Toju Vincent
14 December 2013, Sweetcrude, Lagos – Former Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA; Malam Abdulsalam Mohammed last week urged maritime journalists to highlight issues affecting port workers and the ongoing reforms.
Mohammed said that maritime journalists had failed to address issues affecting workers and the recent port reforms.
“The maritime sector is the second sector that has witnessed important developments in terms of reforms, volumes and productivity.
“I feel that maritime reporters have a lot of responsibilities to bring these to the maritime public.
“The port reform has led to major improvement in the operational processes of the ports system; we have seen some improvement in terms of cargo volume and shipping procedures,” Mohammed said.
Mohammed also urged stakeholders and the port operators to support maritime reporters in the effort to develop the nation’s maritime sector.
Also speaking at the Award and Gala night organised by the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria, MARAN, the Registrar, Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding of Nigeria (CRFFN); Mr Mike Jukwu, commended MARAN for its efforts at mobilising Nigerians on the ongoing reforms in the maritime industry.
On his part, the National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service; Mr Adewale Adeniyi, thanked MARAN members for their assistance in stabilising the industry.
“Many of the members who started when I was PRO at Tin-Can Island in early 90’s are successful journalists in the media industry.
“The Customs have disagreed and agreed on some issues with MARAN and collectively we battled the service providers to sustain the responsibility of the Customs to perform its statutory functions,” Adeniyi said.
