval Headquarters for NNS Jubilee in Ikot Abasi.

He added that 4× 2 bedroom flat and 10×1 bedroom flat are currently under construction in the base to ease accommodation problems for the personnel.

The commander said that in line with the directives of the Chief of Naval Staff, NNS Jubilee would continue to patrol Nigeria coastal areas to rid the waterways of piracy and criminalities.

NAN.

The Hon. Minster of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has said that the Maritime Academy of Nigeria could be upgraded into a degree awarding institution, considering the level of development to boost learning in the academy.

The minister stated this on Friday while commissioning the newly acquired Multifunctional Classroom, the Full Mission Bridge, and the Full Engine Room Simulators in the academy.

The Academy could become degree awarding as is with the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna, and the Police College in Kano. However, it is important to note that with the maritime, certificate of competency with regards to requirements of the Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping(STCW) is very crucial.

The minister commended the Rector of the Academy, Commodore Duja Emmanuel Effedua (Rtd.) on listening and putting to action suggestions for developing the academy, especially in building a strong faculty that is able to manage the academic demands.

His words: “Funding is not usually the problem of the academy because it gets five per cent of what NIMASA is generating.  What the problem is, is capacity, ability to manage the academy. The good thing is that the rector listens. When I came here and saw the structures, I said anybody could do this, but what most people cannot do is faculty.

“I encouraged him to focus on the faculty, and I am glad to see that he has built and structured the faculty, putting in place the simulators. And then, I also asked him to please train his staff because, it is so shameful that this institution started the same time as the one in Egypt and Philippines and we are like a secondary school. And this is like where training manpower for the maritime sector takes place.

“So, coming here now, I said to him to see how this place could be upgraded. And the only way you can upgrade this place is improvement in faculty, expand on your infrastructure in things like building laboratories and other instruments used in maritime training. If he gets it right, application can be made to the National Universities Commission.”

Speaking on performance in the agencies under the his ministry, Amaechi said that the ministry would  put in place a machinery  to monitor  the agencies for their performances, which should be guided by their set objectives for a given year.

The minister described the idea of evaluating the agencies’ performances as a takeaway from the experience at the academy, considering how well re-engineered the academy is now with infrastructure development, global-standard professional lectures and training equipment.

His words: “The ministry of transportation must set up a machinery by which they monitor their agencies, so that we know what objectives have been set out for anyone to achieve or what they have set out as objectives for themselves to achieve, while the ministry would ensure that they achieve all and sanction those who are not able to attain those achievements.

“What we are currently having is where agencies just perform without set standards to attainment of objectives. Some of them achieving what they set out to do, while some are not.

“For the Rector of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, we are full of praises that he kept to his set objectives.”

Reviewing the need for standard in maritime education in the country, the minister said that it would be needful to have the Maritime Administration, which is in charge of approvals for private institutions in the discipline, sit with the ministry for talks to ensure that the requirements for quality training are met.

The Honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, commissions the Full Mission Bridge, Full Engine Room and Multifunctional Classroom Simulators for training at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria. With this development, the Academy can give global standard training to cadets and still offer refresher training courses to meet industry manpower needs, the Rector of the Academy, Commodore Duja Emmanuel Effedua(Rtd.), stated.

By Olu Akinsoji

Highly delightful that the Minister and his team found time to commission these trendy equipment for quality seafarer’s training.

This action, to my mind signals the importance the ministry attached to the training of seafarers and the mandate of the Academy: training of specialised manpower for the efficient and effective delivery of maritime transport policy under the purview of the ministry of transport. This development is pleasing and commendable.

I hope the Minister is inspired to apply his political will power first, on the indigenization of maritime transport personnel in our offshore space as provided by the cabotage law and secondly developing the strategy for optimal utilization of these rare equipment he has commissioned.

Gladly, Effadua is positioning the Academy for the best training that is necessary or may be required for seafaring and other maritime transport specialised functions.

What about the other two areas?

1.Credible examination and certification of seafarers at all levels across all categories and flexible for limitations.

2.Clear definition for guidance on capacity needs based on national policy. An institutional base for the indication of quantity, quality and right-mix of specialised manpower of the industry particularly seafarers.

I want to believe that the Minister has demonstrated his goodwill and support for capacity building. I also feel that he, the Minister, is inspired enough to consider the two points mentioned above.

His consideration will further enhance the positive achievement of the Rector. I congratulate all concerned in this noble achievement. This is my humble comment on this remarkable achievement.

Olu Akinsoji, is a Marine Engineer and Pioneer Alternate Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), London. He was Director General, Government Inspector of Ships.

WTO members made history today (15 February) when the General Council agreed by consensus to select Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria as the organization’s seventh Director-General.

When she takes office on 1 March, Dr Okonjo-Iweala will become the first woman and the first African to be chosen as Director-General. Her term, renewable, will expire on 31 August 2025.

