Vice President Kashim Shettima on Wednesday officially inaugurated a comprehensive USD 115 million upgrade project at the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) in Onne, Rivers State. Our Correspondent reports that this monumental investment underscores APM Terminals’ unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s economic growth and solidifies its position as a key trade hub in West Africa. With this monumental upgrade, APM Terminals has reaffirmed its role as a key player in lifting global trade and creating opportunities for communities across Nigeria and West Africa. The inauguration ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF),…
Author: Bon Peter
A Maritime Stakeholder and an ANLCA chieftain in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Okere Celestina Chinyere Ph.D has applauded the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho for creating an enabling environment that made it possible for the recent berthing of large container vessels to visit Seaports outside the Lagos State Area. Dr Okere gave the commendation regarding the recent second port call of KOTA CEMPAKA – the largest container ship ever to carry out full operations at Nigeria’s Eastern ports. The ship, which berthed at the Onne Multipurpose Terminal (OMT), made its second port call to Onne…
The seeming fresh air of peace being enjoyed for nearly one year now in the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) may soon evaporate into thin air as an ANLCA chieftain, Chief Dennis Okwu has alleged a clandestine and orchestrated plan hatched by some people whom he described as wearing the toga of “The Nine Billionaires” in the Association, fighting tooth and nail to stop his aspiration as one of the contestants in the September 2024, forthcoming ANLCA BoT Election to pave way for themselves and their cronies. Speaking to some select journalists on Tuesday in his office in…
****Generates over N312 Billion in six Months of 2024 The Nigeria Customs Service, Port Harcourt Area 11 Command, Onne Rivers State, says it has intercepted 7 containers of illicit drugs worth over N11 billion and collected over N312 Billion in six months of the year 2024. Addressing journalists Thursday, at Onne, Rivers state the Customs Area Controller, (CAC,) Comptroller Mohammed Babandede, stated that Journalists were aware that on the 1st of July 2024, the Controller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR visited the Command and addressed members of the Press on recent significant developments on the operations of the Command to…
The Nigeria Customs Service Area 11 Command Onne Rivers state says it has intercepted a 1X40 foot container with number MAEU165396, which originated from Turkey and laden with arms and ammunition and contraband drugs worth over N13 billion. This was disclosed by the Comptroller General of Customs BA Adeniyi MFR while addressing Journalists at Onne, Rivers state, Monday.Speaking further, Adeniyi said that the container “based on a number of risk factors, became a subject of interest insisting that Customs had followed its sail across the Continents, and had benefited immensely from credible information produced through its collaboration with the intelligence…
Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Port Harcourt Area 11 Command, Onne Rivers state says it has collected over N249 Billion naira from January to May 2024 even as on its anti-smuggling war, it has also seized 6 containers of contraband goods worth over N3 billion within the period under review. Addressing journalists weekend at the Command at Onne, the Customs Area Controller, (CAC) Comptroller. Mohammed Babandede, said, “On assumption of office I embarked on courtesy visits to Bonded Terminals, various sister Agencies and had series of meetings with stakeholders to seek for their cooperation in terms of collaboration, synergy and information…
The Town Hall (Ama-wari) in Abonnema, a Kalabari-Ijaw community is filled with an array of Kalabari chiefs adorned in majestic robes. The Abonnema Council of Chiefs is receiving the next Paramount Ruler of Oruwari War Canoe Chieftaincy House. He is Opuda (Alabo) Dumo Lulu-Briggs. His elevation to the top of the Kalabari chieftaincy institution is legendary. His installation to three different chieftaincy stools in quick succession is like a fairytale. Many of the Chiefs seated in the Town Hall were also present, ten years earlier, in the same town hall, when Dumo Lulu-Briggs’ installation to a far lesser personal stool…
A cancer expert Pharm. Dr Elikee Ekenna says Nigeria can make Billions of Naira annually through medical tourism. Ekenna made this disclosure while fielding questions recently in Emene, Enugu state. He wondered why Nigerians prefer going abroad for treatment of cancers and other life threatening ailments like Kidney diseases, heart diseases, diabetes among others, while the cure through natural remedies are readily available even as he said that Nigeria stands to make billions of naira as people from other parts of the world will come for treatment. Speaking on the synthetic drugs to treat such diseases he said “Some of…
It was glamore and all smiles at Customs Barracks Ebubu in Eleme, Rivers state Monday as the Customs Officers Wives Association, (COWA), a non – governmental, non religious and non political organization with the mission to empower and support customs officers’ wives to achieve self sustainability and economic independence through education, sensitization and capacity building, celebrated children’s day. The event which was organized by the Customs Area 11, Command Onne Port Harcourt With the theme: Protecting the Nigerian Child from the Dangers of Online Technology “Promoting Inclusivity”, was graced by Haj. Amina A. Babandede, COWA Chairperson, Customs Area 11 Command…
