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Tag: Oyetola

  • Fed Govt to roll out inland waterways, coastal services Thursday

    Fed Govt to roll out inland waterways, coastal services Thursday

    The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, has said it will soon unveil its plans for the inland waterways and coastal services across the industry.

    Marine and Blue Economy Minister Adegboyega Oyetola reportedly announced this in a statement in Lagos by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Zoe Maritime, Mrs. Tosan Edodo-Moore.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister will unveil the plans at the forthcoming Maritime Business Roundtable breakfast meeting.

    Edodo-Moore said the Federal Government, through its Renewed Agenda, remained committed to increasing the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by increasing the revenue generated by the ministry.

    “We are pleased to announce the Maritime Business Roundtable Breakfast Meeting (MBRBM) on Security and New Technologies in Inland Waterways Transportation, scheduled for April 18 in Lagos.

    “The highlight of the meeting is the intervention of Madam Yan Yuqing, the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China.

    “Yuqing will share the Sino-Nigeria Maritime Relationship and lessons to be learnt from China, which has the largest inland waterways network in the World.

    Read Also; Ondo Guber: Aiyedatiwa, Ibrahim, Akinterinwa others get certificates to contest primary Monday

    “Also, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, will unveil the administration’s plans for inland waterways and coastal services.

    “The subject will be dissected by a panel, comprising industry stakeholders, regulatory authorities and security agencies,” she said.

    Mrs. Edodo-Moore said the panelists would include the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr. Mohammed Bello-Koko, and the Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola.

    Others are: the Managing Director National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) in Lokoja, Alhaji Munirudeen Oyebamiji, and the General Manager of Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Mr. Oluwadamilola Emmanuel.

    Also expected at the event are the Managing Director of Niger Benue Transport Company Limited, Mr. Oluseyi Oluyede, and an Assistant inspector General (AIG) at the Maritime Police Command, Rhoda Olofu.

    The Zoe Maritime boss said expected participants at the event are port users, maritime stakeholders, government agencies, banks (with maritime desks), insurance companies, ship owners, boat operators, logistics companies, freight forwarders, oil and gas companies and foreign entities.

    According to her, the benefits of the maritime breakfast roundtable include visibility, growth, networking, impartation and exchange of knowledge.

  • Look into Ibeto Jetty, Rivers Port, Centre urges Oyetola

    Look into Ibeto Jetty, Rivers Port, Centre urges Oyetola

    The Save Humanity Advocacy Centre (SHAC) has urged the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, to probe the activities of Ibeto Jetty and Rivers Port.

    This, the centre, said would ensure a level playing field for all players according to the law.

    Speaking at a briefing on Tuesday, the Centre’s Executive Director of Media, Comrade Jacob Okpanachi, alleged unregistered dock workers are operating foreign vessels.

    According to him, the activities have diverted the government revenues which run into billions while shortchanging the legitimate registered dock workers of their wages.

    “We want to publicly share with Nigerians our feelings, frustrations and pains about the happenings in Rivers Port, which the NPA seems to have turned a blind eye to,” Okpanachi said.

    “In the past year, we have received several petitions from concerned Nigerians on the alleged illegal labour operations at the Ibeto Jetty.

    Read Also: Between Osun PDP’s aspersion and Oyetola’s compassion

    “The arrangement stems from the erroneous approval granted to Ibeto Jetty to operate as a port, as a result of the disingenuous advice of the former Port Manager, through the former Executive Director of Marine and Operations.

    “We need to know the rationale behind the decision to allow unregistered dock workers to operate foreign vessels at a private Jetty while denying the government its through-put/ berthing fees and also under declaration of tonnage,” he said.

  • Between Osun PDP’s aspersion and Oyetola’s compassion

    Between Osun PDP’s aspersion and Oyetola’s compassion

    By Jimoh Olorede

    After election into power, politicians in Nigeria should demonstrate commitment and concentrate on governance with intent to deliver on their electioneering campaign promises to the electorate. It’s however unfortunate that many Nigerian politicians believe everything is politics, thus play ‘politics’ with everything.

    It’s regrettable that Nigerian youths, whose number takes the largest chunk of the nation’s voting population, lack the courage and wherewithal to interrogate elected politicians on the implementation of their manifestos for which they were voted into power. The problem with the youths is simply that some have actually killed the goose that lays the golden eggs by sacrificing their future gains just to satisfy their present needs.

