Industrial Action

Strike: NAHCO Workers Call off Strike, Management Commends Passengers for their tolerance During Delays

ZAINAB JUNAID 

The management of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company(NAHCO) has commended its passengers for their understanding and tolerance following the inconveniences faced today as a result the strike embarked upon by its workers early Monday, January 23rd, 2022, which obstructed their travel plans. 

NAHCO Workers according to a statement made available, had called off the industrial action which lasted for about 14 hours and all staff had resumed work immediately. 

The statement which was signed by the Management of the Company, unions’ representatives and regulatory agencies, partly read that the issue was resolved that the unions should call off the strike which lasted for about 14 hours, and all staff resumed work immediately.

It was agreed that NAHCO management withdraws the suit it instituted at the National Industrial Court against the unions; negotiations on staff welfare to resume Wednesday, January 25, and be concluded within the week; and that no staff should be penalized because of participation in the strike action.

However, the Group Executive Director of NAHCOAviance, , Dr. Sola Obabori, expressed sincere appreciation of the company to its clients who showed great understanding with NAHCO during the period of the strike action and to the passengers who were inconvenienced by the strike action.

He also extend the company’s deep appreciation to it’s esteemed clients, airline passengers, who depend on NAHCO and to the stakeholders who have intervened in calming down the situation.

He reiterated the readiness and commitment of the company to provide excellent customer experience to its clients and delight them continually noting that both staff and management are key stakeholders to reckon with.

Buhari Commissions Lekki Deep seaport

Buhari Commissions, transfer $1.5 billion Lekki seaport to Tolarams Group for 45 years

 ZAINAB JUNAID 

The modern Lekki deep seaport has been commissioned today Monday, January 23rd, 2023 by President Mohammad Buhari, after the port had under gone about two years of construction, which officially commenced on June 15th 2020.

The President also handed over the port to Tolarams Group for 45 years. 

The seaport connstructed by China Harbour Engineering Lekki Free Trade Zone LFTZ Enterprises(CHELE), a subsidiary of China Harbour Engineering Company, was billed to be completed by October 2022 and it is believed to be the deepest in Nigeria and one of the deepest in West Africa with a draft depth of 16.2metres in-depth and annual cargo tonnage of four million tons and annual container volume of 2.5million teu. 

However, prior to the cmmissioning of the deep seaport by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA) berthed a CMA-CGM container vessel to the port. The vessel is reputed to be one of the largest container vessels in the world which is about 400 metres long and could carry up to 20,000 containers.

The port is also expected to be connected to an $800m railway which is expected to be built to evacuate containers from the port.

It was gathered that private funders will bankroll the railway project while the seaport will eventually be handed back to the Federal government for ownership after the private developers have exhausted their rights to the place. This would increase the revenue base of Nigeria and Lagos. The facility was constructed by the Tolarams Group.

The port was constructed on Build, Own, Operate and Transfer(BOOT) basis for 45 years before it would be transferred to the federal government through the Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA) after the funders must have recouped their investments.

Passengers stranded at Lagos Airport

 Passengers Stranded at MMIA as NAHCO Workers Embark on Strike

ZAINAB JUNAID

Strong indications have emerged that many flights will be disrupted today as scores of international passengers were left stranded at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, (MMIA) Lagos following a strike embarked upon by workers of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCo Plc) on Monday morning over alleged salary issues.

The workers had slated Monday morning for the commencement of their strike due to non satisfaction in their salary structure. 

The ground handling company handles airlines such as Delta, Turkish Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Qatar, and Air France-KLM are some of the airlines the company handles and also do check-in, boarding, and ramp services for many international carriers.

One of the airlines handled by the ground handling company, Virgin Atlantic was left with no other choice but to withheld flight due to the strike action this morning despite its plea to the NAHCO Workers to please rescind their actions while NAHCO management look into the issue. All their moves end in null avoid. 

Many of its passengers today are students who are returning to schools in the United Kingdom, had arrived at the international wing of the Lagos airport for their flights, unaware of what awaited them. Many were seen throwing words at some NAHco workers for choosing to embark on strike as confusion reigned at the terminal.

General Sales Agent (GSA) for Virgin Atlantic Airways, Chief John Adebanjo stated that the situation had already put its passengers in a panic mode as the airline was optimistic that the situation would be resolved and passengers allowed to board for their 10 am flight.

However, it was gathered that NAHCO management had met with the staff on Sunday over the proposed strike but assured that the situation will be addressed soon.

