The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Rotimi Amaechi

  • PDP alleges plots by Buhari, APC to truncate democracy

    The People’s Democratic Party ( PDP ) has alleged plots by President Muhammadu Buhari and the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) to trigger widespread political crisis, aimed at derailing the democratic process and plunge the nation into anarchy.

    The opposition party particularly faulted the President’s directive to the security agencies to deal ruthlessly with any ballot box snatchers and others that may act in ways that could threaten the electoral process.

    A statement Monday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP viewed President Buhari’s directive as “threat to the lives of Nigerians”.

    The President had, during the APC caucus meeting held in Abuja Monday, said anyone caught snatching ballot boxes should consider the offence the very last they would ever commit.

    But the PDP said President Buhari’s statement was a direct call for jungle justice and attempt to divert public attention from details of APC’s caucus meeting where the President issued the warning.

    The statement said, “We do hope that this call by President Buhari is not a camouflage for the fake soldiers mobilized by the APC to shoot at innocent Nigerians, snatch ballot boxes and execute their rigging plans on the election day. It is indeed a license to kill, which should not come from any leader of any civilized nation.

    “The underlining fact to the above is that President Buhari and APC leaders, upon getting to their voting constituencies last Saturday, realized that there is a nationwide rejection of Buhari’s re-election bid, and this has thrown them into a panic mode.

    “President Buhari must however bear in mind that his resort to threats and scaremongering will not deter Nigerians from coming out en-masse to vote him out of office on February 23.

    “We are aware that President Buhari, who had earlier boasted that nobody can ‘unseat’ him, is bent on using every dictatorial and tyrannical act to truncate the process of a free, fair and credible election”.

    The party also said intelligence available to it showed that the Buhari Presidency has directed the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reshuffle the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).

    According to the PDP, the alleged deployment was to eagle INEC deploy “compromised” officials to manipulate the electoral process in President favour, adding, as they did with the police shortly before February 16.

    The said it’s also aware of the pressure allegedly being mounted by the Buhari Presidency on INEC to cancel elections in some states and make others inconclusive so as to achieve the President’s objectives of a staggered election not minding the crisis such will trigger across the federation.

    “We want Nigerians and the international community to hold President Buhari personally responsible for any electoral crisis, otherwise he will as usual, claim that he was not aware of the plots and transfer the blame to Adams Oshiomhole and Rotimi Amaechi.

    “It is already known that President Buhari has been unrelenting in his attempts to subdue our democracy by trying to subjugate the legislature, emasculate the judiciary and seize control of the electoral umpire.

    “Nevertheless, the PDP wants to assure President Buhari that our nation is bigger than him and that Nigerians will never allow him and the APC to rig this election.

    “Nigerians have reach an irreversible democratic consensus to vote Buhari out and elect the Peoples Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who is ready to rescue our nation from the hardship, anguish, agony and bloodletting which the Buhari administration has plunged us,” the statement added

  • ‘Amaechi mobilising militants to disrupt polls’

    •’INEC chair working for Wike, PDP’

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has said the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and his cohorts, have concluded plans to bomb offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), destroy voting materials and disrupt the elections.

    In a state broadcast yesterday, Wike said: “Credible intelligence has linked Rotimi Amaechi and his cohorts to plans to scuttle the elections in Rivers State, with the support of unpatriotic military and police officers.

    “The security officers have been detailed to provide covert and overt operations for Amaechi’s armed militants and thugs in military camouflage and fake police uniforms to bomb INEC offices, cart away or destroy voting materials at registration area centres, and disrupt the voting process.

    According to the governor, several Hilux vehicles painted in military colours and gunboats have been handed over to the militants to carry out the illegal attack.

    He said: “It is therefore unfortunate that instead of using internal party mechanisms to settle the crisis before it was too late, Rotimi Amaechi chose to act with impunity and is now haunted by the unpleasant outcomes of his arrogance and disdain for due process.

    “Even at that, the Supreme Court has spoken, and the only rational path left for Amaechi is to recognise that justice has prevailed over impunity.”

    The governor admonished Amaechi to be behave maturely by “accepting the consistent decisions of the courts in good faith, eat the humble pie, put his damaged political enclave in order and wait for 2023 elections”.

