Author: Saint Augustine

… Outlines reform programmes for the actualization of set objectives The Registrar, Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), Sir Mike Jukwe has solicited for cooperation of all stakeholders and practitioners in the freight forwarding industry for the actualization of the Council’s mandate. Jukwe made this call recently during an interactive session with the leadership of the accredited Freight Forwarding Associations in Lagos. Speaking on the series of reform programmes laid down by the Council for implementation, he said that the Council would soon embark on her oversight function of the annual visitation to accredited associations, registered…

The Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) says it has concluded arrangements to train 300 registered freight forwarding practitioners in the Professional Certificate, FIATA Diploma and Higher Diploma in Freight Forwarding and Supply Chain Management programs for the 2015 academic session. The Registrar of the Council, Sir Mike Jukwe gave this heartwarming news in his office in Lagos during an interactive session with the leadership of the accredited associations on Freight Forwarding Reform. Jukwe said that time were gone when the industry practitioners were looked down on urging them to avail themselves of the education and…

Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State has expressed his deep condolences on the death of Ms. Ifeoma Anumba, a journalist with the Federal Ministry of Information, Awka, to her family and the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Anambra State chapter. Chief Obiano who is away in United State of America for the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) said the news of Ms. Anumba’s sudden death was sobering and depressing. “Every death takes something out of us but it is especially so when the deceased is plucked in the prime of life without warning as in the present case. Her sudden death has…

The Australian Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Angela Tierney has stated her country’s desire to partner with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in the provision of technical support and human capacity development. The envoy, who was on a visit to NIMASA headquarters in Lagos, commended the human capacity building drive of the Agency and conveyed the willingness of her country to work with NIMASA in building the requisite capacity for the industry. Earlier, the Norwegian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Rolf Ree, had visited the Agency and also stated his country’s readiness for the provision of technical support…

Leading consumer goods manufacturer, Procter & Gamble Nigeria has announced that it will be sponsoring the African adaption of the popular and award winning American series, Desperate Housewives with two of its leading brands – Oral B and Ariel detergent, as its contribution to the promotion of local content in Nigeria’s entertainment industry. Speaking at the premiere which held recently in Lagos, Ehis Enakabor, Director of Commercial and Brand Operations, P&G Nigeria said the series is an authentic platform for enthralling and spell-binding homegrown content that will bring fun and entertainment to the family, and expressed her excitement that the…

Sylvanus Obasi When Chief Isaac Jolapomo, former NISA Chairman guested on my Radio program last November, precisely on 4th Nov 2014, barely two weeks after the keenly contested NISA election which saw Capt Niyi Labinjo emerge president; the first question I threw at him as opener read: “Having founded Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA) and been its Chairman for over ten years now, how much relieved do you feel that finally, you ‘ve got a successor?” The question caught him unawares because it wasn’t part of the questionnaires I emailed to him before he came on-air. Expectedly, he first struggled to…

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yesterday, said the fiscal operations of the Federal Government in the second half of 2014 resulted in an over-spending of the budget by N365.35 billion or 0.8 per cent of GDP, as against the proportionate projected budget deficit of N482.10 billion for the period and N325.10 billion recorded in the first half of the year. This fact is contained in the Financial Stability report of the CBN released on Thursday but published yesterday on its website. The report said that “the deficit was financed mostly from privatisation proceeds.” According to CBN, “the second half…

The Shippers Association of Lagos State (SALS) has called for the re-introduction of barges so as to move containers to areas where vessels could not berth. Speaking with newsmen in Lagos on the association’s expectations from the incoming government of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the President of the association, Rev. Jonathan Nicol re-emphasized the importance of barges which he said could be used to evacuate containers from bigger ports that could accommodate vessels to such one that could be inaccessible to such vessels like the Warri ports. Nicol further called for the rebuilding of the Warri ports as well as send…

As Nigerians get set to welcome a new administration come May 29, 2015, the President, Shippers’ Association of Lagos State, Rev. Dr. Jonathan Nicol has warned the incoming administration of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to desist from appointing a politician to man the Ministry of Transport. Nicol who was reacting to insinuations in some quarters that the Ministry of Transport may likely be manned by a former Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige or the incumbent Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola stated that appointing a politician to man the sensitive position of Minister of Transport would…

The Shippers’ Association of Lagos State has again called for the separation of the maritime sector from the Ministry of Transport as well as the establishment of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs to cater for the need of the industry just like the Aviation and Petroleum industries. The President of the association, Rev. Dr. Jonathan Nicol made this call in an interview with newsmen in Lagos. Nicol contended that if smaller countries like the Benin Republic, Togo and Ghana should have such ministry, there was no reason why a big country like Nigeria handling over four Million containers in a…