“This is a very significant moment for the WTO. On behalf of the General Council, I extend our warmest congratulations to Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on her appointment as the WTO’s next Director-General and formally welcome her to this General Council meeting,” said General Council Chair David Walker of New Zealand who, together with co-facilitators Amb. Dacio Castillo (Honduras) and Amb. Harald Aspelund (Iceland) led the nine-month DG selection process.

“Dr. Ngozi, on behalf of all members I wish to sincerely thank you for your graciousness in these exceptional months, and for your patience. We look forward to collaborating closely with you, Dr. Ngozi, and I am certain that all members will work with you constructively during your tenure as Director-General to shape the future of this organization,” he added.

Dr Okonjo-Iweala said a key priority for her would be to work with members to quickly address the economic and health consequences brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I am honoured to have been selected by WTO members as WTO Director-General,” said Dr Okonjo-Iweala. “A strong WTO is vital if we are to recover fully and rapidly from the devastation wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic. I look forward to working with members to shape and implement the policy responses we need to get the global economy going again. Our organization faces a great many challenges but working together we can collectively make the WTO stronger, more agile and better adapted to the realities of today.”

The General Council decision follows months of uncertainty which arose when the United States initially refused to join the consensus around Dr. Okonjo-Iweala and threw its support behind Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee of the Republic of Korea.

But following Ms Yoo’s decision on 5 February to withdraw her candidacy, the administration of newly elected US President Joseph R. Biden Jr. dropped the US objection and announced instead that Washington extends its “strong support” to the candidacy of Dr Okonjo-Iweala.

Amb. Walker extended his thanks to all eight of the candidates who participated in the selection process and particularly to Ms Yoo “for her ongoing commitment to and support for the multilateral trading system and for the WTO”.

The General Council agreed on 31 July that there would be three stages of consultations held over a two-month period commencing 7 September. During these confidential consultations, the field of candidates was narrowed from eight to five and then two.

On 28 October, General Council Chair David Walker of New Zealand had informed members that based on consultations with all delegations Dr Okonjo-Iweala was best poised to attain consensus of the 164 WTO members and that she had the deepest and the broadest support among the membership. At that meeting, the United States was the only WTO member which said it could not join the consensus.

The consultation process undertaken by the chair and facilitators was established through guidelines agreed by all WTO members in a 2002 General Council decision. These guidelines spelled out the key criteria in determining the candidate best positioned to gain consensus is the “breadth of support” each candidate receives from the members.

During the DG selection processes of 2005 and 2013, breadth of support was defined as “the distribution of preferences across geographic regions and among the categories of members generally recognized in WTO provisions: that is (Least developed countries), developing countries and developed countries.”

This same process, agreed by all members in the General Council in 2020, was strictly followed by Chair Walker and his colleagues throughout the 2020-21 DG selection process.

The process for selecting a new Director-General was triggered on 14 May when former Director-General Mr Roberto Azevêdo informed WTO members he would be stepping down from his post one year before the expiry of his mandate. He subsequently left office on 31 August.

Credit: WTO.

A train on Monday collided with a truck loaded with animal feed at Jonathan Coker Railway Level Crossing in the Fagba area of Iju Ishaga, Lagos State.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) district manager Jerry Oche,while confirming the accident, said there was no casualty in the early morning crash.

Oche said the accident which involved a mass transit train was preventable.

He said the vehicle driver threw caution to the wind and jumped into the rail track while other vehicles stopped for the train to pass.

“You do not need to come to the level crossing and prove that you are strong or big. The train has the right of way. The train is not supposed to stop for you; you are supposed to stop for it,” Oche told NAN.

“That is why the track is called the permanent way. When every other vehicle stopped, why this particular one did not stop.”

Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has also said effort is on for recovery while it officers are on ground managing the traffic situation in the area.

The Nigerian Navy on Monday reaffirmed it’s commitment to urgently restore normalcy in the nation’s maritime zone and ensure a conducive environment for maritime business to thrive.

The nation’s territorial waters have lately experienced increased pirate attacks, kidnapping and other violent crimes.

The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Rear Adm. Awwal Gambo made the reaffirmations at the Flag-off Ceremony of the first quarter sea exercise codenamed “Exercise Secured Waters,” aboard the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) THUNDER, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Gambo said that the exercise was in line with the mandate of Mr. President and Commander In Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to secure and create a conducive environment for improving maritime business.

“One of my cardinal priorities is to include the operational efficiency of the NN’s fleet in terms of sea readiness and availability for operational deployment.

“This is to speedily boost our capacity to meet our statutory maritime commitment.

“EXERCISE SECURED WATERS” is part of my strategic intent to position the NN firmly towards my articulated vision in other to align strategic intent with execution,” he said.

