Several stakeholders in the maritime industry have confirmed their readiness to attend the breakfast meeting aimed at addressing the rot plaguing Nigeria’s second busiest port, Tin Can Island Port (TCIP), Apapa, Lagos.
Scheduled to take place on Thursday July 8, 2023 at Rockview Hotel, Apapa, Lagos, the breakfast meeting is being organised by the umbrella body for journalists covering the maritime sector of the economy, the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN).
Among those who have confirmed their attendance are the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr. Mohammed Bello-Koko, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Hon Emmanuel Jime and the President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju
The President of MARAN, Mr. Godfrey Bivbere who disclosed this in Lagos revealed that Bello-Koko had since confirmed to the executives of MARAN that he would be on ground to give the keynote address at the breakfast meeting with the theme “Rehabilitation of Tin Can Island Port: Proffering Workable Solutions”.
According to him, Jime and Adeyanju expressed delight that the topic of discussion at the breakfast meeting affects the nation’s economy and solutions must be proffered.
Others also expected at the occasion are the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Mrs. Magdalene Ajani, Customs Area Controllers (CAC) of the various commands of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS); shipping companies and terminal operators.
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); and maritime truck owners are also expected to attend the event.
The breakfast meeting was sequel to the concerns MARAN expressed over the state of the quay apron of TCIP as well as the need for the rehabilitation of other terminals in the nation’s seaports.
MARAN stated that the breakfast meeting was meant to provide a platform for stakeholders in the maritime industry to rub minds and provide what it called “workable solutions” to the deplorable state of the nation’s seaports.
Bivbere also revealed that the event would also be used to inaugurate the newly elected officials of the association into office.
According to him, 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.
