Maritime
Apapa Ports Decongestion: FG To Revitalise Eastern Ports
By: Chinedu Wosu
In a bid to improve maritime activities and containers traffic at the Eastern Ports, the Federal Government says it would revitalize the ports to reduce huge traffic at Apapa Ports
The government said the aim is to boost trade and maritime activities at the Eastern ports
Minister of State for Transport, Senator. Gbemisola Saraki, stated this in Port Harcourt during a one-day stakeholders workshop with the theme, “Framework to Stimulate Activities and Encourage Patronage in the Eastern Ports”, held at Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt.
Senator Saraki said throughout history, the Eastern Ports of Calabar, Warri, Rivers Port Complex and Onne, Koko, Burutu have played major role in the development of international trade through shipping and nation building
The workshop, she said, was organized to listen to the complaints and gather information on the challenges faced by shippers to enable the government take necessary steps in resolving them.
This, shae said, will be done with a view to encouraging shipping activities at the Eastern Ports, in view of the fact that 75 percent of shippers are from the Eastern region.
She decried that these ports are experiencing a downturn in shipping as a result of dwindling infrastructure, insecurity, low channels draughts, power supply at the ports, including unavailability of marine infrastructures.
The Senator insisted that the revitalization of the Ports would create employment in the region and reduce criminalities.
The Minister also noted that Lagos Ports are over burdened in terms of receiving and handling of inbound and outbound cargos, thereby causing gridlock with its attendant consequence of delay in clearance process, loss of manhour, revenue and corruption.
“I am pleased with this workshop because having noticed that most of the recommendations are to be carried out by the Nigerian Ports Authority and other Agencies supervised by the Federal Ministry of Transportation, it has also created an avenue to enable other relevant ministries, department and agencies involved in shipping to contribute and proffer ways which the resolutions of the committee will be implemented to enhance patronage of the Eastern Ports”, she said.
She noted that the Federal Government has taken steps towards improving the patronage of the Eastern Ports by putting issues of policies, security, and infrastructure in the front burner.
On insecurity, specifically attacks of vessels and kidnapping of crew members, the minister said Nigeria has entered into agreement with an international company to provide water protection to deal with issues of insecurity resulting from piracy, robbery, kidnapping and armed robbery in Nigeria’s waterways.
“We are committed to the deployment of a multi modal system of transportation from all our ports.
“It is our belief that both the government and private sector have important roles to play in contributing to the development of the maritime sector and stakeholders implored to commit, synergize and cooperate towards these efforts to bring patronage to the Eastern ports for the benefit of the nation.
“I therefore expect that at the end of this workshop, the constraints of the shippers within the Eastern Ports axis would have been obtained to enabled government take necessary action in resolving them”, Saraki said.
Earlier, the Acting Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello Koko, said the Authority had set up a committee to look into the low patronage of vessels and investors experienced by the Eastern ports.
Koko noted that the management of NPA is also tackling problems of low cargos and insecurity in the four ports.
He also stated that the NPA is seeking collaboration with the Nigerian Navy in tackling sea piracy in the waterways, especially in Calabar.
The MD noted that in all Ports in the country, it is only Calabar Port that has jetty that services passengers outside the country and appealed to investors to key into the sector to boost water transportation in the country.
He further appealed to importers and exporters to always patronise the Eastern ports for quick delivery of cargoes and inefficiency.
The Nigerian Navy Forward Operation Base (FOB), Badagry, says its gallant officers have rescued nine women from the hands of suspected human traffickers.
FOB said the suspects have been handed over to the National Agency for prohibition of Human trafficking in Person (NAPTIP) for prosecution.
This was disclosed to newsmen in a statement by the Base Information Officer, Litunent B. Awodeyi, in Lagos.
Awodeyi said the first interception of the women was during a stop and search operation by the Quick Response Team (QRT) of the Command in a boat traveling to mile 2 and Panshi Jetty in Lagos State were five women between the ages of 19 and 32 were rescued.
The statement further said four women were also rescued by QRT two days later in a boat along Tongeji Island in Badagry, with the ages of victims ranging from 19 to 24 years.
Awodeyi said the rescued suspects were under investigation in line with the 2016 Harmonised Standard Procedures on arrest.