The CNS said “my vision for the navy on taking over command is to leverage on all factors of national location, technology, training, teamwork and synergy to reenergise the navy.

“This will enhance her as a well motivated and ready force in the discharge of her constitutional mandate, and other assigned tasks in the fulfillment of her nation’s security objectives.

“Accordingly, the exercise will test a broad spectrum of maritime operations in order to enhance the security of Nigeria’s maritime security domain to check criminality at sea,” the CNS added.

Gambo said that the NN had made significant progress in the fight against various forms of maritime crimes over the past years.

“Therefore, the sustainment of the afore-mentioned gains, is hence critical to our national survival given the huge contribution of the nation’s strategic maritime resources to national prosperity and development.

“The sustainment exercise is therefore, a demonstration of the nation’s response to strengthen and consolidate on previous gains by acting decisively against pirates, sea robbers and other enemies of the state.

“Such strong commitment would further reassure our regional and international partners of our readiness to weather ongoing partnership and collaboration towards collective regional security,” he said.

Gambo appreciated President Buhari for his support and provisions to the development of the navy at such a fiscally difficult period.

Also the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Adm. Oladele Daji said that the exercise presents an opportunity for the CNS to evaluate and revise operational and projected fleet responses and plans.

Daji said that this was with a view to attaining a focused alignment with strategic guidance issued by the CNS in his vision and mission statement on assumption of office.

“The exercise also provides a platform to align our training objectives with our operational requirements and logistics and provide a test bench of planning and execution of our coordinated strike capabilities.

“It is also pertinent to state that the exercise comes against the backdrop of cases of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea

“The ongoing effort to rejig the maritime security architecture within Nigerian maritime environment is therefore essential,” he said.

The FOC said that a total of 14 naval capital ships, two helicopters and a detachment of the Special Boat Service elements would be used for the exercise.

“The ships include: NNS THUNDER, OBULA, PROSPERITY, NWAMBA, NGURU, EKULU, KARADUWA, ANDONI, SAGBAMA, OSE, ZARIA, OKPOKU,L AND TUG DOLPHIN RIMA.

“The fleet will conduct several exercises which include: Anti-Piracy Operations, Protection of Oil and Gas facilities, fleet maneuvers, communication, Vessel Board Search and Seizure, Search and Rescue among others,” he said.

Daji said that the exercise would give additional impetus to the navy’s overall maritime combat experiences.

“This will ensure that the navy remains relevant not only in the defence of our territorial integrity, but also in contributing to the nation’s economic prosperity,” he said.

Credit: Business and Maritime West Africa.

Nigeria’s leading container terminal, APM Terminals Apapa has boosted its operation with the delivery of additional four Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG) cranes.

This is part of a larger equipment fleet renewal and expansion program, where a total of 7 RTGs, 7 Reach Stackers and 2 Empty Handlers has been acquired.

 With the new acquisition, APM Terminals Apapa will in 2021 have 30 RTGs in operation. It also has 13 Mobile Harbour Cranes (MHCs), in addition to several reach stackers, forklifts, empty handlers and specialised terminal trucks; making it the best equipped port terminal in Nigeria.

 The Chief Operating Officer of APM Terminals Apapa, Steen Knudsen, said in Lagos on Monday that the new cranes, which were built with the latest technology, have lifting capacity of 41 tons and will ensure efficient services to the entire port community.

He said the new cranes were acquired as part of an ongoing investment of USD80 million for the year 2020-2021, bringing the total investment by the company in Apapa since 2006 to USD438 million (approximately N168 billion).

“We remain committed to deepening our investment in Apapa to enable us handle increasing volumes at the port. The additional investments will create capacity to handle growth in the economy to support the Federal Government’s efforts on trade growth and improve service delivery across the logistic chain,” Knudsen said.

He said APM Terminals Apapa recently deployed 4G LTE wireless network and commissioned its Operation Command Centre to enhance service delivery.

“We have embarked on massive digitization of our operations and services. This is in keeping with our global transformation drive. The deployment of the 4G LTE wireless network has stimulated greater efficiency and higher productivity as it will allow for better collaboration in our terminal operations.

 “The new Operation Command Centre, which was commissioned by the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, accompanied by the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman in December, comes with several benefits to our customers.

“The Centre is the brain of the business. It is about day-to-day execution where information is exchanged. This is where we decide which box to put where, at which time and the equipment to pick it up so that everything works together.

“It will strengthen exchange of information and coordination in the movement of containers out of the port thereby enhancing operational efficiency in addition to providing a better work environment,” he said.

 Knudsen said APM Terminals would continue to introduce new innovations at Apapa to help both shipping lines and landside customers achieve improved supply chain efficiency, flexibility and dependability, in a cost-effective manner.

 “This will inevitably enable our customers to compete in world markets and ultimately, grow their business,” he said.