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SIFAX Inland Container Terminal records 8,736 hours of zero lost time injury

January 18, 2023

Customs join forces with NEPC to boost export trade Amaka Anagor-Ewuzie The Nigeria Customs Service has expressed its readiness to collaborate with the Nigeria Export Promotion Commission (NEPC) to enhance export trade from Nigeria. Adewale Adeniyi, comptroller-general of Customs, disclosed this during a recent courtesy visit by the management team of the commission to the Customs Corporate Headquarters in Abuja. “Collaborating with the Nigeria Export Promotion Commission will enable Customs to leverage the Commission’s expertise and resources to further streamline export processes, reduce bottlenecks, and create an enabling environment for exporters,” he said. During a joint meeting held at the Customs Corporate Headquarters in Abuja, the Comptroller-General reiterated the importance of redefining exports as a means to increase the volume of outbound trade. He commended Nigeria’s efforts in managing trade but emphasised the need for enhanced support for exports, particularly in the realm of logistics. In response, Nonye Ayeni, executive director of the NEPC, commended the Comptroller-General of Customs for his achievements since assuming office in 2023. She said Nigeria has an abundance of resources especially agricultural products and solid minerals, adding that there is a need for advocacy with relevant agencies to alleviate the challenges faced by exporters. Ayeni emphasised the significance of non-oil exports for economic growth and development, even as she called for collaboration between agencies of government to actualise the “Export 35 redefined” initiative. She also urged sister agencies to actively contribute to minimising logistical challenges exporters face and advocated for establishing aggregation centres to facilitate export. According to her, the meeting with Nigeria Customs is part of NEPC’s commitment to fostering partnerships with key stakeholders in the trade sector to facilitate smoother trade operations and promote economic growth. Ajibola Odusanya, Customs Area Controller of Lilypond Export Command Lagos, highlighted the importance of Nigeria Export Proceeds (NXP) to repatriate export proceeds and emphasised that no formal export can be done without it. He identified the absence of NXP as a significant challenge for exporters, stressing its importance in facilitating trade

SIFAX Inland Container Terminal (ICT), a subsidiary of SIFAX Group, has recorded 8,736 hours of zero lost time to injury (LTI) during operations at the terminal.

Paul Linden, managing director of SIFAX Inland Container Terminal, disclosed this during the company’s Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) week held recently at the terminal.

According to Linden, after a few minor accidents recorded during the company’s first year of operations between 2020 and 2021, the terminal’s management did a thorough review and evaluation of its health and safety processes with a view to minimising accidents in the terminal.

“The terminal is glad to announce that it recorded zero accidents in the 2022 business year. This is a good one for us and we will improve on this in the coming years. I must applaud our HSE team for the thorough job of making sure that all staff and visitors comply with the policies of the terminal. Through their efforts, we can roll out the drum to celebrate a year of an injury-free workplace. A special thank you to all our staff for their cooperation too,” he said.

Godwin Okoyeaniche, head of HSE, SIFAX ICT explained that the terminal was able to achieve this feat due to the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders.

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“We are celebrating the 2022 HSE Week to appreciate all our stakeholders for their support towards helping us achieve a zero LTI this year. We promise that 2023 will bring more possibilities for us all,” he said.

Read also: Nigerdock moves to align with growth plan, meet diverse operational focus

Bode Ojeniyi, group executive director of SIFAX Group said the Group’s mantra of ‘Safety First’ has engineered a safe work environment for all its employees, clients, and other stakeholders.

He further said that the company has invested heavily in health and safety equipment as well as training its personnel in order to make the workplace safe.

“Across all our Group entities, we were deliberate about health and safety in the 2022 business year, and we made a lot of progress in this regard. This progress recorded at Sifax ICT is a great achievement for us and we intend to make this a template for all our subsidiaries going into the future,” he added.

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