    “I appeal to the conscience of Rotimi Amaechi, as a brother and fellow compatriot, to stop stoking the drumbeats of violence and allow the prevailing peace to continue in our state,” Wike added.

    But Amaechi, in his reaction, accused Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, of working for Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Amaechi addressed reporters last night in reaction to Wike’s broadcast earlier in the day. He urged Nigerians to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari and other candidates of APC to take Nigeria to the next level.

    He said: “I know that everybody has been expecting me to talk on the court cases, but I will not, because I am just a party member. The party chairman has already said INEC is working for the PDP, an example is the fact that there is a stay of execution granted by the Court of Appeal, just because the INEC Chairman was Director of Tertiary Education Trust Fund, (TETFUND) under Wike as Minister of State for Education, he now chose the court order to implement and the one not to.

    “Obviously, the INEC chairman is trying to assist Wike become a second term governor without election. We understand his game, but we believe in the judiciary. You heard the President when he said the injustice will be addressed. We will deal with the justice and not the judgment.

    “I listened to our governor when he spoke about violence. I do not like violence, because if you kill somebody, you cannot replace the life. APC has just lost 15 persons to stampede at Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, and I was touring people’s houses to identify with their pains.

    “When former President Goodluck Jonathan came for campaign here and 23 people died, I saw them eating lunch. Persons have gone, whether for good or for bad, they will never come back. I will never support violence and I will never support injustice.

    “We will vote on Saturday for President Buhari. If INEC decides to obey the stay of execution, then we will arrange for election. But since the INEC chairman is working for the PDP and does not want to obey the court’s decisions, so be it. God bless him.”

  • 2019: INEC is working for Wike, PDP, says Amaechi

    The Director-General of Buhari/Osinbajo Re-election Campaign Organisation, Rotimi Amaechi, has accused the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, of working for Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Amaechi, who is also the Transportation Minister and a former Rivers governor, spoke with reporters on Thursday in his house at the old Government Reservation Area (GRA), Port Harcourt, while reacting to Wike’s broadcast.

    He also urged Nigerians to massively vote for President Muhammadu Buhari and other candidates of APC, in order to take Nigeria to the next level.

    Amaechi said: “I know that everybody has been expecting me to talk on the court cases, but I will not because I am just a member of the party (APC). The party chairman has already said that INEC is working for the PDP. An example that INEC is working for the PDP is a fact that there is a stay of execution granted by the Court of Appeal (in Port Harcourt), just because the INEC Chairman was Director of TETFUND (Tertiary Education Trust Fund) under Wike as Minister of State for Education, he now decided to adhere to the court order to implement and the one not to implement.

    Read also: 2019: PDP plots chaos through Parallel Voting Tabulation System – BMO

    “Obviously, he (INEC chairman) is trying to assist Wike to become a second term governor without an election. We understand his game, but we believe in the judiciary.  You heard the President (Muhammadu Buhari) when he said that the injustice will be addressed. We will deal with the justice and not the judgment.

    “I listened to our governor (Wike) when he spoke (in yesterday’s broadcast) about violence. I do not like violence, because if you kill somebody, you cannot replace the life. APC has just lost 15 persons (to stampede at Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, after Buhari’s presidential rally on Tuesday) and I was touring people’s houses and trying to identify with their pains.

    “When former President Goodluck Jonathan came for campaign here (in Port Harcourt) and 23 people died, I saw them eating lunch. Persons have gone, whether for good or for bad, they will never come back. I will never support violence and I will never support injustice.

    “We are going out on Saturday to vote for President Buhari. If INEC decides to obey the stay of execution, then we will arrange for election on Saturday. But since the INEC chairman is working for the PDP and since he does not want to obey the court’s decisions, he was a director of TETFUND, when Wike was a junior minister, so be it. God bless him.”

    The transportation minister also stated that President Buhari was performing impressively and determined to genuinely transform Nigeria, as well as adequately empowering the people, while urging all lovers of democracy and good governance to ensure his re-election on Saturday.

  • Jonathan left $2.5bn in govt coffers, says Amaechi

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan left only $2.5 billion in the coffers of the federal government when he left government in 2015, the Director-General, All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Organisation, Rotimi Amaechi has said.

    He emphasised that the corruption allegedly perpetrated by the immediate past administration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was traceable to the current harsh economy in the country.