    Nigerian politicians also mischievously deprive the youths of the wherewithal to challenge them in order to perpetuate their hegemony over them and their continuation in power. Osun State, just like other parts of the country, seems to exemplify this scenario. If not, the youths and other discernible minds in the state should have engaged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led-government on how it spent the hefty sum of N141.48bn it received from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) in the year 2023, which was an average of N11.79 bn per month, according to data from the office of the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

    Read Also: Arase to IGP: probe competence of state CPs over killing of officers in Delta, Imo

    Instead of concentrating on democratic dividends delivery, and ameliorating economic hardship in the state, the PDP led-government has since assumption of power, shifted from electioneering campaigns to calumny campaigns exerting all its efforts and determination to cast aspersion on the immediate-past governor of the state, Adegboyega Oyetola, who is now a Minister of the Federal Republic. 

    In what appeared silly and petty, Osun PDP, in the last couple of days, has rented the media space and electromagnetic broadcast waves in the state and even beyond, with disparaging and damaging unfounded narrative about Oyetola in an attempt to discredit his personality in the psych of unsuspecting members of the public.

    Alleging Oyetola of arrogating the authority of Mr. President in Osun State and offering him as a sacrifice for the inability and failure of governor Ademola Adeleke to alleviate poverty and ameliorate people’s suffering in the state is dramatically absurd!

    Also, alleging the Minister for Marine and Blue Economy of hijacking Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria’s (SMEDAN) programme in the state is an ignorance-exposing and effrontery-showcasing affront that revealed the party’s chairman’s shameless boldness. For PDP and governor Ademola Adeleke’s information and education, SMEDAN is an agency of the Federal Government, and Oyetola must have been invited by the Director General of the agency, Charles Odii, to his agency’s recent programme in the state for reasons of inter-agencies’ collaboration and policy synergy.

    Bemoaning the former governor Oyetola for taking rice, even if it’s true, from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and distributing same to the needy residents of Osun State to cushion post-subsidy removal effect and people’s economic hardship, is the height of Adeleke led-government’s insincerity. The governor must be trying to outwit us and gaming with our collective intelligence in the state by casting aspersion on Oyetola’s compassion and advancing his genuine intervention as an alibi for his failure to equitably distribute federal government palliatives released to the state.

    It’s amazing that the selfless and compassion-driven Oyetola inherited a throat-taking humongous debt to the tune of over N154bn on his assumption as governor of Osun State in 2018, and with his fiscal discipline, expertise and prudence, he repaid over N99bn within four years while concurrently maintaining recurrent expenditure and statutory obligations of his government, and left over N14bn in the coffers of Osun when exiting in 2022 for governor Ademola Adeleke’s fortunate inheritance. 

    Apart from the N141.48bn received last year, 2023, also last month, governor Adeleke received a huge sum of N8.6bn from FAAC, according to NBS on the distribution of revenue allocation to state governments for the month of January, 2024 shared in February, 2024. Also, according to figures obtained from the 2024 approved budget, Osun State, among others, is projected to get N99.09bn in 2024, under the current revenue-sharing formula, as statutory federal allocations to the coffers of the state governments will increase by 69 per cent to N5.54tn in 2024, as reported by the press.

    It’s no gainsaying, as its veracity is easily obtainable in statistics, that governor Ademola Adeleke had received just in six months what it took the whole of Oyetola’s four-year tenure to receive from the federal government (FAAC). So, the governor should rather be busy with business of governance and stewardship to justify the largesse received from the federal government and the generosity of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu instead of drawing the name of the President in the mud. He should tell the citizens of the state how he has been administering the affairs of government regarding his management of the huge resource allocations from the federal government, and jettison his plans, as discovered, on international borrowing to the tune of N12.36bn for the State’s 2024 budget.

    The governor and his party as an entity are herewith advised in the interest of Osun State to shun bitterness and vendetta evident in their malicious campaigns of calumny against Oyetola. As state’s helmsman, Adeleke should concentrate on contacts building and lobbying of relevant agencies of government at national level, Oyetola’s Marine Ministry’s juicy and high-profile agencies inclusive, for development facilitation in the state.

