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Port decongestion: NPA begins overtime cargo evacuation
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has begun the evacuation of overtime cargoes to help decongest the port.
Mrs Josephine Moltok, the General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, NPA, said this in a statement in Lagos.
Moltok said the decongestion of the ports to pave way for efficient operations received a boost on June 23 when the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Dr Magdelene Ajani, led an inter-agency team on assessment tour.
“The team comprising of the NPA, the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council made an assessment tour of overtime cargoes littering the ports.
“The Lagos and Tincan Island Port Complexes and the Terminals therein including Ikorodu Lighter Terminal have over the years been occupied with 3,200 units of overtime cars and about 3,295 units of overtime containers respectively”, Moltok said.
She added that the eastern ports had a combined total of 956 overtime containers.
“This awkward situation apart from constraining terminal spaces required for seamless cargo handling operations in the ports, has contributed to deterioration of port infrastructure,” she said.
She added that the port infrastructure are designed as transit locations as opposed to holding dead weight tonnages for years which these age long overtime cargo constitute.
“Following the inspection tour which held on June 23 and June 24 respectively, an all-stakeholder sensitisation involving shipping lines, and association of freight forwarders and clearing agents was convened on June 26.
“It was unanimously agreed that all cargoes and containers that have overstayed their required time at the ports should be auctioned “in-situ” (in their current locations) and removed immediately from the ports,” she said.
Moltok said that to ensure transparency and inclusiveness, the modalities to govern the auction process would be finalised by all stakeholders.
She said this would be after a similar sensitisation meeting with stakeholders in the eastern ports of Warri, Rivers, Onne and Calabar.
It will be recalled that Mohammed Bello-Koko, the Managing Director, NPA, had at several fora sought the cooperation of the NCS to ensure speedy removal of overtime cargo from the ports and terminal yards.
This is to free up space and preserve the durability of the capital intensive port infrastructure.
Axxela Limited, sub-Saharan Africa’s leading gas and power portfolio company, has announced another impressive safety milestone.
The company has now achieved 8 million man-hours with no lost time injury (LTI), surpassing the previous 7 million man-hours LTI milestone achieved in 2023.
The landmark achievement further affirms its strict adherence to best practices and safety standards across its assets management, operations, and people practices.
Commenting on this milestone achievement, Bolaji Osunsanya, the Chief Executive Officer of Axxela Limited, expressed his satisfaction with this recent achievement, “We are proud of this significant safety milestone, which underscores our deliberate focus on maintaining the highest standards in our environmental, health, safety, and quality management system. This accomplishment is a testament to the dedication and commitment of our entire team, who continuously strive to create a safe and secure working environment for everyone.”
Osunsanya continued, “Achieving 8 million LTI-free manhours is not just a statistical feat, but a reflection of our unwavering commitment to operational excellence and the well-being of our direct and indirect workforce. It reinforces our position as a leader in our industry and motivates us to aim even higher, ensuring that safety remains at the core of our operations. We make good to say it propels us forward with renewed vigor and confidence in our journey towards sustainable growth and excellence.”
John Okoro, Head of Environmental, Health, Safety, and Quality (EHSQ) in his remarks, “Maintaining a safe working environment is not merely a priority for us; it is a core part of our corporate culture that has been embedded into all our processes. This achievement also echoes the effectiveness of our safety protocols, training programmes, and effective oversight of our project management. We are not resting on our laurels but will remain dedicated to our cause to uphold stringent standards of safety performance and ensure that every service provider, partner, employee, and other stakeholders return home safely to their loved ones.”
Axxela remains ever-alert to reducing the risks within its operations. The company views the health and safety of employees, contractors, and the environment as a top priority as governed by its water-tight Environmental, Health, Safety, and Quality (EHSQ) management system. It continues to subscribe to national and global standards while embracing innovative strategies to help staff live safer and fuller lives at work and beyond.
About Axxela
Axxela Limited (Axxela) is the pioneer private sector developer of natural gas solutions and captive power development in Nigeria; a company co-owned by Helios Investment Partners LLP and Sojitz Corporation. Axxela is a designated natural gas shipper on the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP), and a member of the West African Power Pool (WAPP), delivering natural gas to about 200 industrial and commercial customers via a vast network of natural gas infrastructure.
With over 360km in natural gas pipeline infrastructure built, Axxela provides unique energy solutions primarily through its subsidiaries: Gaslink Nigeria Limited, Gas Network Services Limited, Central Horizon Gas Company Limited, and Transit Gas Nigeria Limited.
By Matthew Denis
All is now set for the commencement of the Orientation Course programme for 2024 Batch ‘B’ Stream One set of Corps Members.
The prospective Corps Members are to access their call-up letters on their dashboards today.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Prospective Corps Members are to report to their various Orientation camps between Wednesday, 26th and Monday, 1st July, 2024 while the swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to hold on Tuesday 2nd July, 2024.
In addition to the above, the Director General, Brigadier General YB Ahmed advised all the Prospective Corps Members to be security conscious as they travel to their Orientation Camps. He also appealed to all parents and guardians to ensure that their wards do not travel at night.
The Director General wishes all the Prospective Corps Members and other camp officials journey mercy to the Orientation Camps.
Ogun state Pilgrims have started returning to the country after having successfully completed this year’s Hajj.
The first batch of the State’s 934 pilgrims to this year’s annual pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia started arriving yesterday, while others are expected today, June 26.
Governor Abiodun in a statement on Tuesday, described their stay in the Holy Land as worthwhile as it was in fulfilment of one of the five pillars of the Islamic religion.
He praised the pilgrims for their peaceful conduct, adding that Ogun State did not suffer any casualty, despite the huge number of deaths recorded this year.
Prince Abiodun called on the pilgrims to let the spiritual journey strengthen their faith and connection to the Islamic tenets.
“On behalf of the good people of Ogun State, I welcome our dear pilgrims back home. Your successful completion of the Hajj is a testament to your devotion and commitment to your faith. We are proud of you and grateful for your safe return.
“Our government is ready to continue providing logistics support to our pilgrims for seamless and spiritually enriching experiences during the Hajj,” he said.
It would be recalled that Prince Abiodun paid the shortfall of N119,560,712.70 in the pilgrims Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) as a result of unexpected vagaries in the foreign exchange rates.
While NAHCON used N1,252.01 per dollar to calculate hajj fare (BTA inclusive) to give $500 as BTA to each pilgrim, the CBN released BTA at N1,530.86 per dollar, which gave each pilgrim $415 instead of $500 earlier proposed.
Going by this development and in order to give each pilgrim $500 at the new exchange rate of N1,530.86 per dollar, the differential to be paid for the State’s 934 pilgrims stood at N119,560,712.70.
Axxela records 8 million man-hours with no lost time injury
NYSC commences orientation camp for Batch B corpers today
