Maritime
Shippers Council Reiterates Commitment to Export Markets
…extends Partnership to Leather Manufacturers
LAGOS: In order to further develop the export market in Nigeria and as a way of encouraging small and medium scale industries, the Nigerian Shippers Council pledged its unwavering support for manufacturers and exporters of leathers under the aegis of Association of Leather and Allied Industrialists of Nigeria (ALAIN)
The acting Executive Secretary of the council, Barrister Hassan Bello made this declaration when the association led by its chairman, Mr. Chinonso Ememchukwu paid a courtesy visit to the council in Lagos today.
Bello who described the visit as the first since he was appointed in acting capacity at the council last year declared that the association is free to come to the council for support on matters bordering on their trade, especially as it concerns transportation and export of leather in Nigeria.
He assured the group that the shipper’s council will make sure the transport system they are going to use becomes accessible, available and affordable, adding that one of the statutory function of the Council which was established in 1978 is to facilitate import and export, as well as to encourage transportation of goods to final consumers.
In his speech, he said “the entrepreneurs and industrialists like you with such an important product is why Nigerian Shippers Council is set up, we are here at your services, for those of us who don’t know, Nigeria has the best leather in the World, the so-called Moroccan leather is nothing but leather from Sokoto red coat which have been exported and that is why we have these Italian issues”
“I am happy that we have rare people visiting us today, they didn’t come with paper or terrorists, they came with their products, we must support our small and medium scale industries, we must have advantages in certain sectors”.
Continuing, Barr. Bello explained that “It is our duty to facilitate trade; it is also our duty to increase production, because if there is no production then we cannot have trade, we don’t have products to export, emphasis should not only be on importation”
Speaking earlier, chairman of (ALAIN) Mr. Chinonso Ememchukwu explained that the mission of the group to the council is to have a better working relationship, and to seek the assistance and cooperation of the council in carrying out their trade.
Chinonso in his speech revealed that although the association has so many branches across Nigeria but the Lagos Chapter just got inaugurated last year.
According to Chinonso “we are here to have a better working relationship with Nigerian Shippers’ Council, we need assistance from the established association as big as Nigerian Shippers Council and we need cooperation at his best level, so we want to sit and deliberate or discuss a better working relationship” he said
He also added that the association is into leather, finished leather goods and leather product which also include the production and marketing of these products.
The group sampled some of its manufactured products at the council which includes; military boots, leather belts and other sundry materials.
Funds accrued under the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) are intact and currently held with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under the Single Treasury Account (TSA).
This assertion was made by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), in a statement in Lagos on Tuesday.
The clarification became necessary to address “a misleading publication alleging that funds have disappeared from the CVFF account”.
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The statement reads, in part, “The report of a missing money is both misleading and false.
“For the record, the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund, securely held in the NIMASA account at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), remains intact. There has been no disappearance of funds, and no illegal transactions, as the article suggests. This misinformation is a figment of the authors imagination, aimed at undermining NIMASA’s integrity, and mislead the public about the Agency’s operations.
“The Management of NIMASA will ensure that the CVFF is utilised in line with its statutory purpose. NIMASA Director General, Dr Mobereola has assured stakeholders of the safety of funds under the CVFF.”
The statement cited the DG thus, “Let us be clear that the CVFF account at the Central Bank of Nigeria is safe, intact, and secure. We at NIMASA will continue to manage it with the utmost responsibility, and there are no irregularities or illegal activities surrounding the funds. I urge the public to disregard this false narrative and to continue trusting the Agency’s ability to uphold the integrity of Nigeria’s maritime sector”.
It was gathered that the CVFF is a fund established under section 42 of the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003 to promote the development of indigenous ship acquisition capacity and to provide credit facilities to local maritime operators.
The NIMASA, assured of its commitment “to transparency, accountability, and the advancement of Nigeria’s maritime sector.”
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo appears eager to deliver the dividends of democracy to his constituents.
This is discernible from the frenzy of activities being witnessed in his first few days on the job, including dissolution of boards, constitution of investigative panels, flagging off of infrastructure projects, among others.
In the bid to address the perennial road traffic congestion negatively impacting economic and social activities in Benin City, the state capital, Gov Okpebholo on Wednesday flagged off the construction of a flyover bridge.
Biztellers reports that the flyover bridge around the popular Ramat Park in the city centre is the first of such in the history of Edo State.
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The Edo State Government made the disclosure in its verified handle on micro-blogging site, X, on Wednesday.
It wrote, “Traffic decongestion: Gov Okpebholo flags off first flyover in Edo.
“Edo State Governor, Sen. Monday Okpebholo has flagged off the construction of a flyover bridge at Ramat Park, Benin City, the State Capital, as part of immediate efforts to reduce traffic congestion in the city.”
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has called for a comprehensive action in Nigeria’s bid to be elected into Category C of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council, as he inaugurated an Inter-Ministerial Committee to promote the campaign.
Speaking at the inauguration held at the Boardroom of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy (FMMBE) in Abuja on Tuesday, Oyetola said the campaign must be all-inclusive, taking into consideration diplomatic and operational strategies in soliciting votes to yield good dividends.
He explained that, having lost out three times between 2011 and 2019 after its successful stints in 1975, 2001, and 2005, Nigeria is due to return to the Council to cement its relevance as a strategic Maritime domain and a strong voice in West Africa.
On his part, the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), said, “The need for Nigeria’s return to Council is imperative given our strategic location and significance as a hub of Maritime activities and as a voice for the sub-region on the IMO Council, where crucial decisions regarding international maritime shipping and trade are made.”
ALSO READ: Tinubu Endorses Six IMO Instruments Of Accession
He added that membership in the Council comes with such benefits as “technical assistance, manpower and institutional development, as well as political influence in the maritime sector of the global economy.”
The inter-ministerial committee for Nigeria’s election to the IMO Executive Council at the 34th Regular Session in 2025 comprises high-level officials led by the Permanent Secretary of the FMMBE, Olufemi Oloruntola.
The committee is tasked with identifying activities and actions that will promote Nigeria’s standing in the IMO community by articulating and showcasing the country’s maritime achievements.
Members of the committee include the Director of Maritime Security and Safety from the FMMBE and the Director-General of the NIMASA, who will serve as alternate chairpersons.
Other members are; the Directors of Legal Services and Maritime Services from the FMMBE, the Director of International Organisations Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), the Managing Director of the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority, and the Rector of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron.
Others include the former Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Ade Dosunmu (stakeholder); the representative of the Office of the Honourable Minister of the FMMBE, Dr. Charles Akinola; and the Assistant Director, Maritime Pollution Control at the FMMBE, Mr. Paschal Ogah, who will serve as Secretary to the Committee.
Meanwhile, the Direvtor-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, has officially presented the six IMO instruments assented to by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, GCFR, to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy.
He thanked the Minister for facilitating the signing of the IMO Conventions, noting that, ‘these six conventions have been pending within the Ministry and government for the last 6 to 8 years. With the efforts of the Honourable Minister, they have now been assented to by Mr. President and will be delivered and showcased with the IMO.’
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