    *Dr. Olorede writes from Oderinde’s Compound, Iragbiji, Osun State.

  • FG working to increase patronage of Onne, Rivers, Warri, Calabar ports, says Oyetola

    FG working to increase patronage of Onne, Rivers, Warri, Calabar ports, says Oyetola

    The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has said that his ministry’s top priority is to restore investors’ confidence to increase patronage of the Eastern Ports of Onne, Rivers, Calabar and Warri.

    Oyetola also said he was delighted to learn that the Onne and Calabar ports had already met the requirements of the International Organization for Standardization and were thus ISO certified.

    The minister spoke on Tuesday, March 19, when he inaugurated a 4.8km road “D” project and Six Marine crafts at the Onne Ports complex.

    He said: “We are now poised more than ever before to give the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) all the backing necessary to address all factors responsible for the underutilization of these national assets.

    “Providing the enabling atmosphere and deepening investor confidence to patronize the Eastern Ports of Onne, Rivers, Warri and Calabar is top on the Ministry’s agenda. 

    “This is why I was delighted to learn that Onne and Calabar Port Complexes have met the requirements of the International Organization for Standardization and are thus ISO certified. 

    “This shows we are doing something right, but we cannot rest on our oars until all other Ports are certified.”

    The Minister said the Federal Government was excited over the ongoing massive  reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Onne Ports in Rivers State, following the government’s $1bn investment in the marine and blue economy sector.

    He promised to grant prompt approvals to initiatives that would enable continuous improvement in the performance of Nigerian ports.

    He commended the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for its prudent application of resources.

    Read Also: Govt remodelling ports to enhance standard, says Oyetola

    He said:  “I have been briefed on the growth in numbers especially for exports emanating from Onne Port Complex, and I am impressed and poised to provide the facilitation and advocacy required to grow the vessel traffic to this important nucleus of growth.

    “Although issues concerning the potential of Onne have always dominated my correspondences with the NPA, I must say that this visit further convinces me that so much more can be achieved if we invest more in our Port infrastructure such as we are doing with the over One Billion USD worth of reconstruction/rehabilitation investment in our Ports including Onne which is at its conclusive stage.

    “Before I cut the commissioning tape, I want to seize this occasion to commend the Management of NPA for the prudent application of resources that financed this project and to reiterate my earlier commitment to grant prompt approvals to initiatives that enable continuous improvement in the performance of our Ports.”

    The Minister further described the inauguration of  the projects as testament to the commitment of his ministry to maximize the entire gamut of opportunities in the maritime sector as directed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    He said: “This road infrastructure constructed by the Nigerian Ports Authority and the mooring boats we are gathered here to commission today, is another testament to the commitment of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy under my watch to maximize the entire gamut of opportunities conferred on us by our maritime endowments, in line with the directives of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    “The Mooring Boats are used to safely berth and unberth vessels calling at various pilotage districts. These six Mooring Boats is our own way of further enhancing the security and safety of our maritime space.”

    In his remarks, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Mohammed Bello-Koko, said the inaugurated road was a major arterial link to the new Berths 9, 10, 11 & 12 at the vast expanse of reclaimed land at the Onne Federal Ocean Terminal (FOT).

    He added that the infrastructure would engender growth in new business opportunities and increase revenue for the national economy.

    He said: “The Phase 4B houses a significant portion of the untapped potential of the Onne Port Complex, thus the completion of the Road ‘D’ which the major arterial link to the new Berths 9, 10, 11 & 12 at Federal Ocean Terminal (FOT) and vast expanse of reclaimed land already leased for port development is actually a link to growth in new business opportunities and increased revenue for the national economy.

    “This road which stretches over a total of 4.8 Kilometres, covering two container terminals and caters to almost one thousand trucks daily is indicative of the Authority’s positioning for the growth, competitiveness and future-readiness.”

  • Govt remodelling ports to enhance standard, says Oyetola

    Govt remodelling ports to enhance standard, says Oyetola

    • Why renewal of port concessioning is delayed

    The Federal Government is preoccupied with remodelling the nation’s sea ports so as to enhance their operational standard. the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, has said.

    “Under the mordenisation programme of the port, the Ministry is envisioning a major reinvestment in the port system for it to meet the expected service delivery that is commensurate with the image of Nigeria and the level of international business that Nigeria is currently engaged with.

