Shippers Council, MWUN, SIFAX Group, Others Top Maritime Organisations With Prospects For 2022

As year 2022 gradually begins with great expectations from stakeholders in the maritime industry , some organisations and individuals have recorded some level of successes against all odds  despite the challenges facing the country.

Unarguably, issues of foreign exchange on exportation and importation, multiple shipping charges, state of the port roads, lack of scanners, illicit drug importation through the seaports and electronic call up system are some of the big stories for the maritime industry in the year ending 2021 .

The coronavirus was not left out as some of the challenges faced by the maritime industry globally, as crew change for seafarers and mariners continued to be a major discourse for last year.

But towards  the twilight of the year 2021, some organisations and individuals notably from the maritime industry,  affirmatively had proven to be relevant and consistent towards ensuring a better and robust fulfilling 2022 in their endeavours .

Below are some notable organizations and individuals in the industry that may likely spring surprises or up the ante this New Year.

Nigerian Shippers’Council 

Emmanuel Jime the Executives Secretary,Nigerian Shippers’Council may spring up surprises in the year 2022 sequel to his prompt response to engage the President General Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju for a brief meeting towards the tail end of 2021.

Stakeholders had expressed worries in the year 2021 over Jime’s slow start since his appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari, in overseeing the affairs of the council’s ombudsman role in port operations.

His swift reactions in November 2021 to prove critics wrong  has revealed that maybe some of the correspondence were not forwarded to the appropriate channel for his perusal .

However with the media analysis , there are indications that the executive secretary would live up to expectations in 2022 to project the council’s mandates for effective and efficient port operations.

In his New Year message, he assured stakeholders, that “As your ES/CEO, I am going to encourage inclusiveness in driving the Council’s organisational goals.”

“As we begin our corporate journey this year, it is important for me to emphasize that the year

2022, is pivotal and definitive to the Council in pursuance of its corporate goals and objectives.

” The implication of this is that our organisation is expected to harness all its resources to drive the successful implementation of this Corporate Strategic Plan. We all need to imbibe the spirit of stakeholders and rise to the demands expected from us as worthy stakeholders”,he noted.

Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO)

Frontline transport group ; the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) has reaffirmed its commitment to collaborate with other key stakeholders in the logistics chain circle for the New Year.

There are indications that the association has realised that the inactive activities last year for Lagos ports has affected its overall turnover thus the need to engage operators and members in reviving the brand name .

It was gathered that in revamping her activities, NARTO has acquired a new secretariat in the heart of Apapa, Lagos in furtherance to streamline its operational activities for the movement of cargoes from the Lagos seaports to the hinterland.

The new secretariat could serve as a moral booster for members of the association and to promote  haulage business in the sector.

In 2021 NARTO withdrew its romance with Council of Maritime Truck Unions and Associations (COMTUA) due to issues bothering on mistrust and dishonesty amongst the various groups.

Earlier in the year, MWUN had similarly disengaged its membership from COMTUA for the above mentioned reasons, even as allegations of extortion and exploitation was basically the reasons behind the union’s dissociation from the body of truckers.

 

Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN)

The President General Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria MWUN Comrade Adewale Adeyanju and his management worked tirelessly to ensure workers welfare was paramount in  the 2021.

The Adeyanju magic will roll over to 2022, even as some projects are ongoing to project a better working condition for workers, the ongoing renovation of the national secretariat and the acquisition of heavy duty vehicles to boost the union’s revenue base are signpost of progress for the sector.

In a chat with newsmen last year, the labour leader promised to collaborate with stakeholders in a bid to move the sector forward .

He also assured workers from the four components that there will be robust cordial engagement with employers to actualise the Collective Bargaining Agreement .

 

NAFFAC

The Nigerian Association of Air Freight Forwarders and Consolidation (NAFFAC) is ably led by Prince Adeyinka Bakare as it’s President General .

The promising player in the maritime sector since he became the president general has brought transformation for the association through establishment of new chapters across the country and manpower development for members.

Adeyinka is the Chief Executive Officer of De-Potter Nigeria Limited and a governing council member, Council for the Regulations of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).

At least three chapters of NAFFAC has been commissioned since his elections three years ago.

He had also promised to open  new secretariats for the association in Enugu Airport this year as part of efforts to build capacity for young practitioners in the freight forwarding sub-sector.

The NAFFAC PG is also a key player in barge operations and exporter of Nigerian produce.

NAGAFF

The President , National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Chief Tochukwu Ezisi , was appointed in 2021 with loads of promises to elevate the umbrella body of freight practitioners.

Ezisi took over from Dr. Increase Uche as the 6th national president of NAGAFF. He was also a member of the governor council , Council for the Regulations of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).

Industry watchers are eager to see the NAGAFF president fulfilling his promises of acquiring a befitting national secretariat for the association.

He had promised to ensure that the association gets a permanent site barely hours of his appointment.

Observers are patiently waiting to see Ezisi magic in furtherance to take NAGAFF to the promise land .

SIFAX GROUP:

Described as the most industrious player in the aviation, hospitality,  maritime , and oil and gas sectors, SIFAX GROUP has carved a niche for itself in the last decade.

With the establishment of Marriott Hotel Ikeja and the newly acquired off dock terminal at  Ijora Lagos  are clear indications.  that 2022 would be prosperous for the Taiwo Afolabi owned conglomerate.

With Ports and Cargo Handle Services Limited at the seaport of Tin Can Island Port Complex and the numerous off dock facilities in Lagos , 2022 will most likely aid trade for the conglomerate.

Ocean & Cargo Terminal Services Limited manages Terminal B, Warri Old Port, it was gathered is gradually picking up as fishing  trawlers and other cargo vessels are berthing and discharging commodities regularly.

By Roland Ekama