BUSINESS
Apapa Gridlock: NPA Chief, Stakeholders Seek Solution
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
Stakeholders in the Nigeria port system on Monday brainstormed on the
incessant Apapa gridlock with a resolution that the Nigerian port
authority should be supported in its drive to make the e-call up
system at the port works.
The occasion was the webinar on the Apapa e-call up system which was
addressed by the acting Managing Director of Nigeria Ports Authority
(NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko, the President of Abuja Chambers of
Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Dr Al-Mujtaba Abubakar, the Executive
Director of African International Trade and Commerce Research, Mr.
Sand Kalu Mba, Port operators, importers and exporters.
The well attended webinar which had major presentations on the e-call
up system by Mr. Bello and a presentation on the assessment study on
the e-call up system by Mr. Mba, witnessed commendations for efforts
of the new NPA management to rejig the implementation of the e-call up
system.
The NPA acting MD in his presentation at the Webinar titled; “Apapa
Gridlock: Accelerating Implementation of E-call Up Policy” organized
by Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) said the traffic
Management along the access roads to the Ports in Lagos has been a
major challenge to the Nigerian Ports Authority.
He said the inadequate physical infrastructure (truck parks) has been
identified as a major constraint in the implementation of the e-call
up system and to nip this challenge in the bud, the NPA has mandated
all shipping companies involved in container operations to establish
empty container holding bays.
“The e-call up system is hinged on three components namely; Physical
Infrastructure, Information Technology and Stakeholders collaboration.
There are also hinderances to accelerating the implementation such as;
the e-call up system like any other novel project has its teething
problems and the problems faced daily by truckers requires the
intervention of Lagos State Government, Messrs. Truck Transit Park
Limited and Nigerian Ports Authority” he stated.
Earlier, the President ACCI, Dr. Abubakar in his opening remark said,
the Apapa Port is an integral part of, and a strategic gateway to
Nigerian economy but unfortunately, it has been bedevilled with
continued occurrence of gridlock.
“As a Chamber, we suggest and encourage a sustained and expanded
collaboration between the Port Authority and the Lagos state
government to dismantle the forces behind the incessant gridlock at
the Apapa port. There is need for the government to introduce
sanctions in the enforcement process. Multiple agencies operating at
the port also needs to harmonize their operations to reduce the
current hardship in the clearance of goods at ports”, he said.
According to a statement by ACCI Media/Strategy Officer, Olayemi John-
Mensah on in Abuja on Monday, the gridlock for the past six or so many
years have disrupted so many businesses and worsen Nigeria’s rating on
Ease of Doing Business (EDB) adding that ACCI had in early 2018 hosted
a roundtable on the traffic situation at the Lagos port.
“The well attended event came up with several solutions among which
were proposals for an e-call up system to manage trucking system at
Apapa. We were glad that the management of NPA eventually introduced
the digital system among other new ideas to ease traffic flow at the
port. However, the implementation of the e-call up system has not gone
as smoothly as envisaged.
“Consequently, ACCI launched a survey study on experiences of users
and stakeholders with the e-call up system. A synopsis of the report
will be presented to the NPA management at this webinar, while the
full report of the study will be presented to the NPA managing
Director in Lagos at a later date”, the statement added.
Dr. Abubakar who commended the efforts of the Federal Government to
extend rail connections to the port as a major step toward achieving
inter-modality within the national transport network also said, it
will improve the movement of containerized goods while noting that the
current efforts to complete the Lekki Deep Sea Port under a public
private partnership.
The Director General ACCI, Victoria Akai who appreciated every
participant at the webinar also lauded the Ag. MD, NPA for his
willingness to collaborate with the organised private sector through
advocacy avenues like this to discuss on moving port operations
forward even in these critical times.
“Indeed, government and the private sector are partners in progress.
Thank you for making exports a priority, this is indeed important for
the diversification efforts to improve our GDP and further create
wealth for our people by taking advantage of international trade
opportunities. The ultimate desire is to have a more functional and
efficient ports operations” she said.
She appreciated the Chamber’s President Dr. Al-Mujtaba Abubakar for
the relentless efforts in advocating for favourable policies and
initiatives for the general benefits of the private sector in Nigeria.
The DG also appreciated Mr. Sand for connecting the consequences of
operations at the ports to the real time effects on lives and families
adding that this is a fundamental point, as we carry out our daily
activities and make policies.
“This has been an engaging programme and we assure you that the report
of this webinar and the survey will be made available for all and we
will formally submit the report to the leadership of Nigeria’s Ports
Authority”, she noted.
The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) has said that the global economy stands at a fragile turning point amid escalating trade tensions and growing policy uncertainties.UN DESA, in a report published on Thursday, stated that tariff-driven price pressures were adding to inflation risks, leaving trade-dependent economies particularly vulnerable.
