Ports

Lagos, Feb. 23, 2024: The Federal Government says the 800 million dollar needed for rehabilitation of the nation’s ports is almost ready.

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, said at the inauguration of seven patrol boats by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in Lagos on Thursday .

He said: “I commend the management of the NPA for taking the initiative to strengthen safety in the maritime space.

“Security is very important and we need to give it the kind of attention it deserves. We cannot be talking of trying to get the full potential of the Blue Economy without strengthening the security aspect of our ports.

“Again, we are modernising the ports. We want to be able to compete with any port in the world. We want to ensure that the vessel turnaround time is reduced to four days as opposed to about six to 10 days that we currently have.

“We must commend Mr President for taking the initiative of creating the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and for supporting us all the way.

“I can tell you that the fund for the port rehabilitation is almost ready and we are going to commence rehabilitation anytime from now.”

Oyetola said that the commissioned boats were expected to improve efficiency at Nigerian ports

The minister said the blue economy had always been there, but not as structured as to generate the kind of revenue a maritime nation like Nigeria should be earning.

“So, part of what we are trying to do is to first ensure maritime security. Secondly, we will be talking of automation of the ports to make it more efficient.

Also speaking, the Managing Director, NPA, Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, explained that the procurement of the seven security patrol boats was preceded by a robust needs assessment process undertaken by a highly experienced team.

Bello-Koko said they were drawn from the agency’s Security and Marine Operations Divisions and the Vessel Management Department, who were painstaking and followed through with the product output specification including necessary sea trials.

“This event today is another testament to our commitment to continuous improvement in the journey towards transforming our strategic intent of becoming the maritime logistics hub for sustainable Ports services in Africa  from potential to actualities.

“Enhanced maritime safety, security and compliance to global acceptable standards is one of Nigerian Ports Authority’s deliverables under the presidential priorities of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“What we are witnessing today therefore, is pursuant to achieving these deliverables and aligns with the presidential directives regarding performance of MDAs.

“In addition to positioning us to fulfil the fundamental requirement of security which constitutes a critical success factor in fulfilling two crucial aspects of our post-concession statutory mandates.

“This is in order to regulate maritime business and promoting ports security and safe haven for ships and safeguarding and securing assets of the Authority while maintaining their optimal use.

“The deployment of these state-of-the-art security patrol boats takes us a notch higher in our compliance with the dictates of International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) code of the International Maritime Organisation.”

Lagos, Dec. 29, 2023: A shipper, Rev. Jonathan Nicole, says the nation’s ports need drastic economic policy reforms in 2024 to be more viable and competitive.

Nicole, a former President, Shippers Association of Lagos State, said on Thursday that the restructuring of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) was necessary.

He added that government agencies not needed in the port should return to their various ministries.

Nicole also urged the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, to work towards achieving this feat.

“The restructuring of the MDAs would bring dramatic progress into the port.

“The management of the Nigerian Ports Authority has also called for the reduction of the MDAs in the port.

“We agree with them. They are the owners of the port and they know those that are relevant in dealing with port issues.

“Shippers associations across the country will offer their support to the introduction of a new Port Order and restructuring of the method of rules of engagement into the sector.

“The informal sector of the economy should be encouraged,” he said.

Nicole described the present situation as pathetic, adding that most importers had lost their properties used in securing bank loans.

He attributed their failure to repay the loans to policy somersaults.

Nicole said the maritime sector was pioneered by traders, importers and exporters as well as manufacturers.

He noted that the 2023 was characterised by outrageous taxes and duties due to targets given to the Nigeria Customs Service.

Nicole added that the fluctuation in foreign exchange rate affected importers and manufacturers grossly in 2023.

“Cost of clearing skyrocketed to a strangulating proportion. Some importers abandoned their goods due to inability to raise additional funds to meet choking demands.

“The 400 per cent increase in terminal charge is another herculean challenge for shippers depending on the volume of cargo involved.

“We are hopeful as the Nigerian Shippers’ Council executive secretary settles down, an equitable price regime will be re-introduced to replace the current system,” he said.