    Oyetola, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Oloruntoba Michael, spoke yesterday when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Privatisation.

    “The current situation at the port does not meet the required standard. The investment quantum that is expected to be invested in the port will require a major rethink of the concessioning of the ports. 

    “As a result of that, the Ministry, in concert with the agency, the NPA in particular, has begun a process of reinvestment package for the port.  It means that the Ministry must factor in whatever relevant concessions that have to be made into that larger vision or else, we might progress further in error and put that reinvestment plan at risk,” saying the government requires about $1.1 billion reinvestment in the nation’s port before renewing the concession agreement of the ports.

    Read Also: Tinubu replaces Ndiomu with Otuaro as PAP Administrator

    He said at the moment, the concessioning of the ports was being delayed to allow the government conclude its reinvestment plan and reconstruct the ports to meet the required standard, adding that the present agreement between the government and concessionaires was unacceptable as it falls below the required standard

    “It must be put on record that what you have as a proposal which has been stalled, is yet to be given approval by government and has been considered by the ministry to fall below the expected threshold both in terms of revenue and in terms of investment. The ministry is expectant that it will be able to conclude the investment plan and bring on board necessary modalities for the consideration of these concessions,” Oyetola said.

  • Oyetola to Reps: we won’t sit back and allow our ports to collapse completely

    Oyetola to Reps: we won’t sit back and allow our ports to collapse completely

    Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola said on Thursday, March 14, that in view of the political will shown by President Bola Tinubu to develop the nation’s maritime sector, the government will not sit back and watc the ports to completely collapse

    The minister also said that the government required about 1.1 billion dollars reinvestment in the nation’s port before renewing the concession agreement of the ports. 

    Oyetola, who appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Privatisation, said at the moment, the concessioningnod the ports was being delayed to allow the government conclude it’s reinvestment plan nd reconstruct the ports to meet to required standard. 

    Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Oloruntola Micheal, the minister said the present agreement between the government and concessionaires was unacceptable as it falls below the required standard

    The minister said: “Under the mordenisation programme of the Port, the Ministry is envisioning a major reinvestment in the port system for it to meet the expected service delivery that is commensurate with the image of Nigeria and the level of international business that Nigeria is with. 

    “The current situation at the port does not meet the required standard. The investment quatum that is expected to be invested in the port will require a major rethink of the concessioning of the ports.  

    “As a result of that, the Ministry, in concert with the agency, the NPA in particular has begun a process of reinvestment package for the port.  It means that the Ministry must factor into whatever relevant concessions that have to be made into that larger vision or else, we my progress further in error and put that reinvestment plan at risk.  

    “It must be put on record that what you have as a proposal which has been stalled is yet to be given approval by government and has been considered by the ministry to fall below the expected threshold both in terms of revenue and in terms of investment. The ministry is expectant that it will be able to conclude investment plan and bring on board necessary modalities for the consideration of these concessions”. 

    Read Also: Reps seek public-private partnership in healthcare financing

    Responding to questions, he said: “The extension alluded to expired before May 29, 2023 and that was before the coming of this government. The Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy which was created by this government has taken steps to review what it met on ground and what we have is not acceptable. 

    “Anybody who wishes our ports systems better will ask for something different. A major reinvestment is necessary and the Ministry does not want to truncate the plan for that major reinvestment on the alter of commitment to this agreement. 

    “There is nothing in that agreement that says Nigeria must renew. It is not at my level that the decision will be taken. The decision and process of review will be taken, but the larger interest of government,  the people of Nigeria, the port system is over riding. 

    “We are making earnest steps to finish the arrangements to secure funding for this reinvestment. The terms of those funding will be factored into whatever agreement that we must sign because the lenders will lend to us on terms we must agree to and so, we must do one before the other. 

    “The operators at the port are still running and paying revenue to government on the basis of the agreement that expired. So, the government is not losing any revenue and the operators have not been displaced. If the interest to do what is right is uppermost, then no status quo should be ruffled. 

    “The stand of the Ministry is that we must finish the arrangement of major reinvestment in the interest of the port and the better interest of the country. As soon as it possible, that is what we have to do. What we may do is to grant short term extension to cover for the time that is required. 

