By Babajide Okeowo
The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Mohammed Bello-Koko, the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Hon Emmanuel Jime, and the President-General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) Comrade Prince Adewale Adeyanju are among the critical stakeholders that have confirmed their attendance at the Breakfast Meeting on the dilapidated and collapsing quay apron of the Tin Can Island Port of Lagos organised by the Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN) in Lagos tomorrow, Thursday 6th, 2023.
The breakfast meeting is billed to hold at the Rockview Hotel in Apapa GRA, Lagos and is themed: “Rehabilitation of Tin Can Island Port: Proffering Workable Solutions.”
The NPA Managing Director, Mr Bello-Koko has since confirmed to the Executives of MARAN, led by Mr Godfey Bivbere that he would be on the ground to give the keynote address at the meeting.
Also on Wednesday, the Shippers Council Chief Executive Officer, Emmanuel Jime and Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, President General of MWUN both confirmed that the topic of discussion at the meeting affects the nation’s economy and solutions must be proffered.
MARAN had expressed concerns over the state of the quay apron of the Tin Can Island Port of Lagos, as well as the need for the rehabilitation of other ports around the country.
Consequently, the foremost maritime reporters’ association concluded plans to host maritime stakeholders to a breakfast meeting to discuss workable solutions to the deplorable state of the port.
President of MARAN, Mr Godfrey Bivbere had also disclosed that the event would be used to inaugurate the newly elected officials of the association into office.
Bivbere noted that 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 the loss of revenue for the federal government.
Various stakeholders that are expected to converge at this meeting include; The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Mrs Magdalene Ajani, The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA); Mohammed Bello-Koko, The Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers’ Council; Hon Emmanuel Jime, various commands of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS); Shipping Companies and Terminal Operators.
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.