He noted that with the high cost of doing business in the port, importers had no choice than to either continue or relocate to a more sane environment.

“The moment some of these obstacles and pressures are eliminated, the industry would flourish and become highly competitive,” he said.

He listed some of the abnormal pressures as high cost of diesel and fuel, tax regimes, introduction of tax returns, closure of small and medium businesses by the Corporate Affairs Commission and unrealistic tax reforms.

Others, according to him, are reduction in terminal charges and shipping costs, reduction in customs duty tariffs, costs of haulage of goods, and total stoppage of closure of ports due to unnecessary industrial activities, among others.

Lagos, Nov. 16, 2023: Stakeholders in the maritime have expressed optimism that the recommendations from the Workshop for the Development of a 25 Year National Ports Master plan would revolutionized Nigeria’s blue economy.

The stakeholders gave their different opinions about the 25 years document being sponsored by consortium of ports investors at the conference ongoing at Rockview Hotels Apapa, Lagos.

The consortium of investors includes: Rogan Associates, a consulting engineers and architects, Parkman Nigeria Ltd, Enviplan International Ltd and Planet industry.

The Managing Director of Nigeria Port Authority (NPA) Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko said that the port authority had immense optimism that recommendations of the reports would have far reaching benefits on the growth of the ports authority.

He noted that the ports authority would be willing to work on the recommendations from the reports for effective system that would engender a robust blue economy for the country and provision of employment.

“This 25 Year Master plan will collectively address the challenges that have plagued our ports and lead us on a journey to more efficient and sustainable future.

“The Master plan will provide a roadmap to improve maritime infrastructure and will give us an edge in global competitiveness and job creation,” he said.

The Team Leader, Dr Christos Solomonidis in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the stakeholders workshop disclosed that the preliminary reports of the challenges of the ports system and administration had identified some gaps to be addressed that would help the industry grow.

“This is a challenging project for us because it is a long term plan that will help reshape the ports system and administration in Nigeria.

“We have seen some gaps and also have discovered enormous potentials that we cannot quantify in a sitting. Nigeria has a lots of potentials in the ports system which have been slowed down by some bottlenecks.

“These gaps are what we want to further identify and plug to help the country grow it’s blue economy and we hope this will long lasting solve the challenges of the ports system with the creame of stakeholders on discussion.

“Some of the recommendations in the reports are short term which government can easily address within two or three years,” he said.

Solomonidis added that issues of safe and secured environment for businesses around the port system was paramount as well as decongestion of the port.

“Some of the issues can be solved easily like security and policing, combating piracy and also ensuring free flow of traffic and reducing congestion is also a problem to be addressed.

“We also have issues such as dredging to allow for ships, barges and others to berth and the development of the greenfield projects as well as alternative source of energy for the port authority.

“There are more areas which the private investors will come in because port infrastructural development cannot be a purely be based on public funding alone,” he said.

The Deputy Team Leader, Mrs Dabiri Shall-Holma noted that the expectations from the stakeholders conference were enormous.

She posited that the 25 years Masterplan had been designed in such a way that would be devoid of government policy summersaults which has been the bane of development the maritime sector.

She noted that the entire marine and blue ecosystem if well structured would move the country from the level of poverty to a level of affluence, prosperity and job creation.

“The port system, though a complex, but a very rewarding system which is the gateway to blue economy.

“In the short term plan, we are looking at creating a workflow system, freight analytics and a detailed workflow chart that is operational,” she said.

Another Deputy Team Lead, Mr Musa Nimrod also added that the economic advantage of the 25-years Masterplan plan would be something Nigeria would be proud of thereafter.

“The 25 years Masterplan is a journey to prosperity in the marine and blue economy in Nigeria.

“We are looking at various challenges painstakingly, all these challenges will be addressed and the gaps will be looked into.

“We are losing billions of dollars to the neighboring countries when we have the capacity in Nigeria, we need to take back our businesses from these countries.

“We cannot be talking about viable continental shelf in Africa and people will be referring to South Africa, Egypt, Ghana and not talk about Nigeria which should be the leader.