The situation as at the time of filing this report depicted that more airlines could be affected by the problem created by the Staff of NAHCO company today. 

APC Aspirant Tinibu

 Tinubu Pledges to actualize Lekki Deep Seaport Project, Decongest Lagos Ports

ZAINAB JUNAID

Presidential Candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has vowed to decongest Lagos Ports by modernizing other ports outside the state. 

Tinubu made this pledged during his consultative session in Abuja with the Federation of Construction Industry in Nigeria, adding that he is committed to realising the immense opportunities inherent in the Lekki deep seaport, the first new seaport in decades, which is more than 90 per cent completed.

He said his administration would focus on transportation infrastructure, building more roads, rails and improving water transport to ease movement. 

The former Lagos State Governor also promised that his administration would see to the completion of critical ongoing national railway projects which includes: Lagos – Kano; Benin – Abakaliki; Port Harcourt – Maiduguri; Lagos – Calabar; and Kano – Maradi (Niger State) 

His words, “In addition, we shall deploy technology and security assets to protect travellers and ensure the safety and integrity of our railway infrastructure. We will sustain the investments already made by the Buhari administration and deepen ongoing reforms in the sector. 

 “Overall, the transportation sector is valued at N37 trillion. Transport activities contributed 1.84% to real GDP in Q2 2022. Sustaining the political will and technical capacity to move people and goods in a safe, affordable and accessible manner will create a better future for Nigerians. We will, therefore, work hard to improve our various transportation systems and, in the process, unlock the value chain of opportunities therein,” Tinubu said in the interactive session. .  

Also speaking at the session, another former Lagos State Governor now the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), affirmed that if Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is elected, he would continue with the infrastructure project started by President Buhari, since infrastructure is the back bone of a nation’s economy, “Tinubu will not abandon the project started by the President Buhari,” Fashola said. 

Customs Approves Appointment of New Management

 Customs Approves Appointment of New Management Members in Acting Capacities

ZAINAB JUNAID 

Following the statutory retirement of some members of the management team of Nigeria Customs Service, the Comptroller General of Customs has approved the appointment and redeployment of the management members to enhance strategic and effective service delivery.

A statement made available on Thursday evening to maritime Journalists and signed by Compt. Timi Bomodi National Public Relations Officer of Customs disclosed this highlighting the officers as- EI EDORHE DCG Finance Admin & Technical Service; HK GUMMI DCG Tariff and Trade; M ABBA-KURA Ag. DCG Enforcement Inspection & Investigation; AG SAIDU Ag. DCG Human Resource Development; JP AJOKU Ag. DCG Excise, Free Trade Zone & Industrial Incentives; BA ADENIYI Ag. DCG Strategic Research and Policy; GA ITOTOH Ag. DCG Training and Doctrine Command; O Peter's Ag. ACG/Zonal Coordinator Zone ‘D’; AI ALFA Ag. ACG Strategic Research and Policy; HJ SWOMEN Ag. ACG Excise, Free Trade Zone & Industrial Incentives; KC EGWUH Ag. ACG Training and Doctrine Command; MBA MUSA Ag. ACG Tariff and Trade; A DAPPA-WILLIAMS Ag. ACG Enforcement Inspection & Investigation; BM JIBO Ag. ACG Headquarters; A HAMISU Ag. ACG/Commandant Nigeria Customs Command & Staff College; Y SALIHU Ag. ACG Finance & Admin; MI YUSUF Ag. ACG ICT/Modernization; SA BOMAI Ag. ACG Board; CK NIAGWAN Ag. ACG Finance, Admin & Technical Services; KI ADEOLA Ag. ACG Training and Doctrine Command. 

While thanking the retired members of the management for their meritorious service and support, the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) CFR congratulated the newly appointed Officers and charged them to redouble their efforts in ensuring the Service achieves greater heights in its mandates of revenue generation, suppression of smuggling and trade facilitation.

Jamoh Calls for Stakeholders Engagement

 Jamoh Calls for Stakeholders Engagement in #278.5bn CVFF Disbursement

ZAINAB JUNAID 

The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh has called for stakeholders engagement in order to hasten disbursement of the recently approved #278. 5bn Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF). 

Dr. Jamoh made this call at the Colloquium held on Thursday at Rockview Hotel, Apapa, in honour of late Otunba Kunle Folarin with the theme “Ensuring Effective Disbursement of Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund.”

