SIFAX mourns Shagaya 

General John Nanzip Shagaya (rtd)

Ports & Cargo Handling Service Limited, a subsidiary of SIFAX Group, concessionaire and operator of the Terminal C, Tin Can Island Port, Lagos, is mourning the death of its board chairman, General John Nanzip Shagaya (rtd).

Shagaya died on Sunday, February 11, 2018 at the age of 75 in an auto accident while going to Jos from his village, Langtang.

A statement signed by the Group Executive Vice Chairman, SIFAX Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, made available to SHIPS & PORTS DAILY, describes the deceased as one of the pillars that contributed immensely to the phenomenal growth of Ports & Cargo Handling Services Limited.

“It is with a rude shock that we received the news of the death of General John Nanzip Shagaya (Rtd), who was until his demise on Sunday, February 11, 2018, the Board Chairman of Ports & Cargo Handling Services Limited.

“Let me quickly put on record that he played a very significant role in the success story of the company that has now become one of the good case studies of the port concessioning initiative embarked upon by the Federal Government over a decade ago,” he said.

Afolabi further noted that the late General put at the company’s disposal his wealth of experience which he acquired both locally and internationally, when critical decisions about the business were to be made, while also availing the company his extensive contacts that cut across the length and breadth of the country when knotty issues needed to be resolved.

While extolling his virtues, the SIFAX Group boss noted that the deceased was not only a highly resourceful, gentle, kind and selfless individual, but was also famed for his unparalleled dedication to any cause he believed in.

Speaking also on the special relationship he shared with him, Afolabi said, “At the personal level, I enjoyed a father-son relationship with him and I will be eternally grateful for the wise counsel that I received generously from him.

“On behalf of all of us at Ports & Cargo Handling Services Limited particularly and SIFAX Group as a whole, I wish to commiserate with the children and other members of the Shagaya Family on this great loss. Our word of counsel at this moment is that the family should be consoled by his enviable legacy and immense contributions to individuals, communities, corporate establishments and the nation at large,” Afolabi said. 

Afolabi said as a mark of honour, the SIFAX Group flag will fly at half-mast at the company’s head office and Ports & Cargo terminal for three days.