Bello-Koko to Deliver Keynote Address at MARAN Breakfast Meeting, Thursday

Esther Oluku

All eyes are set on the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Mr. Mohammed Bello-Koko, as he leads the Nigeria’s maritime industry in delivering the keynote address to discuss the dilapidated quay apron of Nigeria’s second busiest port.

The event which is billed to hold tomorrow, July 6th, 2023, at the Rockview Hotel, Apapa GRA, Lagos with the theme: “Rehabilitation of Tin Can Island Port: Proffering Workable Solutions” is put together by the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) as part of it’s agenda setting function as watchdog of Nigeria’s Maritime domain.

President of MARAN, Mr Godfrey Bivbere, while intimating members of the press on the programme recently said that the event would serve as a strategy meeting for stakeholders to “discuss workable solutions to the deplorable state of the port” and also double as an inauguration ceremony for the newly elected officials of the Association.

Bivbere noted that the collapsed quay apron of the port is already leading to vessels avoiding the Tin Can Port which in turn would result in loss of revenue for the federal government.

Bivbere said: “The association is troubled that ships are now avoiding the Tin Can Island Port due to its collapsing quay apron and this is detrimental to the economy of Nigeria since the government relies on the revenue generated from the ports on a daily basis.

“As part of our agenda-setting function, MARAN is organizing a Breakfast Meeting to discuss workable solutions to the deplorable state of the Tin Can Port, as well as the need for rehabilitation of other ports around the country”.

Expressing his concern over the collapsing quay apron of the Tin Can Island Port of Lagos, he stated that the Association hopes to champion the discussion for the rehabilitation of other ports around the country.

The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Mr. Emmanuel Jime and the President General, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Mr. Adewale Adeyanju are also set to join other Maritime stakeholders at the Inauguration and Breakfast Meeting.

Among stakeholders expected to converge at the meeting are; The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Mrs Magdalene Ajani, various commands of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS); Shipping Companies and Terminal Operators, 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.