It could be recalled that the Federal Government approved the disbursement of the (#278. 5bn) CVFF to indigenous ship owners in December 2022 after 17 years of neglect which has hindered expansion of the Shipping Industry. Government also appointed five commercial banks for the disbursement of the fund- Union, Zenith, Polaris, United Bank for Africa and Jaiz Bank respectively. 

The announcement does not only break jinx but also rekindled hope of the ship owners that has lost. 

Speaking as one of the panelists at the Colloquium, Dr. Jamoh noted that the CVFF funds cannot be disbursed easily without stakeholders engagement pointing out that about eight shipping companies have not paid their Ship Acquisitions and Ship Building Funds (SASBF) till date. “More reasons stakeholders needs to be engaged in the disbursement of this funds, “ he said. 

Also speaking on the topic, Jean Chiazor Anichere, (SAN), an expert in the industry explained that a ship owner or company can get about $25 million (N10, 282,023,175.00) and shall have a maximum of seven years’ payback. The CVFF is to be disbursed on a single-digit interest rate of 5.6 percent, 0.25 percent processing fees. 

She went further attributing inaccessibility of funds and lack of transparency as major barrier of Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) since its inception.

To her, “The CVFF, a government-funded initiative established to promote the development of a Nigerian-owned and operated maritime industry has faced limitations and challenges among which she highlighted to include - Lack of transparency; inaccessibility; Limited funds; Bureaucratic process; Limited Impact; Lack of accountability. 

“It is worth noting that these challenges can be addressed with proper management, transparency and stakeholder engagement. A better defined and transparent loan disbursement process, and a system of accountability for the loan use and repayment, would go a long way in addressing some of these limitations,” Jean said. 

However, on the legacy left behind and in memory of late Otunba Kunle Folarin, NIMASA DG, announced at the event that one of the expected Vessel by the agency to be delivered in February has been named after Otunba Kunle Folarin. 

“This is done to honour him for his great contributions in the industry” Jamoh said. 

Other Stakeholders present at the event are High Priest Chris Asoluka, Chief Remi Ogungbemi, NUJ Chairman Lagos State Chapter, Mr. Leye Ajayi Madam Bola Muse, Alhaji Aminu Umar, Madam Vivian – General Manager Nigeria Chamber of Shipping, Chief Jolapo Isaac. They regarded Otunba Kunle Folarin as a living legend maritime economist, a cerebral and an encyclopedia who had lived his life not only to impact the young ones but laid a legacy, a foot print that other stakeholders must build on. 

MWUN threatens journalist

MWUN threatens journalist over 20 illegal checkpoints story

.. Accuses him of issuing COMTUA press release

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Erazua Oniha, has threatened to deal with Mr. Jerry Aguigbo, publisher, TodayNews online, accusing him of instigating a press statement circulated by the Council of Maritime Truck Unions and Associations (COMTUA).

Mr. Aguigbo, just like many other journalists, did a story from the COMTUA press statement issued on Monday, where it accused MWUN of mounting 20 illegal checkpoints between Mile2 and Coconut bus stop. This is what Comrade Oniha regarded as a wrong move, thus made the threat. 

Aguigbo, who is the Secretary-General, Maritime Journalists Association of Nigeria (MAJAN), had before writing the story contacted Mr Oniha to get the union's side of the story and verbally reflected that in his report on Monday.

Oniha, later on Tuesday called and asked for the journalist's WhatsApp number to enable him despatch the union's response to the COMTUA allegations to him. This, the journalist did without wasting time.

Trouble however, started when Aguigbo tried to correct an impression in the first paragraph of the response, which attributed the COMTUA press statement to him and his medium, pointing out to Oniha that he merely reported the story and never issued the release.

Here is MWUN response to COMTUA: "The attention of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria has been drawn to a press release making the rounds released by an online media, "TodayNews" anchored by one Jerry Aguigbo published January 16, 2023: targeting the personage of the President General and other union officials while alleging MWUN involvement in activities outside its jurisdictional scope and membership composition..."

When the journalist tried to let him realise that he never issued the release as their response indicated, Oniha flared up, commanding him to use the rejoinder verbatim as signed by the Secretary General, Comrade Felix S. Akingboye like that

He threatened that the journalist would "see the other side of me" if he failed to do what he had ordered him to do.

And it could be recalled that many journalists did the COMTUA story even without any recourse to MWUN but Aguigbo expressly reflected the union's reaction, as stated by Oniha in a telephone conversation, in his own report.