Media Friends organised Colloquium to Honour Late Otunba Folarin 

ZAINAB JUNAID 

Maritime Journalists in collaboration with the Nigerian Ports Consultative Council, (NPCC), have concluded plan to organize a One-Day seminar in memory of a beacon of the Maritime Industry, late Otunba Kunle Folarin, who passed on to the glory of God in November 8, 2022.

Organisers of the seminar made this known to maritime Journalists recently, stating that the theme for the day is “Ensuring Effective Disbursement of Cabotage Vessel Financing” and the paper will be presented by a maritime lawyer, Mrs Jean Chiazor Anichere (SAN). 

They said that the event, which was slated for Thursday, January 19, 2023 at the Rockview Hotel, GRA Apapa Lagos by 9.00am, would be chaired by Capt. Emmanuel lheanacho, a former minister of interior and a major player in the industry. 

Panel of discussants on the topic includes the Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); Dr Bashir Jamoh, Shipowners Association of Nigeria (SOAN) President, Dr. MkGeorge Onyoung, Mrs. Funke Agbo, and  Chief Johnson Chukwu, a financial expert.

Stakeholders among which are Captains of industry, dignitaries, friends, maritime journalists, associates and family members of the late maritime guru are all expected at the colloquium. 

NPA Appoints Josephine Moltok as New Image Maker

  

MAJAN President, Ray Ugochukwu Applauds NPA on appointment of Josephine Moltok as new PR

ZAINAB JUNAID 

The President, Maritime Journalists Association of Nigeria (MAJAN), Comrade Ray Ugochukwu, has commended the Management of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on the appointment of Mrs. Josephine Moltok as the new General Manager (GM), Corporate and Strategic Communications (C&SC).

Ray Ugochukwu made this commendation today while informing MAJAN members on the development, affirming that the newly appointed GM of Corporate Communications for the Authority has the intelligence and ability to protect the image of the authority. 

Ugochukwu, who is a renowned writer and seasoned Journalist, described Mrs. Moltok as an intelligent, highly experienced candidate for the position and has the competence to deliver her newly appointed assignment in NPA.

The new GM took over on Tuesday, from Mrs Oluyemisi Oyinlola, a lawyer, who only held the office for barely one month.

Moltok, an old war horse in media and PR management, was for many years, the NPA’s Head of  Overseas Liaison Office in London. She returned to Nigeria last year to head the Administration Division of the Authority as its GM from where she was moved to the new position. 

The soft-spoken new image maker, our reporter gathered, hailed from Plateau State and has worked as a Public Relations Officer (PRO) in the defunct Western Zone of NPA in Apapa and later moved to the Calabar Port.

She also worked at the agency’s defunct head office in Abuja after which she came to serve at the former Roll-On Roll-Off (RoRo) Port in Tin Can, Lagos, even as she equally headed the PR Unit of the Lagos Port Complex (LPC), Apapa.

Mrs Moltok was to later serve as the National Assembly Liaison Officer of NPA in the Abuja liaison office where she later became the Assistant General Manager (AGM).

At her promotion to a General Manager, the new NPA image maker headed the Servicom Division before moving to the London office.

Her colleagues and peers have always quoted her as one who prides herself as having “been privileged to work with and be mentored by exceptional people.

However, Mrs Oyinlola has thus returned to her former duty post as the GM Legal Services/Board. For the little period she occupied the C&SC position, the staff of the department saw her as one who not only hit the ground running but passionate and full of compassion for them and stakeholders, including the few journalists that came her way.

Nigerian Shippers Council

 UASC, NSC Set for 9th Edition of African Shipper's Day in Lagos 

ZAINAB JUNAID 

The Nigerian Shipper’s Council (NSC) in collaboration with the Union of African Shippers’ Council (UASC) have concluded plan to organize the forthcoming 9th edition of African Shippers Day in Lagos. 

The event which will hold under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Transportation is scheduled for Monday 16th January to Wednesday 18th January, 2023 at Lagos Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. 

According to the organisers, the theme of the event, ‘‘African Continental Free Trade Agreement: A Veritable Platform for African Shippers to Mainstream into Global Trade’’, will be declared open by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR while Engr. Mu’Azu Jaji Sambo, the Honourable Minister of Transportation is the Chief host.

Shipper’s day forum has always been an avenue for the exchange of ideas and experiences amongst shippers’ organizations in the West and Central African Sub-regions, discussions on issues that will improve maritime trade, and disseminating information on the role of Shippers’ Councils and UASC.

The Organisers also disclosed that the Secretary General, African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Mr. Wamkele Mene would make a presentation on the topic ‘‘AfCFTA: Vehicle for Africa’s Economic Growth & Development,” while other speakers are the Secretary General, International Chamber of Commerce Nigeria (ICCN), Mrs. Olubunmi Osuntuyi who will speak on ‘‘The Role of INCOTERMS 2020 in the Implementation of African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) and Mr. Nwachukwu Remigus, Manager, Trade Finance, African Export-Import Bank, expected to speak on ‘‘Payment Systems in International Trade’’.