“We are on the part of growth and we will surely provide a formidable documents that will revolutionized the marine and blue economy of the country,” he said.

Lagos, Nov. 8, 2023: The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) says its embarking on a $1.1 billion ports rehabilitation plan in first quarter of 2024, to fortify Nigeria’s trade competitiveness.

The Managing Director, NPA, Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, said this in a panel session at the 43rd Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) conference held on Tuesday in Lagos.

According to Bello-Koko, almost every port in Nigeria requires rehabilitation while NPA is initiating a substantial overhaul for all ports, starting with the TinCan and Apapa ports in Lagos.

“The objective of the authority is to enhance the physical infrastructure of these ports to accommodate vessels of all sizes and increase the draft at the quay side.

“Increasing the draft is with the aim of achieving draft depths of up to 14 meters and this initiative will render Nigerian ports more competitive on a global scale,” he said.

Bello-Koko further stated that the NPA was also strengthening collaborations with the private sector to establish new seaports.

Notably, he said, the Lekki Deep Seaport had already commenced operations, and the Badagry Deep Seaport recently signed an agreement with a Middle-Eastern party, with construction scheduled to commence early next year.

The NPA managing director noted that these endeavors exemplify the NPA’s determination to create a multimodal transportation system connecting all ports seamlessly.

On the inefficiencies associated with road-dependence in cargo evacuation, he said the NPA was actively working on alternative initiatives like barges and expanding rail infrastructure.

He informed that the rail line had reached Apapa port and would soon extend to TinCan port.

“The survey for deploying cargo rail and tracks to Onne port has been completed, setting the stage for the project to kick off next year,” he said.

To streamline operations and reduce costs, Bello-Koko said NPA was embracing automation in its operations.

“The authority has automated its collection system and is collaborating with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to introduce a state-of-the-art port community system, poised to optimise cargo clearance processes.

“The authority is working on clarifying the responsibilities of government agencies within the ports with the newly developed port process manual aimed at reducing overlaps and eliminating duplication of duties,” he said.

The NPA boss noted that the deployment of the “Deep Blue Sea” project, equipped with air and sea assets, would enhance security in the Gulf of Guinea and contribute significantly in reducing incidence of piracy within Nigerian waters.

He said that the NPA was collaborating closely with the Nigerian Customs to reduce bottlenecks and cut the cost of doing business within the ports.

“There will be development of a 25-year port master plan that will guide the location, sizes, and activities of ports, terminals, and jetties in Nigeria.

“The master plan will serve as a national working document, uniting all stakeholders towards marine and logistics development.” Bello-Koko said.

Also speaking, Mr Martin Boguikouma, President, PMAWCA, urged African countries to address challenges facing the region to be able to receive the new volume of traffic that would emerge due to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Boguikouma listed ways to solve the challenges, adding that the solution included collaboration between customs and port authority to harmonise customs procedure.

“We need to ensure capacity building of all seaports and customs officials, sensitise them on how to address cross border trade.

“There is need to work on reducing transport cost, investing in efficient transport infrastructure, maritime safety through enhanced interstate cooperation,” he said.

He noted that in Gabon, they had put in place things that would ensure that free trade became a success.

The PMAWCA president said that signing a Memorandum of Understanding on trade facilitation, harmonised customs duty, which was very important for the AfCFTA, could aid in making free trade successful.

“We have put in place a National Commission for Trade Facilitation and the commission has three modules which are operationalisation of trade standard, adoption of roadmap for trade facilitation and a regulatory framework,” he said.

Lagos, Nov. 2, 2023: Former president, Shippers Association of Lagos State (SALS) Rev. Jonathan Nicole, has urged the newly appointed Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to addressed the increase in price at the port.

Nicole said on Wednesday in Lagos, that there was the need for collective bargaining to reach an agreement on price with the stakeholders.

He noted that this was one of the issues to addressed that would reduce the cost of doing business at the ports

Nicole said that shippers/importers, freight forwarders, transporters, shipping companies, terminal operators are members of the family and they form the collective bargaining in local negotiations mechanism.

