In a communique issued at the end of its special congress, the Powerful Pen Media has raised the alarm that a cabal has hijacked the maritime business in Nigeria to the detriment of the country and all stakeholders.
This was contained in a communique issued at the end of the Special Congress held recently in Lagos.
The Special Congress was organised by Powerful Pen Media Chapel, owned by Maritime Journalists Association of Nigeria (MAJAN), under the leadership of Comrade Ray Ugochukwu, as the President.
* It had a unique theme “Apapa Traffic and Skyrocketing Inflation in the Country; Effects on Port Operations and the Maritime Industry’.
*Respected maritime Stakeholders who graced the Congress include; the Chairman, TinCan Port Chapter, National Council of Managing Directors of Customs Licensed Agents, Alhaji Isa kazeem, Special Guest of Honour : The National Secretary, National Council of Managing Directors of Customs Licensed Agents, Mr. H. Okwuosa- Guest:
The Chairman of Bonntex Nigeria limited, also a long standing member of ANLCA, Mr Boniface Okoye- keynote speaker :
A top official of National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Alhaji Inua Abdullahi – Guest speaker:
Dr Emeka Enebili – Chief host
* Deliberations during the Congress focused on how Apapa traffic gridlock is aiding inflation in the country, and the way forward.
Vital issues raised by stakeholders at the Congress include the following:
* Traffic gridlock contributes 35 percent to why Nigerian port is the most expensive within West African sub-region
* Apapa and TinCan are the two most vibrant ports in Nigeria, but lacks adequate maintenance of access roads.
* That government has allowed a CABAL to hijack maritime business in Nigeria, to the detriment of the entire economy.
* That the perennial traffic gridlock on Apapa ports access roads is induced by Powerful mafia in the system.
* That barge operators are also owners of the terminals, making it difficult to regulate the sector.
* Insincerity on the part of regulators poses a big challenge.
* * * Recommendations/Way forward :*That the Federal Government should open up Eastern Ports, in order to ease the pressure on Apapa ports.
* NPA must wake up to its responsibility of managing the port access roads.
* Barge operations should be encouraged to decongest the ports.
* That traffic managers creating artificial toll-gates to collect huge sums into private pockets must be prosecuted, to serve as deterrent to others.
* Terminal operators/Shipping companies not providing holding bays must be sanctioned accordingly.
* Individuals constituting nuisance, who have no business on the ports access roads must be forced to leave the terrain.
*The MAJAN President, in his remarks said that Powerful Pen Media Chapel, as an affiliate of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos Chapter, will always live up to expectations by constantly informing the Public on activities in the maritime industry.
He recognised the leadership of Lagos NUJ under Mr Leye Ajaji.
In conclusion, he thanked all the stakeholders who attended the Congress, despite their busy schedule, including the National President of ANLCA, Hon. Tony Iju Nwabunike, who gave the chapel support, to make the Congress a huge success.
On the whole, all invited Guests and MAJAN members departed with the current copies of Powerful Pen Newspaper.
The communique was signed by Sylvanus Ekpo , Silas Onuoha andUdeme Clement.
Cabal is Controlling Maritime Business in Nigeria – Powerful Pen Media
