All is now set for the inauguration of the new executives of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) and holding of a breakfast meeting to address the dilapidated and collapsing quay apron of the Tin Can Island Port, Apapa, Lagos and the need for the rehabilitation of other ports across the country.
The breakfast meeting which will involve key stakeholders in the maritime industry will also take a critical look into what it called “workable solutions” to the deplorable state of the nation’s seaports.
This was disclosed by the President of MARAN, Mr. Godfrey Bivbere in a press statement made available to Maritime Bits at the weekend.
According to Bivbere, the association is worried that the collapsed quay apron of the port is already leading to vessels avoiding the Tin Can Port and this would lead to loss of revenue for the federal government.
He revealed that the breakfast meeting with the theme “Rehabilitation of Tin Can Island Port: Proffering Workable Solutions” is billed to hold on July 6th, 2023 at the Rockview Hotel in Apapa GRA, Lagos.
He stated various stakeholders that are expected to converge at the breakfast meeting include shipping companies, terminal operators, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Mrs. Magdalene Ajani; Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Mohammed Bello-Koko; Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Hon. Emmanuel Jime as well as the various commands of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
Others are the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN); Barge Operators Association of Nigeria; Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), maritime truck owners, among others.
Bivbere stated that MARAN was troubled that ships are now avoiding the Tin Can Island Port due to its collapsing quay apron and this is detrimental to the economy of Nigeria since the government relies on the revenue generated from the ports on a daily basis.
He noted that the event was part of the association agenda-setting roles and responsibilities as the foremost umbrella body of journalists covering the maritime industry in the country.