According to Nicole, addressing the price issue in the port will bring transparency into the system as it were in those days.

“Shippers have come of age. They have always paid their freight charges themselves without any issues, through the required approved channels of government.

“There should be stable rate of exchange along with the Form M which is not subject to unfair changes at time of clearing the cargo at the ports,” he said.

Nicole said that NSC as the Port Economic Regulator was the umbrella of shippers, importers and exporters who move goods in and out of the country regularly.

Nicole said that shippers whole heartedly welcome the new executive secretary, Mr Akutah Ukeyima, adding that shippers would continue to work cooperatively with him and the government.

“He is about to handle a sensitive instrument. We will work together to make our trade attractive with his presence as our trusted leader at the helm of affairs,” he said.

Lagos, Sept. 15, 2023: The leadership of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has partnered with the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) to optimise port operations in the country.

Mr John Ikemefuna, Head, MWUN media, said this in a statement in Lagos on Thursday.

Ikemefuna said  the development came about, when the President-General of MWUN, Mr Adewale Adeyanju hosted the newly elected ANLCA National Executives led by its President, Mr Emenike Nwokeoji.

Adeyanju, also the Deputy President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) while receiving the visitors, commended the past and  present executives of ANLCA for the uninterrupted election that ushered in the new executives.

He expressed optimism that the new leadership would usher in the much awaited peace to reign in ANCLA.

He assured that MWUN would happily work with the ANLCA leadership for mutual cooperation and collaboration which would strengthen both organisations to positively impact the nation’s economy via the maritime industry.

He advised the new leadership of ANCLA to carry everyone along in the scheme of things and urged all hands to be on deck for a better administration of the association.

Earlier, Nwokeoji said the visit was to familiarise with the leadership of MWUN, and pledged to synergise with the union to achieve one common goal of growing the country’s economy through all the seaports.

Lagos Sept. 8, 2023: Dr Samuel Babatunde, Registrar, Port and Terminal Management Academy of Nigeria, on Thursday described dockworkers as major contributors  to the success of the Nigerian port reforms.

Babatunde said this in his keynote address at the maiden Dockworker’s Day celebration organised by the Shipping Correspondents Association of Nigeria (SCAN), in Lagos.

The celebration had the theme: ‘Dockworkers: The Unsung Heroes of Nigerian Port Reforms’.

Babatunde said that dockworkers had contributed immensely to the success  of port reforms and, therefore, deserved to be celebrated.

He praised the President-General of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWEN), Mr Adewale Adeyanju, for piloting the affairs of the union on the path of growth and development.

According to Babatunde, the crucial and strategic role of dockworkers, who are described as the unsung heroes of Nigeria port reforms, cannot be over-emphasised.

He said that the reforms had actualised reduction of the rate of theft at seaports  from 55 per cent to 15 per cent, adding that the reforms had improved port efficiency, effectiveness and responsiveness from 25  per cent to 85 per cent.

“Cargo handling in all the seaports has risen from 25 to 75 per cent, dwelling time of cargoes in the port has shifted from more than three weeks to less than one week under port reforms.

“The rate of port workers’ accident has reduced drastically from 55 per cent  to less than 13 per cent.

“The port dockworkers welfare packages in terms of remuneration, allowances and other privileges have increased and improved from lower to higher,” he said.

Speaking, Adeyanju said that the theme of the event was appropriate considering Federal Government’s promise for job opportunities, securities and decent wages.

“In addition, government posited that the objectives of the reform included to increase efficiency of ports operation and elimination of overlapping functions between Nigerian Ports Authority as a technical regulator and other agencies.

“The ports were delineated in 2006 to 25 terminal operators with lease agreements ranging between 10 to 25 years.

“The agreements have not been renewed because of inter-agency rivalry.

“Another trophy for the unsung heroes is rejection of the obnoxious Ports and Harbour Bill (PHB). This, I described as satanic, repulsive and objectionable as it breached the Pension Reform Act of 2004 as amended. That is why we resisted it,” he said.

