Maritime Unions kick Against Revitalization of Port and Harbour Bill

 ...Condemn Attempt by National Assembly to Sneak the Bill into Legislation through Back Door

... Reject the Bill seeking to repeal NPA's ACT

ZAINAB JUNAID

The Leaderships of the two in-House Unions in the Maritime Sector - Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria(MWUN) and Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies(SSASCGOC) Maritime Branch, have kicked against the renewed attempt by the National Assembly to sneak the Port and Harbour Bill into Legislation through the back door.

Speaking at a joint press briefing held by the Unions on Monday November 6 2023, at MWUN's headquarters in Lagos, Dr. Adeyanju Adewale and Comrade Akin Bodunde affirmed that the Bill which was earlier initiated by an Honourable member of the 8th national assembly was squashed from becoming law through the intervention of well-meaning Nigerians, Stakeholders and the exerted efforts of the two in-house unions -MWUN & SSASCGOC, who mutually and strongly maintained their opposition towards the proposed hellish Bill.

They warned that if the said bill is passed into law will have adverse effects on the security of the nation as it will cede harbour, jetty and terminal operations into private hands.

In their words, "The bill as being processed if passed into law will render the Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA) employees jobless and endanger the productivity of other port users. It will also institutionalize the evil concept of casualization of workers and as well negate the provisions of the Pension reform Act 2004 as amended.

"This is in direct contrast to the avowed promises of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to ensure the provision of about 5 million jobs for Nigerians through the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy. 

"We are not surprised that the Bill is being vigorously sponsored by certain unpatriotic individuals within the Maritime Sector, who are hell bent on appropriating our common wealth and concerning same into the lining of their individual pockets and that of their cronies."

"But we are surprised that the sponsors of the bill outrightly ignored our demand to call the International Oil Companies(IOCs) operating in our sovereign territorial economic zones, who have snobbishly refused to obey our extant Maritime regulations, standards and laws to order. But find it expedient to sit in the comfort of their hallowed chambers to push for laws that will be detrimental and inimical to the welfare and wellbeing of the working class, Nigerians and our nation's security and sovereignty.

"The 'Joint House Unions', MWUN & SSASCGOC use this medium to convey our believe to the Executive, National Assembly and the new Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy that this certainly not the right way to go as this ploy by these selfish individuals in the Maritime Sector will cause chaos and anarchy in the industry which has enjoyed sustained peace since the idea of projecting the harsh Bill was killed in 2018 and it will not be allowed to come to fruition 

In view of the afore said, the groups unanimously rejected the Bill seeking to repeal the Act that set up Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA) in it's entirety and thus confirmed absolute vote of confidence on the NPA Act.

To them, the Act currently relates to the Nigerian state and the well-being of the workers in the sector and any attempt to push the hellish bill further will be vehemently resisted.

However on appointment of leadership of all agencies in the industry, the two groups called for appointment of technocrats who are vast in Maritime operations in consonance with the laid down laws.

'Nigeria to Implement full Automation of Existing Ports'- Oyetola

... NPA Hosts 43rd Annual Council and 18th Managing Directors' Round Table of PMAWCA

In deepening the readiness for the exigent demands and widening opportunities inherent in African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Nigeria will be implementing a policy of full automation of existing ports as well as pursue a thorough going port modernization programme that involves comprehensive rehabilitation and reconstruction where necessary.

The Minister of Marine and Blue economy, Honorable Adegboyega Oyetola, disclosed this today at the 43rd Annual Council and 18th Managing Directors' Round Table of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa(PMAWCA), held in Lagos, saying the Roundtable came at a period the continent is eager and determined to reposition the Ports for competitiveness and has resolved to transform maritime potentials into actualities.

Honourable Oyetola said the implementation of a policy of new ports development as demonstrated by the Lekki Deep Seaport, which apart from being the first Deep Seaport in Nigeria is the first fully automated port at take-off. 

He said with the theme of the conference: 'The Role of Ports in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)' the cream of industry experts assembled at the Round Table are enough to do justice to the critical subject at hand and will provide the needed insight through knowledge sharing for policy makers in the maritime sector to work assiduously towards the realization of ports potentials.   

Stressing the importance of PMAWCA, Oyetola said the Association is an organization whose mission is to contribute to improvement in the quality of port activities and services of its members in order to promote sustainable socio-economic development of their respective countries and the sub-region.

"Some of the strategies the Association employs to achieve its mission includes cooperation and knowledge sharing on best practices in port management and operations in order to deliver optimum value ship and cargo owners. 

