The Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) has sent a wakeup calls to the federal government agencies operating in the Maritime sector to buckleup their loose ends in ensuring seamless operation in the Nigeria ports.
The President of the association, Mr Paul Ogbuokiri made this call yesterday during the associations 2021 annual conference held at Sheraton hotel Ikeja, Lagos with the theme: Seamless Port Operations In Nigeria.
Ogbuokiri called on the new management of the Nigerian Shippers Council to join the effort of other government regulatory bodies in ensuring Nigerians sees the full benefit of ‘blue economy project.
He urged the Council to embrace its responsibility of protecting cargo interest of Nigerian shippers and ensure efficiency in the logistic chain.
In his word ‘We’re calling on the new management at the Nigerian Shippers Council that the learning period is over, join the effort now in ensuring that port operation becomes seamless so that Nigerians will see the full benefit of the ‘blue economy project’.
“It is also expected that the Nigerian Shippers Council which in recent times has lost its vibrancy will wake to its responsibility of protecting the cargo interest of the Nigerian shippers, ensure efficiency in the logistic chain”
To the Nigeria Customs Service, Ogbuokiri said “It is expected that the Nigerian Customs Service will just allow the Scanners to work and shame those who believe that officials of the agency deliberately sabotage all efforts at making cargo clearing a seamless operation, done real time with little or human contact.
He added that the Nigerian maritime industry which hitherto was held down by many setbacks to the extent that it has completely failed to reach its potentials, is on the march to reach its potentials as vast media reports quoting the International Maritime Bureau indicate that piratical attacks dropped by 77 per cent in the first nine months of 2021 in the Nigerian waters and the Gulf Guinea which in recent years became the epicenter of piracy and sea robbery.
The association president said further that it has been noted that the leadership of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has commenced a campaign for the removal of the war risk insurance on Nigerian bound cargoes and is also inching closer to returning Nigerian to a position of importance in global maritime politics.
Stressing further, he said “It has also come to our notice that the new leadership at the Nigerian Ports Authority has reworked the Electronic Truck Call System (ETO) to the extent that it brought down the notorious Apapa traffic gridlock by about 60 per cent. We’re looking forward that this magic wand on the new administration at the Ports Authority put traffic completely under control so that Apapa, Nigeria’s foremost port city will regain its grove
‘To this end we are urging the Federal Government to ensure that the Nigerian ports access roads, particularly the about 10 kilometers Oshodi-Apapa expressway which has been under construction for more than 20,yers is completed as experts have said that completion of construction work on the road will reduce the Apapa gridlock by 40 per cent” Ogbuokiri quipped.
The event featured paper presentation by stakeholders operating in the industry, presentation of awards to individuals, association and agencies whose contributing efforts has been helpful in repositioning the Nigeria maritime sector.
The highlight of the day was the unveiling of the association magazine; ‘AMJON Express Magazine”, which promises to be the voice of the maritime media.