    “Our focus is on the larger goal which is the reinvestment. Under the previous agreement,  NPA has the responsibility to fix the infrastructure at the port. If you want to do port reinvestment, these are long term investment and cannot be based on short term because of the quantum of resources that are required. 

    “We are on the same page with our agency. Our larger goal remain sacrosanctand is in the better interest ot even those who may operate the ports. What we prefer are investors and concessionaires  who meet the required standard. What is on the table is to consider short term renewal while we make plans to conclude the reinvestment arrangements. 

    “We are not going to seat back and allow the untold to happen. Mr President has deposited the biggest political will in this sector by creating a dedicated ministry for this sector. We must show results and that is what the ministry and it’s agencies have resolved to do. 

    “We are not resisting renewing this agreement. We are only saying allow the ministry put in place a reinvestment plan for the port in the better interest of Nigeria,  the port system and Nigeria at large. 

    “The Ministry is saying it should be allowed to do what is right and just. The port require a major reinvestment beyond what we have witnessed in the last decade or more. That is more important than what is being taunted”.

    Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello Koko said the proposal for renewal of the concession agreement for the ports was submitted to the Federal Executive Council in February 2023.

    He explained that the FEC put the renewal on hold demanding additional information, adding that one of the issues raised by FEC was investment as it relates to existing infrastructure at the ports. 

    He said “In view of the fact that there was more work to be done, we gave a six months short extension for the terminal operators to continue to operate and so, government was not losing any revenue and they were still paying what they were paying before to the NPA. 

    “At that time, a physical survey was conducted on the infrastructure at the port and we realised that all the ports, especially the Apapa and TinCan where these five terminal operators are working were about to collapse.

    “We observed then, the iminent collpase of the port locations.  We realised that there was need for complete rehabilitation of the ports. The plan is to move into the channel by three meters and that completely changed everything. 

    “Currently, the estimate is about 1.1 billion dollars and discussions have started and about to be concluded so that we get funding from. Those that have shown interest. The loan will be for 15 years with two to three years maritorium during construction. 

    “That is why we felt that there is need to evaluate what was discussed about six years ago. At the end, then parameters will change and the conditions will no longer be the same. The ports are working, but not fully because part of it has collapsed,  but to ensure continuous operation, we felt there is need for reconstruction and within the next few months, the agreement will be signed and construction will begin. 

    “Right now the port is collapsing. That is why we are saying it has to be reconstructed. In ENL which is one of the terminals, belt 7 has completely collapsed and not in use. If you go to TinCan, belt 4,8,9 and 10 have partially collapsedcollapsed and these are the places we went to renew. That is why we are saying there is need to critically look at what need to be done.”

    But the Acting Director General of the Bureau for Public Enterprise, Ignatius Ayewoh believe that the government reinvestment plan should stop the renewal process. Of the concessioning exercise. 

    He said: “I want to say that BPE was involved completely in this concessions arrangement abd till date, monitoring has been taking place  and some of the status report as per performance will be provided for record purpose. 

    “An interagency committee was set up to see to the concessions and some of the renewals made. Some are still ongoing, some have expired. The concession agreement hs provision for renewal as well as retenderetender. In terms of performance, we can say that the state of the port is no longer as derogatory as it used to be. 

    “If you go to the ports, you will see that a lot of mordenisation has taken place and computer is at ion has taken place in most of the terminals. This concession is an advantage to Nigeria in terms of where we were before and it’s is a better place than we met it. 

    “We are not against reinvestment and Improvement. I heard the Ministry say finds will be required and that is why we are doing the concessioning. If it is concessioned, the private aspect must invest finds and we must give a post acquisition plan which is what we must expend. 

    “We recognised that some. Of the assets there must have depreciated.  But with a renewal, you will be able to give what you want to do. We cannot leave it and begin to do short term and at the end, nothing is done”.

    Chairman of the House Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation, Ibrahim Hamisu Chidari said the Ministry must put measures in place to ensure that government does not any revenue as a result of the delay in renewing the condeasion agreement. 

    He said: “After the expiration of the agreement in 2021, the terminal operators were given a six months extension twice and after that, there has been no extension. We don’t want them to continue to operate illegally because there must be no vacuum.”

