The Congress of Nigerian Maritime Media Practitioners (CONMMEP) recently hosted its highly anticipated workshop, themed "Port Community Engagement: Building Partnerships for Sustainable Development".
The event, which took place at Rockview Hotels Apapa, Lagos, had in attendance notable port operators, key government agencies operating within the Nigerian Ports system and traditional ruler from the Port Community area.
Delivering his high standard speech, the guest speaker, Barrister Abdullai Tony Dania Esq, highlighted government policies, programs, and projects within the Nigerian maritime space and port communities emphasizing on the need for CONMMEP, as a media advocacy group, to be bold in its pursuit of accountability and transparency.
He urged the Honorable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega to recognize CONMMEP as a worthy partner in achieving the ministry's goals. He equally encouraged CONMMEP to follow up on the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission's (NUPRC) initiatives to promote sustainable development in host communities around Nigerian ports.
The NUPRC inaugurated the Host Community Development and Administration Trust Board of Trustees (BOT) Forum in February 2024, incorporating 103 Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs), with 52 already funded. This program focuses on implementing the Host Community provisions under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021.
Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration has announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP), offering $230 million in discretionary grant funding for port and intermodal infrastructure-related projects.
Earlier in his welcome address, the president of Congress of Nigerian Maritime Media practitioners (CONMMEP) Alhaji Tunde Umar Daniah stated that CONMMEP is committed to fair, unbiased and balanced reporting on Nigeria's maritime sector, and must recognize the significance of this workshop in transforming ports communities for sustainable growth.
"Our ports communities are vibrant, diverse and resilient, yet face unique challenges. We envision a future where these communities thrive, drive economic growth, social prosperity and environmental stewardship".
He urged the Federal Government, state government policy makers, Stakeholders and community leaders to collaborate, embracing recommendations and outcome of this gathering for a brighter future.
In his keynote address, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), of Apapa command, Compt.BO Olomu who was represented by Assistant Public Relations Officer of the command, described Community Engagement as a process of working with people in a community to address issues that affects them.
He listed some community engagement as having conversations, sharing knowledge and building a sense of shared responsibility
Working with Stakeholders like customs agencies, shipping companies and port management/operators to improve operations.
Creating opportunities for the port and the community to learn together and build shared knowledge on matters of interest on economic stability.
Streamlined operations: Digital platforms called "Port Community System" (PCS) can help Stakeholders exchange information more easily, which could lead to quicker decision and more efficient operations which is obtainable and accessible with the era of Hi-Tech.
Compt. Olomu further said that some components of community engagement which includes informing, consulting, involvement, collaboration and empowerment.
In conclusion, he said partnership are important for sustainable development because they can help address complex challenges by bringing together resources and expertise from different sectors of the economy.
The paramount ruler of the premier ports communities in Lagos, the Olu of Iwa and Apapa, HRM Oba Moroof Oyekunle Attanda Amodu Tijani Oluwa, challenged government agencies and organizations over their neglect of his kingdom and thanked the organisers of the workshop for helping him to do his work of awaking government, port operators and organisations operating within the Ports communities over the neglet of their corporate social responsibility for the communities and promised to join CONMMEP to follow up on this issue to make sure government and port stakeholder live up to their responsibility in the areas of port Community engagement and development.
The workshop's panelists and discussants emphasized the need for effective engagement with youths and community leaders in the removal and economic use of water hyacinths and wrecks by relevant agencies. The event was well-attended by notable industry stakeholders.
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