He said that the Port and Harbour Bill of 2015 was intended to privatise maritime and harbour services as well as repeal the NPA Act of 1955 as amended.

“We condemned and protested because of our belief that the bill would jeopardize national security and aggravate  unemployment among the unsung heroes – dockworkers,” he said.

He thanked SCAN for organising the event aimed at celebrating retired and serving dockworkers.

Lagos, Sept. 5, 2023:The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) on Tuesday disrupted economic activities at the Apapa and Tin-Can Island Ports.

The ports were shut down in line with the two-day warning strike by the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

The action was as a result of the escalating hardships and suffering among citizens across the country, occasioned  by the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.

The labour union is agitating the non-implementation of some of the resolutions reached from their previous meetings, by the Federal Government.

The level of compliance to the action, reports that the port gates leading to both the Apapa and Tin-Can Island seaports were all locked.

Mrs Joy Onome,  Public Relations Officer of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agent (ANLCA) said that they could not access the ports when they came out for operations.

“The impact will be very enormous because this will lead to congestion at the port.

“Now, we are also talking about shipping companies and terminal operators charges, what will happen to that? who will pay for them?

“At the end of the day, demurrage is going up because we are wasting ample time,” she said.

Onome noted that the containers that were meant to be dropped for examination did not take place, while envisaging same to be the case for Wednesday.

“We want a situation where  three additional days will be given to us  because of the strike, so that we will be able to cushion the effect,” he said.

Also speaking, a transporter, Yusuf Liadi, said that not a truck had exited nor accessed the port.

He, however, advised that already cleared cargoes be allowed to exit the port, saying importers would accrue more demurrage and shipping charges.

This, he noted, would also be detrimental to the already fragile economy.

“We are already suffering in this country, infact, we are suffocating. For instance, I left my house early this morning for Apapa to transport an already cleared container to owners’ warehouse only to be told now that there is strike.

“No consignment will be allowed to move. This is double tragedy for the agent and importers, because they will pay demmurage and storage charges to Shipping companies and terminal operators.

“Also, government should provide palliative, the suffering is much. I spent over N5,000 to come to Apapa due to the subsidy removal. Government should do something before it becomes too late,” he said.

Lagos, Sept. 4, 2023: The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, says there is need for immediate rehabilitation of the critical infrastructure at the Apapa and Tincan Island ports

Oyetola said this during his maiden visit to the Tincan and Apapa Port on Monday in Lagos.

The minister also urged terminal operators to support the Federal Government in the rehabilitation of the country’s port.

According to Oyetola, the rehabilitation of the port is going to be a collaboration between government and the terminal operators.

“My coming out today is to see things for myself. I have seen the challenges, the need to actually do a lot of things about our port.

“Infrastructure are almost collapsing from what I have seen, so a major rehabilitation has to be carried out.

“I am looking forward to the terminal managers beginning to contribute to the rehabilitation of the port.

“Its important and if they do that, they will make more money for themselves,” he said.

The minister pointed out that he was impressed with the management of the ports so far adding that they would support them.

As regards the quay wall, he noted that he had asked NPA for a report of what they had carried out so far, adding that they need to know the numbers to be able to sort them out to get president approval.

Oyetola believed that the blue economy was a sector that would generate revenue for government, adding that the country need the infrastructure to balance things.

“If we have the right infrastructure in place, it will be a way of domestication of the economy.

“We rely so much on oil and so a lot of other opportunities that has not been untapped for so many years. I think we must commend the president for taking this initiative, I believe we can do it.

“To address the collapse of the port, there is need to rehabilitate the port as a matter of urgency, dredging has to continue,” he said.

The minister said that as regard access road, he noted that it would be looked into it and they would engage the Minster of Works to see what they could do together.

“I have discussed with the Minister of Transportation in respect of the rails. With all these things in place, I think we are good to go.

“On issues at the other ports like the Eastern one, it will also be addressed. We are looking at the totality of the port,” he said.

On his part, Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) commended the minister for visiting the port and the support of the agency.

He assured the minister of the agencies support in line with the Federal Government agenda.