    The minister however said bthat a six months extension will be given to the terminal operators to operate legally, adding that all plans by the government should be concluded within the six months period. 

  • Oyetola to Reps: we won’t sit back and allow our ports to collapse completely

    Oyetola to Reps: we won’t sit back and allow our ports to collapse completely

    Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola said on Thursday, March 14, that in view of the political will shown by President Bola Tinubu to develop the nation’s maritime sector, the government will not sit back and watc the ports to completely collapse

    The minister also said that the government required about 1.1 billion dollars reinvestment in the nation’s port before renewing the concession agreement of the ports. 

    Oyetola, who appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Privatisation, said at the moment, the concessioningnod the ports was being delayed to allow the government conclude it’s reinvestment plan nd reconstruct the ports to meet to required standard. 

    Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Oloruntola Micheal, the minister said the present agreement between the government and concessionaires was unacceptable as it falls below the required standard

    The minister said: “Under the mordenisation programme of the Port, the Ministry is envisioning a major reinvestment in the port system for it to meet the expected service delivery that is commensurate with the image of Nigeria and the level of international business that Nigeria is with. 

    Read Also: Reps seek public-private partnership in healthcare financing

    “The current situation at the port does not meet the required standard. The investment quatum that is expected to be invested in the port will require a major rethink of the concessioning of the ports.  

    “As a result of that, the Ministry, in concert with the agency, the NPA in particular has begun a process of reinvestment package for the port.  It means that the Ministry must factor into whatever relevant concessions that have to be made into that larger vision or else, we my progress further in error and put that reinvestment plan at risk.  

    “It must be put on record that what you have as a proposal which has been stalled is yet to be given approval by government and has been considered by the ministry to fall below the expected threshold both in terms of revenue and in terms of investment. The ministry is expectant that it will be able to conclude investment plan and bring on board necessary modalities for the consideration of these concessions”. 

    Responding to questions, he said: “The extension alluded to expired before May 29, 2023 and that was before the coming of this government. The Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy which was created by this government has taken steps to review what it met on ground and what we have is not acceptable. 

    “Anybody who wishes our ports systems better will ask for something different. A major reinvestment is necessary and the Ministry does not want to truncate the plan for that major reinvestment on the alter of commitment to this agreement. 

    “There is nothing in that agreement that says Nigeria must renew. It is not at my level that the decision will be taken. The decision and process of review will be taken, but the larger interest of government,  the people of Nigeria, the port system is over riding. 

    “We are making earnest steps to finish the arrangements to secure funding for this reinvestment. The terms of those funding will be factored into whatever agreement that we must sign because the lenders will lend to us on terms we must agree to and so, we must do one before the other. 

    “The operators at the port are still running and paying revenue to government on the basis of the agreement that expired. So, the government is not losing any revenue and the operators have not been displaced. If the interest to do what is right is uppermost, then no status quo should be ruffled. 

    “The stand of the Ministry is that we must finish the arrangement of major reinvestment in the interest of the port and the better interest of the country. As soon as it possible, that is what we have to do. What we may do is to grant short term extension to cover for the time that is required. 

    “Our focus is on the larger goal which is the reinvestment. Under the previous agreement,  NPA has the responsibility to fix the infrastructure at the port. If you want to do port reinvestment, these are long term investment and cannot be based on short term because of the quantum of resources that are required. 

    “We are on the same page with our agency. Our larger goal remain sacrosanctand is in the better interest ot even those who may operate the ports. What we prefer are investors and concessionaires  who meet the required standard. What is on the table is to consider short term renewal while we make plans to conclude the reinvestment arrangements. 

    “We are not going to seat back and allow the untold to happen. Mr President has deposited the biggest political will in this sector by creating a dedicated ministry for this sector. We must show results and that is what the ministry and it’s agencies have resolved to do. 

    “We are not resisting renewing this agreement. We are only saying allow the ministry put in place a reinvestment plan for the port in the better interest of Nigeria,  the port system and Nigeria at large. 

    “The Ministry is saying it should be allowed to do what is right and just. The port require a major reinvestment beyond what we have witnessed in the last decade or more. That is more important than what is being taunted”.

    Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello Koko said the proposal for renewal of the concession agreement for the ports was submitted to the Federal Executive Council in February 2023.