"Also, leveraging members’ expertise through technical committees and programs that create platforms focused on resolving complex port and maritime industry concerns and building greater efficiency and sustainability for ports in the sub-region especially as the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement to which Nigeria is signatory gains traction," he noted.

Oyetola stressed that the success story of Lekki Deep Seaport will govern the operationalization of the already approved Badagry and Ondo Deep Seaports as well as the upcoming Snake Island and Burutu Ports.    

His words, "It is worthy to mention that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is committed more than ever before to exploring the entire gamut of opportunities in the marine and blue economy ecosystem including coastal tourism. 

"As some of us are aware only last month, we commissioned the Mission to Seafarers Nigeria in a bid to provide a facility of international standard to provide social, psychological and emotional support necessary for peak performance for crew men and women who sail into our ports from all over the world. 

"I urge the presenters, discussants and delegates to have an open mind in unravelling issues that hitherto limit us from repositioning our ports for competitiveness.

In his remarks Mr. Mohammed Bello Koko, Managing Director, Nigerian Port Authority(NPA) expressed delight for successfully hosting the regional meeting of great minds aimed at maximizing the potentials of rich maritime endowments.

According to him, the theme of the occasion “The Role of Ports in the African Continental Free Trade (AfCFTA)” speaks to the frontline responsibility of Ports in the trade facilitation value chain. 

"The need to translate our marine comparative advantages into opportunities for the collective prosperity of our respective countries has never been more pressing than it is now," he said.

Bello stressed that the demonstrated global leadership of ports in the contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), shows that the sustainability of the world especially Africa rests heavily on the sustainability of our Ports.

"Apart from being linked by water, countries in West and Central Africa are linked by challenges and opportunities. Thus, given the increasing realization of the leverage that economic cooperation confers in the international arena, we will be doing great disservice to ourselves if we fail to maximize this unity through the cooperation of our ports."

To him, "the specific objectives of AfCFTA which includes the progressive elimination of tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade in goods, liberalization of trade in services and cooperation amongst others is pregnant with a lot of opportunities for wealth creation and prosperity which I am convinced this conference will equip us to safely midwife for the benefit of our respective national economies with domino effect on the economy of the sub-region if our ports cooperate.

"As an organization that appreciates the catalytic role of PMAWCA in promoting Ports’ cooperation, the Nigerian Ports Authority will continue to embrace partnerships and support policies and action steps arising from the insightful policy-shaping meetings and technical sessions that will dominate the next few days.

"The visionary creation of the new Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to supervise Nigerian Ports by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the clarion call for more audacious initiatives made last week by the Honourable Minister His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola during the commissioning of our newly reconstructed Mission to Seafarers facility, has re-energized our resolve to invest more in order to  harness more ideas from operational think tanks such as the PMAWCA Harbour Master /PFSO Network and PMAWCA Women Network where the Authority has over the years funded relevant employees for capacity building."

He further commended PMAWCA Secretariat for sustaining this annual platform of cross fertilization of ideas and knowledge sharing for mutual development of our respective countries and the advancement of global trade, adding that delegates and discussants should brood upon the seminal statement of global statesman, Franklin D. Roosevelt that “competition has shown to be useful up to a certain point and no further, but cooperation which is the thing we must strive for today, begins where competition leaves off”

Breaking: NPA to Appoint New Image Maker as Josephine MOLTOK Retires

Breaking: NPA to Appoint New Image Maker as Josephine Moltok Retires 

ZAINAB JUNAID

Strong Indication has emerged that the Nigerian Port Authority(NPA) is on the verge of getting a new General Manager (GM), Corporate and Strategic Communications (C&SC) for the authority as Mrs Josephine Adar Moltok retired last week.

Even though we want to believe there are intrigues behind the retirement, information at our disposal revealed that Mrs Moltok's retirement was as a result of statutory laid down Civil Service rules and regulations which state that mandatory retirement is attained in the Federal Civil Service upon attainment of either 60 years of age or 35 years of service.

She retired last week following the information at our disposal.

Mrs Moltok who assumed duty as the GM Corporate and Strategic Communications January 2023, is a well known media guru diligent at her job, perseverance in resolving challenges and always determined in achieving objectives.

The Plateau-born media guru held the position for just ten months, as she took over from Mrs Oluyemisi Oyinlola, a lawyer, who also held the post for barely one month, in January 2023.

Details later...