By Izuchukwu Ozoemena

In an atmosphere devoid of rancour and acrimony which usually herald elections in Nigeria, the Association of Maritime Reefers Truck Owners (AMARTO), Tuesday, elected a new leadership to pilot her affairs for the next two years.

The post of Chairman went to Babalola Gbadeyan while Olutola Obamero clinched the position of Vice Chairman.

Abdulrahman Jibo became the Executive Secretary/Admin even as the post of Public Relations Officer went to Tunji Akinwale.

Messrs Mohammed Auwalu, Nathan Doye and Pessu Temisanren were elected Provost, Treasurer and Financial Secretary respectively.

In his pre-election remarks, Patrick Ocheme Michael, the election co-ordinator and General Secretary, Board of Trustees, implored all members to offer undiluted assistance and cooperation to whoever that was elected as an executive for the interest of the association. He urged members to be elected to have as priority the interest of the Association, her members and the future at heart. He urged the emerging executive to show commitment and serve without bias as to tribe, religion or any other divisive factor.

He told the emerging leaders: “Lead us aright, keep your records and avoid internal wrangling of any sort”.

In his post-election remarks, Chief Remi Ogungbemi, Chairman, Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) who witnessed the election expressed satisfaction with the way and manner it was conducted.

“I congratulate you all and pray God to give you genuine wisdom and knowledge.” He enjoined the new leaders to endeavour to exhibit the patience required as leaders – patience, understanding, tolerance.”

Transportation, he explained, is a universal language. There should not be any case you say ‘this is my tribe’. “No! Every person in the sector is your tribesman. Hold on to this and I pray to God almighty to guide you,” he concluded.

In his post-election speech, the new Chairman, Babalola Gbadeyan, speaking on behalf of the newly elected leaders, requested all members to join hands to make the association great.

“We come from various homes to come and trade in Apapa. Let us join hands together to move our association and the maritime industry forward.”

“I am very happy today. For a truck organization to have a unique election like this without any rancour and dispute, I commend every member of the association. We all need your support.”

By Izuchukwu Ozoemena

The Barge Operators Association of Nigeria (BOAN) has pledged readiness to continue to collaborate with the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy on initiatives aimed at harnessing the enormous potentials the maritime sector offers.

BOAN President, Mr. Olubunmi Olumekun made the pledge in a congratulatory message to Dr. Charles Okaga on his appointment as Technical Adviser to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, H.E. Adegboyega Oyetola .

Dr Okaga’s appointment, he stated, is significant as it lends credence to his exceptional leadership ability and the profound impact he has made in advancing the Nigerian barging and maritime subsector.

He said: “Throughout his tenure at NPA, Dr. Okaga has been at the forefront of modernizing operations and streamlining processes within the sector. His innovative strategies and commitment to excellence have notably enhanced the efficiency of barging operations and reinforced the resilience of Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure.”

“His contributions have set new benchmarks in the industry and positioned Nigeria as a competitive force on the global stage”.

The BOAN President expressed confidence that Dr Okaga’s expertise and innovative approach would continue to inspire stakeholders and bring about greater advancements in the barging and maritime sector.

While celebrating Dr. Okaga’s milestone elevation, BOAN President looked forward to witnessing further transformative changes under his guidance in the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

The BOAN President expressed confidence that his expertise and innovative approach would continue to inspire stakeholders and bring about even greater advancements in the barging and maritime sectors.

As the barge operators celebrate Okaga, they look forward to the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy witnessing further transformative changes under his guidance.

By Izuchukwu Ozoemena

Fragmented technological systems, institutional bottlenecks, misaligned stakeholder expectation and inadequate physical and technological infrastructure have so far been identified as factors working against the successful implementation of the Single Window arrangement in cargo clearance.

“While these obstacles have slowed our progress, they have also provided invaluable lessons that shaped the roadmap for future successes”.

Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this in Lagos, Tuesday, during a stakeholders’ forum on the National Single Window implementation.

Speaking through Mrs Kikelomo Adeola, Deputy Controller General, (DCG), Information Communications and Technology (ICT), the CGC underlined the importance of continuous stakeholder engagement in the implementation of the Single Window, adding that previous initiatives suffered due to limited collaboration and inadequate communication whose absence bridged the trust gap expected to soften resistance among stakeholders.

According to the World Customs Organisation (WCO), a Single Window (SW) is a trade facilitation concept that enables traders and businesses to submit standardized information and documents through a single entry point to fulfil all regulatory requirements related to import, export, and transit. It simplifies and streamlines interactions with government authorities, thereby improving efficiency and reducing costs and delays in cross-border trade.

Since 2014, Nigeria has made efforts twice to create and implement the Single Window without success.

Adeniyi was of the view that for the National Single Window to work in Nigeria, going forward, all relevant agencies in the country’s trade and revenue system “must embrace a singular purpose backed by an unwavering government support, ensuring that the single window is not perceived as sole mandate, but as a national strategy supported by all stakeholders, including the private sector, financial institutions, and regulatory agencies.

“The centrality of customs in this ecosystem is undeniable,” he continued, “but success requires a symbiotic relationship where each stakeholder plays its path with precision and commitment.” He reasoned that even though technology has often been cited as the cornerstone of the single window system but it cannot offer a solution on itself.

“The deployment of advanced digital platforms must be accompanied by meticulous process reengineering, capacity building, and proper change management. Past efforts in Nigeria have failed due to over-emphasis on technology without adequately addressing the human and operational dimensions. A successful single window system must reflect the peculiarities of Nigeria’s trade environment, incorporating user-friendly designs, inter-operability with existing systems and scalability to accommodate future growth.”

He called for a unified vision driven by strong political will and institutional lapses to overcome fragmentation in leadership and inconsistent policy direction which undermined the effectiveness of earlier initiatives.

“So, a successful single window system must prioritize inclusivity with active consultation and collaboration among government agencies, private sector and development partners. This development must include consultation and involve co-creation where stakeholders actively contribute to system design and evaluation”.

“As we forge ahead,” the CGC stated, “we must harmonize the legal landscape”.

“Eliminating redundancy required ambiguity while instituting possible policies that promote transparency accountability and efficiency. This legal alignment will not only facilitate system implementation, but also boost Nigeria’s compliance to international trade agreements and standards,” he added.