It stated that higher tariffs and shifting trade policies were threatening to disrupt global supply chains, raise production costs, and delay key investment decisions – all of this weakening the prospects for global growth. The economic slowdown is widespread, affecting both developed and developing economies around the world, according to the report.For instance, in the United States, growth is projected to slow “significantly”, as higher tariffs and policy uncertainty are expected to weigh on private investment and consumer spending.Several major developing economies, including Brazil and Mexico, are also experiencing downward revisions in their growth forecasts.China’s economy is expected to grow by 4.6 per cent this year, down from 5.0 per cent in 2024. This slowdown reflects a weakening in consumer confidence, disruptions in export-driven manufacturing, and ongoing challenges in the Chinese property sector.By early 2025, inflation had exceeded pre-pandemic averages in two-thirds of countries worldwide, with more than 20 developing economies experiencing double-digit inflation rates.This comes despite global headline inflation easing between 2023 and 2024.Food inflation remained especially high in Africa, and in South and Western Asia, averaging above six per cent. This continues to hit low-income households hardest.Rising trade barriers and climate-related shocks are further driving up inflation, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated policies to stabilise prices and protect the most vulnerable populations.“The tariff shock risks hitting vulnerable developing countries hard,” Li Junhua, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, said in a statement.As central banks try to balance the need to control inflation with efforts to support weakening economies, many governments – particularly in developing countries – have limited fiscal space. This makes it more difficult for them to respond effectively to the economic slowdown.For many developing countries, this challenging economic outlook threatens efforts to create jobs, reduce poverty, and tackle inequality, the report underlines. (NAN)
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Foundation has renewed its commitment to ensuring food security in the country.
Mrs Emmanuella Arukwe, Managing Director, NNPC Foundation, said this on Wednesday in her remarks during the training of vulnerable farmers in Akwa Ibom.
Arukwe said that 6, 000 farmers across the country would be trained on modern farming methods and market access strategies to boost food production in the country.
Arukwe, who was represented by Dr Bala David, Executive Director, Programme Development and Coordinator, NNPC Foundation, added that the Foundation was dedicated to implementing impactful programmes that aligned with national priorities.
She said that more than 500 farmers in Akwa Ibom were trained by the NNPC Ltd Agricultural Training Initiative for Vulnerable Farmers on modern methods and strategies to boost food production.
Arukwe added that the farmers were drawn from the state’s 31 local government areas to participate in the training to equip them with techniques and market access strategies to add value to their businesses.
“This programme is a testament to our unwavering commitment to food security, economic empowerment and national development.
“As the corporate social responsibility arm of NNPC Ltd, the Foundation is dedicated to implementing impactful programmes that align with national priorities.
“This initiative is part of our broader efforts to support the Federal Government’s agricultural transformation agenda, which seeks to enhance food security, increase productivity, and improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
“Our goal is to equip every participant with the tools, knowledge, and resources needed to transition from subsistence farming to commercial-scale production,” Arukwe said.
In her remarks, Dr Offiong Offor, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Akwa Ibom, thanked NNPC for the initiative to equip farmers with knowledge on modern farming.
Offor, represented by Dr Atim Okoko, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that a nation that trained farmers was a nation that would not go hungry.
“I want to express the state government’s appreciation to NNPC for mounting this laudable programme.
“A nation that starts to train farmers, a nation that starts to look at farmers will never go hungry.
“In this season that our President Bola Tinubu has come up with his Renewed Hope Agenda, everything is to end hunger in Nigeria,” Offor said.
The commissioner added that the programme came to complement what the state government was doing to ensure food sufficiency.
Responding on behalf of farmers, Mr Bassey Inwang, State Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) said farmers in the state were so grateful for the training.
Inwang said the training would boost food production in the state, as the farmers would apply the knowledge gained on their farms for increase in yields.
He said, “We want to tell you that we will not take this training for granted, we will apply it properly on our farms.” (NAN)
The Federal Government has commenced free six months training for 120 Plateau youths on poultry farming.
The training is through the National Youth Skills Acquisition Fund (NYESAF), under the Innovation, Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS) Project.
Dr Daniel Jarafu, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) VetVille Nigeria Limited, one of federal government’s training service providers in charge of the training, said this on Saturday in Jos, at the flagoff of the programme.
Jarafu, said the project was a deliberate effort by the federal government to empower youths with skills that would make them skillful, self sufficient, employers of labour and in turn, boost economic growth of the nation.
According to him, the six months training is segmented into three months theoretical and three months practical aspects .
He further explained that at the end of the programme the trainees would sit for the National Skills Qualifications (NSQs) examination to earn a national certification which would be equivalent to certification earned in the formal education system.
Earlier, Prof. Arhyel Balami, the Guest of Honour, said the initiative by the federal government was highly laudable as it would lead to the empowerment of youths with hands on agricultural skills that would make them productive with sustainable livelihoods.
Balami, urged the trainees to make the best use of the training by being diligent, showing up and paying rapt attention during the course of the training.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NYESAF is to train 75,000 youths nationwide, with the aim of enhancing job creation, entrepreneurship, and economic independence among young Nigerians.
NAN further reports that initiative underscores the government’s commitment to equipping youths with essential skills to drive economic growth and self-sufficiency
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