Although the names of the suspects were not made public by FOB, it insisted that the operation reflects Navy’s dedication to combating human trafficking and ensuring a secure maritime environment in line with the Chief of Naval Staff’s strategic directive 2023 and 2026.
The directive, Awodeyi said, is aimed at promoting safety in Nigeria’s waters and the Gulf of Guinea (GOG).
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), led by its President-General, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, has announced plans to embark on a nationwide strike, if the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) fails to pay nine months of salary arrears owed its employees.
Adeyanju said the affected workers are members of MWUN, and accused CRFFN management of neglecting its financial responsibilities.
MWUN in a statement by its Head of Media, Comrade John Kennedy Ikemefuna, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the actions of the CRFFN’s Acting Registrar.
The statement noted that MWUN had exhausted all available options for negotiation, including issuing several ultimatums, but that the efforts were ignored by the management of CRFFN.
“The most recent attempt at mediation occurred in Abuja on September 18, 2024, yet no progress was made in resolving the matter”, it said.
The statement criticised CRFFN for disregarding a crucial resolution reached during the mediation meetings.
According to Ikemefuna, one of the resolutions stipulated that when funds become available to the CRFFN, the payment of employees’ salaries should be prioritis ed.
The statement further noted that CRFFN diverted available funds to conduct what it described as a “kangaroo” training programme for select staff members, leaving the issue of unpaid salaries unaddressed.
“This is a clear violation of the agreements reached”, it emphasised.
The Union said CRFFN’s actions have deepened the financial challenges faced by its members, hence MWUN expressed disappointment that, despite their willingness to cooperate with the CRFFN management, the regulatory body has continued to act in a manner that undermines the rights and welfare of its members.
The workers union, therefore, insisted that it would no longer tolerate the perceived impunity of the CRFFN and declared that if the outstanding nine months salary arrears are not paid, it would have no choice but to initiate a total withdrawal of its members from services.
“This action would impact key sectors of Nigeria’s maritime industry, including the Nigerian Ports Authority, dock labour, shipping and freight forwarding agencies, as well as seamen working across all ports, jetties, terminals, and oil and gas platforms”, Ikemefuna stated.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Command, has thwarted a smuggling attempt of N1.1billion illicit drugs in four containers at Apapa Port.
The four seized containers were filled with narcotics valued at N1,183,915,500.
The Command’s Area Controller, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, disclosed this to newsmen through its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abubakar Usman.
The seizure involved 236,783 bottles of cough syrups containing codeine and Barcadin, packed in a total of 2,174 cartons from two terminals under the command’s jurisdiction.
Three other seizures were made at APM Terminals, while one was intercepted at Kachicares Bonded Terminal.
Comptroller Olomu explained that, “On October 11, 2024, during a joint inspection of a 1×40 container, number MRKU0377493, our officers discovered prohibited CSP cough syrup—34,800 bottles packed into 174 cartons, each containing 200 bottles.
“The shipment was expired at the time of interception”.
The statement said on the same day, another 1×40 container, number TGBU8886020, was found with 39,700 bottles of DSP cough syrup, packed in cartons containing 100 bottles each.
Additionally, a third container (TCKU6800526) examined on October 15, 2024, at APMT Terminal, labelled as containing essential goods, revealed 19 cartons of concealed CSJ cough syrup for throat and chest with codeine, packed in 200 bottles per carton.
Another major seizure was recorded on October 15, 2024, at Kachicares Resources Terminal: A 1×40FT container, number SUDU8579006, declared as containing kitchen wares, was found with a concealed stash of Barcadin cough syrup in 1,584 cartons, along with 83 loose bottles.
Comptroller Olomu described the seizures as part of the NCS’ zero-tolerance policy toward smuggling.
Apapa Command, he said, “is committed to efficient trade facilitation while maintaining strict controls on revenue collection and anti-smuggling activities.
”I urge those engaged in illegal trade to avoid Apapa Port. Our vigilant officers, using intelligence, technology, and experience, are poised to detect and intercept any smuggling attempts”.
He insisted that Codeine abuse has been linked to severe side effects, including drowsiness, confusion, and increased susceptibility to criminal behaviors.
“The Nigerian government banned the importation of codeine-containing cough syrups in 2018 after widespread misuse among youth”, he noted.
The Comptroller said further investigations are underway to identify and apprehend the individuals behind the smuggling attempts.