    He explained that the FEC put the renewal on hold demanding additional information, adding that one of the issues raised by FEC was investment as it relates to existing infrastructure at the ports. 

    He said “In view of the fact that there was more work to be done, we gave a six months short extension for the terminal operators to continue to operate and so, government was not losing any revenue and they were still paying what they were paying before to the NPA. 

    “At that time, a physical survey was conducted on the infrastructure at the port and we realised that all the ports, especially the Apapa and TinCan where these five terminal operators are working were about to collapse.

    “We observed then, the iminent collpase of the port locations.  We realised that there was need for complete rehabilitation of the ports. The plan is to move into the channel by three meters and that completely changed everything. 

    “Currently, the estimate is about 1.1 billion dollars and discussions have started and about to be concluded so that we get funding from. Those that have shown interest. The loan will be for 15 years with two to three years maritorium during construction. 

    “That is why we felt that there is need to evaluate what was discussed about six years ago. At the end, then parameters will change and the conditions will no longer be the same. The ports are working, but not fully because part of it has collapsed,  but to ensure continuous operation, we felt there is need for reconstruction and within the next few months, the agreement will be signed and construction will begin. 

    “Right now the port is collapsing. That is why we are saying it has to be reconstructed. In ENL which is one of the terminals, belt 7 has completely collapsed and not in use. If you go to TinCan, belt 4,8,9 and 10 have partially collapsedcollapsed and these are the places we went to renew. That is why we are saying there is need to critically look at what need to be done.”

    But the Acting Director General of the Bureau for Public Enterprise, Ignatius Ayewoh believe that the government reinvestment plan should stop the renewal process. Of the concessioning exercise. 

    He said: “I want to say that BPE was involved completely in this concessions arrangement abd till date, monitoring has been taking place  and some of the status report as per performance will be provided for record purpose. 

    “An interagency committee was set up to see to the concessions and some of the renewals made. Some are still ongoing, some have expired. The concession agreement hs provision for renewal as well as retenderetender. In terms of performance, we can say that the state of the port is no longer as derogatory as it used to be. 

    “If you go to the ports, you will see that a lot of mordenisation has taken place and computer is at ion has taken place in most of the terminals. This concession is an advantage to Nigeria in terms of where we were before and it’s is a better place than we met it. 

    “We are not against reinvestment and Improvement. I heard the Ministry say finds will be required and that is why we are doing the concessioning. If it is concessioned, the private aspect must invest finds and we must give a post acquisition plan which is what we must expend. 

    “We recognised that some. Of the assets there must have depreciated.  But with a renewal, you will be able to give what you want to do. We cannot leave it and begin to do short term and at the end, nothing is done”.

    Chairman of the House Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation, Ibrahim Hamisu Chidari said the Ministry must put measures in place to ensure that government does not any revenue as a result of the delay in renewing the condeasion agreement. 

    He said: “After the expiration of the agreement in 2021, the terminal operators were given a six months extension twice and after that, there has been no extension. We don’t want them to continue to operate illegally because there must be no vacuum.”

    The minister however said bthat a six months extension will be given to the terminal operators to operate legally, adding that all plans by the government should be concluded within the six months period. 

  • High cost of living: Be patient with Tinubu, Oyetola tells Nigerians

    High cost of living: Be patient with Tinubu, Oyetola tells Nigerians

    The Minister for Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has urged Nigerians to be patient with the government of President Bola Tinubu.

    Oyetola made the plea on Thursday, March 7, during the commissioning of the ultra-modern palace of Aragbiji of Iragbiji.

    He stated that the current reforms by President Tinubu are to correct the mistakes of the past administrations.

    He said: “I want to implore our people to exercise a lot of patience, President Bola Tinubu is doing a lot. He means well for the country but we are going to have difficult moments considering where we are coming from. We need a lot of patience to get over the initial problem, I believe that there will be light at the end of the tunnel, let Nigeria continue to pray for him, for knowledge and good health, I have no doubt that he will talk us to where we expect which is the promised land.”

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    Oyetola assured that as one of the appointees of the president, he would not let down the community but represent them well.

    He said: “I am going to steer our economy towards the path of stability and sustainability. During my tenure as the governor of our dear State, I represented you well and proved to be a worthy ambassador of our community. I managed the resources of the State, using the skills of probity, accountability, creativity, and innovation, rendering the best of services despite challenging economic conditions.”