WABOTAN

WABOTAN Launches #10 Million Multipurpose Cooperative Society for Boat Operators 

… Inaugurates Lagos Chapter Executives 

ZAINAB JUNAID 

Just as the Waterfront Boat Owners and Transporters Association (WABOTAN) celebrated its newly created Ten Million Naira (#10, 000, 000) worth Multipurpose Cooperative Society for it’s members in order to alleviate their financial challenges in boat operations, the association has also inaugurated it’s Lagos State Chapter Executives which includes; Comrade Doubrah Jacob as State Chairman, Abraham Mesu as Vice Chairman, State Secretary is Ganiyu Jinadu.

Other New executives are; Aiyeyemi Omosuyi as State Assistant Secretary, Oluwaseyi Samuel as State Treasurer, William Emasoga as State Financial Secretary, the State Public Relations Officer is Ramon Babatunde, while the Provost is Daniel Abayo.

Speaking on the inauguration, WABOTAN President, Tope Fajemirokun said the step is necessary in order to concretize the association’s organogram.

“In this association, we have an organogram where we have the BOT, National, States and Zones. We are just coming up, the BOT has inaugurated the National body, so, today the National body is also inaugurating the state body so that they can carryout state activities, the National body cannot be everywhere, the State executives have to control matters concerning the state.

“We expect them to work closely with the Lagos State Government, regulators and boat operators at their own state level and their must not be any conflict of interest. As National President, I cannot be doing the work of state executives.

"What we are targeting now is membership drive, we want to reach out to more boat drivers and expose them to our plans for the profession and for the waterways” he said

The association has also launched a sticker for all members to be placed on their boats so as to ensure identification.

“We are compiling the data base of all our members which we would send to the regulatory authorities, once the boat number or membership member of the boat is imputed in their system, it would bring out all information” Fajemirokun added.

Also speaking, Chairman Board of Trustees (BOT) of WABOTAN, Comrade Paul Gwam stated that the association is now targeting the establishment of executives in all litoral states, even up to the North.

Comrade Gwam said the inauguration of the state chapter executives is to assist the National Executive which is already on ground, so that they can address some of the challenges on ground, by so doing, the national executives can concentrate on other national matters.

His words, “When you are given a position, it is for a responsibility, maybe the people were sleeping before, but right now, they have to meet up with the challenges ahead of them, especially from the boat drivers.

“For instance, we have been calling them for their certification, we have done a lot of courses for them to get their basic mandatories and have their drivers license, but they are adamant to come for that test, it is not a written test but oral.

“We have done about three training programmes for them, we want them to get their certificate which would even allow them to drive within the West Coast, it would also give them some sense of belonging, this is because some of the operators drive recklessly.

“The State executives and his Excos should be able to tackle all these challenges with state agencies like NIWA, NIMASA and LASWA.

“We hope to reciprocate this inauguration in other parts of the country, even up North, it’s just a matter of time, very soon you would be hearing us in Lokoja, Bayelsa and so on, ” he said. 

On his part, the newly inaugurated Lagos State Chairman, Comrade Doubrah Jacob promised that his executives would promote safety and peace on the Lagos waterways and to represent the less privileged.

He also called on boat operators to join WABOTAN for more progress.

“We have been on this project to ensure that there is safety on the waterways and to improve the way we passenger people from one place to another.

We are not in competition with any group, within a short time people would see what we are up to.

“We are having training programs ahead of us to teach our members on how to handle life jackets and how to identify original ones that can enable people float on the water in case their is any accident, we shall have these life jackets tested and trusted before we give it out to people.

“Also, a lot of boat operators because of the economic situation of the country cannot change their life jackets and it has become so dirty, we are going to work on all these areas, so that whoever is entering into the boat would know that he is entering a clean atmosphere, cleanliness is very important” he maintained.

However, on the cooperative Society, Mr. Tope Fajemirokun stated that the Multipurpose Cooperative Society has been officially inaugurated by the Lagos State Government two months ago.

“In an association, you cannot just be collecting money from your members, on the state level, they would ask you one question, what is your capacity?

The corporative society is coming up for us to generate more money and for our members to make more money and the least share a member can buy to join the society is #25, 000,” he added. 

CRFFN Registrar Story

CRFFN Registrar’s bid for Second Term faces Doom 

ZAINAB JUNAID

Strong indications have emerged that the Registrar of the Council for the Registration of Freight Forwarding practice in Nigeria (CRFFN), Samuel Nwakohu, might not win the heart of his fellow members following his last minutes efforts to bid for a second term tenure in office as the head of the freight forwarding regulatory body.

The outgoing Registrar, Mr. Nwakohu, who was appointed in February 2019, is expected to officially leave office in February 2023 after successfully completing his four years tenure. Information at our disposal revealed that he has written the regulatory body to declare his intention for second term tenure late last year but the move was not welcome by majority of the freight forwarders as they declared him unqualified, at the first meeting held by the Council on Tuesday, January 10th, 2023 at Rockview Hotel, Apapa Lagos where members deliberated on his second term tenure chances.

