Maritime
Tinubu’s policies driving maritime sector’s transformation — NPA MD
By Seun Ibiyemi
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello Koko has stated that the economic policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu which have attracted global applause, are responsible for the transformation of the maritime industry and massive improvement in revenue generation by the Authority.
Koko who made this assertion during an unscheduled visit to the Lagos ports access roads whose decade-long traffic gridlock was recently cleared by the NPA, praised the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola’s leadership and hands-on approach to driving the industry.
As part of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, he said the sanity that has since returned to the port’s access roads will be sustained to promote ease of doing business and drive exports to enhance Nigeria’s balance of trade.
He added that despite global economic headwinds that characterised the year 2023, the Nigerian Ports Authority succeeded in maintaining momentum to surpass its sterling performance of the year 2022.
According to him, “The implementation of continuous performance improvement measures resulted in unprecedented revenue generation and remittances to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) of the Federation, with revenues steadily growing from N361 billion in 2022 to N501 billion as of December 2023, and remittances increasing from N93.4 billion in 2022 to N131.2 billion by year-end 2023.”
The NPA helmsman who was recently named by the President on the implementation committee of the National Single Window Project added that “taxes paid to the Government of the Federation also grew at various times in the period under review up to $77.7 million and N17.6 billion respectively.”
“The foregoing,” he said, “added to strategic forecasts set to be actualised in 2024 such as the $1 billion worth reconstruction of Tin-Can Island Port Complex and the comprehensive rehabilitation of Apapa, Rivers, Onne, Warri and Calabar Port Complexes, New Ports Developments viz; Badagry Deep Seaport, Snake Island, Burutu and Ondo Deep Seaports, the Port Community System (PCS) and the National Single Window amongst other initiatives for port competitiveness being aggressively implemented.
“It is evident that the Nigerian Ports Authority has been positioned to not only create but sustain superior performance necessary to maximise the comparative advantages that Nigeria’s maritime endowments confer.”
By Seun Ibiyemi
The Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN) recently hosted a delegation from the international headquarters of the Mission to Seafarers (MTS), assuring that the association will continue to offer support to seafarers.
The delegation, led by the regional director, MTS African Region, Rev. Cedric Rautenbach, also included the Chaplain of MTS Lagos, Rev. Canon Bimbo Aduroja and the Assistant Chaplain of MTS Lagos, Rev. Emmanuel Ilori.
Speaking during the visit, the Chairman of STOAN, Princess Vicky Haastrup, assured the delegation of the support of terminal operators in the fulfilment of the mission of MTS.
“The work of seafarers is a noble one. Without seafarers, there is no ship, and without ship, there are no ports. Seafarers work for all of us. They are on the ship for months on a stretch without going home to their families and loved ones.
“Terminal operators will always support the MTS in their effort to support seafarers. We commend the Mission to Seafarers for all that you are doing for them. You deserve our support,” Princess Haastrup said.
She particularly commended MTS for supporting seafarers in terms of addressing fatigue, facilitating communication, during ship abandonment, mental health challenges, ship robbery and piracy attacks, shipwrecks, injury and through many other challenges.
“Your work is enormous and commendable. You can count on our support,” she said.
The STOAN chairman assured the visiting MTS team that all other terminal operators will be mobilised to render assistance, grant access and support to the charity organisation.
Also speaking, the executive director of ENL Consortium, Mark Walsh, said over the years, the terminal has been supportive of the activities of MTS Lagos in its area of operation at the port.
He said ENL will continue to support the cause of MTS by exploring ways of removing barriers on the paths of visiting seafarers who wish to interact with MTS personnel for necessary care and support.
The executive director of Port and Cargo Handling Services, Captain Ibraheem Olugbade, who also attended the meeting, equally reassured MTS of full support of the terminal in the discharge of its duties.
Other terminal operators also commended MTS for its selfless service to seafarers and assured the team of their support.
Speaking earlier, the Regional Director, MTS African Region, Revd Cedric Rautenbach, said the purpose of the visit was to discuss issues affecting the activities of the charity organisation and how seaport terminal operators can further assist in fulfilling its mission.
He said terminal operators are essential to the services rendered to seafarers on board ships visiting Nigeria.
He assured that MTS operates on sound principles, and works closely with government agencies and terminal operators to cater to the needs of seafarers across the world.
“We want to work with everyone, and we will comply with the regulations,” he assured.
By Seun Ibiyemi
Nigerian Ports Authority has emerged as one of the best agencies in the just concluded Cohort #3 of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).
The Ministry of Marine and Blue & Economy also emerged as the Best Performing Ministry in the delivery of the reform activities.
In recognition of the dedication to driving the reforms, the Authority is acknowledged as “The Most Committed” agency with the highest number of reform activities—63—double the average number of activities for other MDAs and nonetheless achieved a 100 percent feat.
The impact of these reforms is far-reaching and will improve the overall effectiveness of the ports.
The most significant reform under cohort #3 is the reduction in export processing time after benchmarking against competing jurisdictions.
The authority can reduce its processing time for exports from an average of 10 days to a timeline of 3-5 days, depending on the arrival of the lifting vessel.
Other reforms include ensuring transparency, reduced costs, and streamlined processes.
The Managing Director, Mohammed Bello Koko, strongly commended the leadership role of the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Alh Adegboyega Oyetola, the support of the Executive Management, Senior Management, and the BFA Reform Team of the Authority, in achieving a comprehensive reform agenda for the port industry.
By Seun Ibiyemi
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola will be representing Nigeria at the third edition of the Blue Economy Conference (BEC2024), which is scheduled to take place in Dar es Salaam from July 4th to 5th.
According to the organisers – the Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute (DMI)- countries that are expected to participate in the conference are the Republic of Korea, Sweden and Nigeria.
Others are Kenya, Comoro, Liberia, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Denmark, Italy and China. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Dr Dotto Biteko is expected to grace the event.
The conference, which is organised by DMI in collaboration with the Regional Maritime University (RMU) in Accra, will be held under the theme ‘Navigating the Future: Integrating Maritime Safety and Security, Climate Change Actions and Technological Advancements for Blue Economy.’
DMI Director Dr Tumaini Gurumo told reporters on Friday that the conference’s major goal is to bring together international stakeholders to share ideas on promoting the blue economy to spearhead development across the continent.
“The international forum focuses on establishing a platform for capacity building and networking among stakeholders by tapping into prospects within the industry so as to outline the relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” she stressed.
Dr Gurumo said it aims to foster the blue economy aligned with maritime safety and security, climate change considerations and technological advancements.
She further added that the forum will also dwell on other issues such as sustainable exploitation and utilisation of blue economy resources, ship seaworthiness and on board-ship competency challenges, business models for the blue economy, and women in maritime sector.
Other areas are fishing industry and climate action policy and environmental protection are among basic areas in line.
During the forum, she said there will be discussions on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in maritime practices and the blue economy, renewable energy solutions for maritime transportation, information systems in maritime education and training.
Others are logistics, shipping and supply chains for the blue economy, climate-responsive maritime practices and coastal management, blue economy governance, law and policy as well as coastal and marine tourism development.
Recently, the RWU Acting Vice Chancellor, Regional Maritime Dr Jethro Brooks Jr said education institutions are committed to developing and transforming the economies across Africa by preparing the capacity building trainings.
He said training would enable young people to be equipped with skills, positioning them to drive the maritime sector.
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