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As part of renewed efforts to strengthen port operations, deepen inter-agency collaboration and enhance regulatory efficiency across maritime corridors, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has commenced a series of courtesy and familiarisation visits to key port stakeholders in Onne.
City Business News reports that the initiative is being led by the newly appointed Head of Ports and Borders, Onne South-South/South-East Operations, Engr. Celestine Udenwa, who, alongside a SON delegation, paid strategic visits to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Area II Command, Onne, and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Rivers Port.
At the Nigeria Customs Service Area II Command, the SON delegation was received by senior officers of the Service, led by the Customs Area Controller, Mr. A. M. Alkali, alongside other management and operational officers of the Command.
City Business News reports that the SON team was led by Engr. Udenwa and included the Chief Standards Officer, Dr. Papaa Johnson Pongiri; the Special Adviser to the Director General/Chief Executive on South-South/South-East Operations, Dr. Johnson C. Obiaga; as well as other senior management and operational staff of the Organisation.
In his introductory remarks, Dr. Pongiri explained that the visit was necessitated by recent leadership changes within SON’s Onne Operations and was aimed at reinforcing cooperation between both sister agencies to ensure smoother and more efficient regulatory processes at the port.
Engr. Udenwa, in his remarks, expressed appreciation to the Director General/Chief Executive of SON, Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, for the confidence reposed in him to oversee operations across the South-South and South-East maritime corridor. He also thanked the Customs Area Controller, Mr. Alkali, for the warm reception accorded to the delegation.
He stressed the critical role of collaboration, information sharing and continuous stakeholder engagement in achieving seamless port operations, reiterating SON’s statutory mandate to ensure that regulated products entering the Nigerian market meet required quality and safety standards.
The courtesy visits, according to Engr. Udenwa, form part of broader efforts by SON to align its operations with other port agencies, eliminate bottlenecks and contribute to improved trade facilitation and economic growth within the maritime sector.