It was gathered that, earlier at the December 2022 meeting of the Council in Abuja, where the application letter of the outgoing registrar for a second term tenure was read, a committee was raised to look into his request to return. The committee according to the information gathered, was given two weeks to submit its findings to the council which has the statutory rights to make recommendations on the bid of the Registrar to the Minister of Transportation, Engr Muazu Sambo.

Members were said to have unanimously dismissed the second-term bid of Nwakohu and saw the move as obscene, unwarranted and an insult to the collective psyche of freight forwarders given what they all agreed was his unmitigated failure at the meeting on Tuesday. 

Also in a telephone chat with Standard Times Reporter on this development Tuesday evening, Mr Mukaila Babatunde of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA, considered him not effective. 

He said, Nwakowu does not deserve a second term in office as the registrar of CRFFN. His tenure was an unmitigated disaster. He is arrogant. He doesn’t relate well with the freight forwarders, which he was meant to supervise. He is quick to anger. He distanced himself from his immediate constituency. 

“We need someone who is ready to learn, someone who listens to correction, and suggestions without taking Offences. Personally, I do not want to see him (Sam Nwakohu) return as the Registrar of CRFFN,” he declared. 

Another member of the association who spoke in the same vein declared him “Unwanted” as he challenged his inability to achieve greater Value with his four years in office. 

All these among others are likely parameters that can deny him chances of winning the second term bid. 

Police, Tout clash in Ojota, Lagos

One Killed as Police, Tout clash in Ojota, Lagos

ZAINAB JUNAID

A yet-to-be-identified male adult has been killed in a clash between some Touts and the police in the Ojota area of Lagos State on Monday.

The Video of the incident which has gone viral in the early hours of Monday depicted a police van burnt in the ensuing outrage and a dead body of a man lying lifeless on the street at Ojota area. 

Commuters were seen running to safety in the heat of the pandemonium which broke out on Monday morning.

Details later... 

NRC Debunks Shutdown operations Viral stories

 Edo Train Abduction: One Suspect Arrested as a  Victim Escaped

… Government Condemns Attack 

ZAINAB JUNAID

Just as the police command in Edo State on Sunday afternoon confirmed the arrest of one of the suspected herdsmen that attacked and kidnapped scores of passengers waiting to board a train to Warri, Delta State on Saturday evening, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) in an interview with Channels TV on Sunday debunked reports of the suspension of train services on the Itakpe-Warri axis following an attack by gunmen on Ekehen Train Station in the Igbuebem Local Government Area (LGA) of Edo State.

 The reports that NRC had suspended operations in the affected state station went viral on social media few hours after the incident happened in Edo State but the Managing Director of NRC, Fidet Okhiria, told Channels Television via telephone that the train services have not been suspended, contrary to reports making the rounds.

He confirmed that there was an attack which the police and the NRC are currently looking into, but said the incident has not disrupted operations at the station.

“As I speak to you now, a train is running,” Okhiria said, adding that the railway corporation is putting in place measures to ensure the safety of passengers.

While speaking on the train station attack, spokesperson for the State Police Command, Chidi Nwabuzor disclosed that the attack which took place on Saturday evening, left many injured but a suspect has been arrested.

According to the Police, the abductors, armed with AK-47 rifles, invaded the train station and shot indiscriminately into the air before abducting scores of intending travellers into the bush.

“Among those kidnapped by the herdsmen were the train station manager, Godwin Okpe, Head of Security, identified simply as Ikhayere, an Igueben community resident, Victor Osarobho and the station ticket clerk, also identified as Akhere,” he said.

Also, at the scene of the incident, Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Osa Nehikhare, described the incident as a terrifying situation for the state government.

Nehikhare, noted that immediately the incident occurred, a combined team of military, police, vigilante, and local hunters swung into action and are on the heels of the suspected kidnappers with a view to rescuing the victims, this, in the process led to the arrest of one of the Kidnappers. 

 At the moment, security personnel made up of the military and the police as well as men of the vigilante network and hunters are intensifying search and rescue operations in reasonable radius to rescue the kidnap victims.

” As at 3 pm on Sunday, one suspect has been captured and is helping police with their investigation; One victim out of the victims kidnapped escaped from the hands of the gunmen. We are confident that the other victims will be rescued in the coming hours.” He said. 

The Federal Government  on its part has condemned the attack describing it as a despicable and utterly barbaric kidnapping of passengers at Tom Ikimi Train Station  Igueben Edo State.

In a release by the transportation ministry, the government reassured that the security agencies are making efforts to rescue the kidnapped Train passengers.

“The Nigerian Police is on the trail of the criminals and have mobilised with a view to protecting the lives and property of the remaining passengers.

“The Government is saddened by this unpleasant development and assures of its prompt response to the ugly situation” the statement reads.