    In the address of Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdur-Rasheed Olabomi commended all sons and daughters of the community towards their donations and contributions to the building of the ultra-modern palace.

  • Fed Govt fixing ports road, says Oyetola

    Fed Govt fixing ports road, says Oyetola

    Two months after the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, reached out to his counterpart at the ministry of Works, Dave Umahi, over the need to fix failed portions of ports access roads, the rehabilitation of the Tincan Port access road has been completed to increase ports efficiency and aid the country’s economic growth.

    Oyetola, who disclosed this yesterday, while debriefing members of his technical team, expressed optimism that access roads to other ports in the country would be fixed very soon.

    The Minister had in December last year, written to the works minister, appealing to him to assist in fixing the access roads leading to the seaports in the country as part of measures to not only resolve the gridlock on that corridor but to increase ports efficiency and aid the country’s economic growth.

    In response to the Oyetola’s appeal, the works Minister, in a letter to his counterpart, dated February 14, 2024, titled “Re: Urgent Request for Rehabilitation of the Federal Access Roads to Key Ports,”  noted that “the access road to Tin-Can Port, Lagos has been successfully completed.”

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    Umahi also noted that “the ministry has awarded a contract for the rehabilitation of the access road to Lagos Port Complex in Lagos State, “ adding that the contractor would soon mobilise to site.

    On the access road to Onne Port in Rivers State, the Umahi added that the contract for the reconstruction of the road was already being processed and that it would soon be awarded, saying “the Federal Ministry of Works also understands the socio-economic importance of these roads leading to the ports in Nigeria and that necessitated the proactive steps we took.”

    Oyetola commended the proactive measures taken by the Works minister and expressed gratitude for his contribution to improving the Ease of Doing Business at the country’s ports.

    He noted that once they are done fixing the dilapidated port access roads, importers and exporters would no longer experience high transportation costs, prolonged transit times, and heightened risk of accidents, adding that “our foreign investment will increase, and our international trade competencies will also be enhanced.”

  • No crisis between me and Oyetola, says Basiru

    No crisis between me and Oyetola, says Basiru

    All Progressives Congress (APC) Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru has said there is no crisis between him and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola.

    He warned those spreading false information about   a frosty relationship with the former Osun State governor to desist from falsehood.

    Dr. Basiru, who paid a courtesy visit to the Osun State chairman of the APC, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, at the party secretariat, Ogo-Oluwa, Osogbo, said he enjoyed cordial relations with the minister and party leader.

    The national secretary urged party members and the public to disregard the antics of propagators of the misinformation and falsehood bent on causing disaffection and acrimony within chapter.

    Basiru hinted that he was preoccupied with how to reinvigorate the party across the nation, with a view to improving its fortune in many states.

    He said the report about an imaginary war was a product of beer parlour talks from habitual drunkards.

    In a statement by Osun APC Director of Media and Information,  Basiru enjoined party stakeholders to key into the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his efforts to bail out the nation from numerous challenges.

    He explained that the economic downturn in Nigeria is an offshoot of the global phenomenon, which is taking its toll on all the nations.

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    Basiru urged party leaders to be steadfast and loyal to the party, assuring that APC will bounce back in Osun State in  the 2026 election.

    He said: “I don’t know where some hungry bloggers source their story from? It is not true that there is acrimony between the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and I.  We are always on the same page.

    “I was with him yesterday where I spent over two hours. Infact, he is aware of my trip to Osun State today. Where some bloggers came over a phoney story that I consulted an esteemed leader of our party yesterday in Iwo still remains a mystery when I was in Abuja.

    “Was it my spirit that went to Iwo? Those who are writing compositions with the aim of causing acrimony in our party should go and find meaningful work to do instead of ranting.”

    The chairman thanked Basiry for the visit, saying that it would entrench the faith of the members in the party.

    Lawal urged the local government and ward chairmen and other party officers to always work in unison in the interest of the party in their respective constituencies.

    He appraised the party’s sensitization visits to the local governments, advising party chairmen to continue to build on the success of the tours.

    Lawal said party chairmen should hold meetings at all the levels to sustain its viability.