The coalition of Maritime Journalists Association of Nigeria (COMJAN), has risen from an emergency meeting in Port Harcourt the Rivers state capital last week, condemning in strong terms the unethical behaviour of some Maritime Media Practitioners that go by the name Nigeria Maritime Journalists Forum which COMJAN claimed has continuously made it her stock in trade to carrying out reportage based on unverified, unfounded and baseless speculations aimed to put an undue pressure on their alleged personalities without recourse to the norms and ethics of journalism profession with the intention to extort and cajole alleged personalities for gratification. COMJAN sees Journalism as a…
The tussle for political supremacy between Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers state and his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chief Nyesom Wike may hamper investors’ confidence, says group. Amidst the heightened political feud in the state, concerned analysts, elder statesmen and professional bodies had initiated some interventions which have failed to bring about peace between parties. One of such interventions was initiated by the ‘Coalition of Rivers Leaders of Thoughts’ (CORSLOT), a non-partisan opinion group in the state. Concerned about possible economic and law breakdown following the unresolved crises, CORSLOT feared that the prolonged wrangling may…
Some prominent political leaders in Andoni local government Area of Rivers State, have commended the Erastus Awortu led administration for proffering solution to insecurity and decayed infrastructure in the area. They commended him on achievements as his tenure gradually runs to an end while also pledging support for his second term bid. The group made their position known over the weekend, at Ngo, Headquarters of the council during a solidarity visit to the council’s chairman. They also commended former governor Nyesom Wike in his commitment to the actualisation of the renewed hope agender of the President Tinubu…
…….Says Indorama Helped to remove trucks and evacuate carcasses The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says it has identified the cause of the weekend fire disaster that consumed five persons including a pregnant woman and 120 vehicles along the ongoing reconstructed section of the East West Road in Rivers state. The Rivers Sector Commander, FRSC, Chris Kuje, was quoted as saying that the “preliminary investigations have revealed that the tragedy was caused by two tanker drivers, who were jostling for space.” Continuing, Kuje maintained that “during the struggle, the trucks collided sideways and caused a rupture in the trailer of…
The Nigeria Customs Service Area 1 Command Port Harcourt, Rivers state says the Command has generated and collected the sum of ₦43,625,986,168.40 in the First Quarter of 2024. The figure represented a 23.68 per cent of the gross revenue target of the Command for the 2024 fiscal year which is ₦184,221,730,121.48. This disclosure was made by the Customs’ Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Mustapha Hashim in a press release made available to journalists in Port Harcourt, Monday where the Area Controller, Comptroller Hashim was quoted as saying that the revenue for the first quarter of 2024 revealed a significant…
Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Ltd says that effective environment management has continued to be an integral aspect of its operation. The company made its position known over the weekend, while addressing newsmen shortly after a tour of its facility at the company’s corporate headquarters in Eleme, Rivers. Head, Corporate Communications of the company, Dr Jossy Nkwocha said that the tour became necessary to express the extent of commitment towards achieving a zero harm, safe and healthy environment in line with operational laws of the Federal Government and the World Health organization (WHO). “We have painstakingly shown you during the facility tour…
It was pomp at Onne Area 11, customs command as the outgoing Area Controller, Comptroller Baba Imam successfully handed over the mantle of leadership to his successor, Comptroller Mohammed Babandede. The grand occasion which took place Friday in Port Harcourt the Rivers state capital witnessed a sensational handing and taking over Parade in honour of the out-going Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Baba Imam and the in-coming Area Controller, Comptroller Mohammed Babandede. The Command had in attendance to witness the parade, various Commanders, Heads of Security Agencies and Stakeholders working in the Port Environment. In his farewell address, Comptroller Baba Imam appreciated God for…
Importers/Exporters, Shippers and Freight Forwarders operating in the Eastern ports of the country have unanimously rejected an alleged 200 percent increase in Haulage Fare by the Nigerian Shippers council (NSC) in connivance with the transport unions, Maritime flat and cargo and the Freight Forwarding transport, lamenting its impending inflationary effect should the alleged hike is allowed to stand. The body unanimously threatened operational shot down as they declared a 7 day ultimatum during which the NSC is expected to return to status quo ante by reversing the hiked rate. Their position was made known to Newsmen on Wednesday in Port…