    Amaechi, the former governor of Rivers state also revealed that former President Olusegun Obasanjo left $68bn while in office.

    He expressed concern on why Jonathan could leave $2.5bn for President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, alleging that the Jonathan’s government ruined the nation’s economy through corruption.

    Amaechi spoke in Akure, the Ondo State capital during the party’s presidential campaign rally held on Tuesday in Akure, the Ondo state capital.

    President Buhari at the occasion maintained that his administration has kept faith to all his electioneering campaign promises, especially on the fight against corruption.

    According to him, many corrupt Nigerians have been arrested and prosecuted in the last three and half years of his administration.

    The President assured that his government would intensify efforts on the fight against corruption if he is reelected.

    Read also: Sokoto Commissioner dumps PDP for APC

    He said the money recovered from those found culpable of various corrupt offences will be used to develop the country.

    Buhari said “We are gradually winning the war against Boko Haram and Nigeria is getting secured. Boko Haram no longer operates in many communities in Borno State. In fact, they don’t operate in secular places again.

    Vice President Osinbajo assured that the administration of President Buhari will create one and half million jobs for unemployed youths if given the opportunity for a second term in office.

    He said the federal government had engaged 500,000 youths through the N-Power programme in the last three and half years and will do more if allowed to serve a second term.

    Osinbajo also promised an improved electricity supply in all parts of the country, adding that a new initiative tagged “People’s Money” which is a replica of the “Traders money” will be introduced
    during the second term of President Buhari.

  • NRC to test run Lagos-Abeokuta rail line early February

    The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) says it will test run the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge line early February.

    Mr Fidet Okhiria, the NRC Managing Director, who disclosed this on Wednesday at Ijoko in Ogun, while inspecting the project, added that work on the tracks is moving towards Lagos with 1.5 kilometers being laid daily.

    “They have done a lot in laying of tracks between Abeokuta, Itori, Papalanto, Kajola, Ijoko towards Lagos corridor.

    “Within seven days the track laying will reach Iju towards Agege corridor of Lagos state.

    “From here to Iju is 10 kilometers, and we are laying 1.5 kilometers on daily basis and by the first week of February we will do a test run to Abeokuta from Lagos.

    “All the formations have been put in place to expedite the tracks laying,” he said.

    The managing director said work had been completed between Kajola and Abeokuta.

    Mr Jerry Oche, the NRC Lagos District Manager said that when completed, the trains would be travelling at 150 kilometers per hour.

    “With the new standard gauge, you can reside in Ibadan and be working in Lagos which is a very good development to people and for our economy,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Rotimi Amaechi, the Minister of Transportation, had said in 2018 that the completion of Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge would also ease off the Apapa gridlock.

    Amaechi said: “As you can see, the narrow gauge is existing but it’s not efficient, but the moment we fix this project, then those goods will be transferred to the rail and the lock jam will disappear on the road.

    NAN

  • Unprecedented crowd as Buhari campaigns in Borno/ Yobe

    Despite security challenges in Borno and Yobe, there was massive turn out at the APC presidential campaign held in Borno and Yobe on Monday.

    Hoards of APC supporters in the two states have taken over the Ramat Square in Maiduguri and August 27 Stadium in Damaturu where President Mohammadu Buhari launched his 2019 campaign in the two states.

    President Buhari who first arrived Maiduguri a few minutes after 10 am with his campaign train was greeted with an unprecedented crowd on the major streets of Maiduguri before emerging into a sea of supporters at the Ramat square. A massive square that is four times larger than the Eagle Square at the FCT.

    In, Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, President Buhari’s convoy was also buried in supporters who virtually took over the roads, swimming on the president’s car despite security presence before he arrived at a capacity full August 27 Stadium amidst cheers, jubilation and singing as the president emerge from the black bulletproof jeep.

    On his arrival in Maiduguri, President Buhari was received by Gov. Kashim Shettima in company of former Governors and National Assembly Members.

    The Presidential train drove to the Shehu’s palace for the traditional homage before proceeding to Ramat square.

    Borno State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress Ali Bukar Dalori welcomed guest at the venue which marked the commencement of the event.

    Governor Kashim Shettima in his remarks noted that Borno is a natural habitat of President Muhammadu Buhari, stressing that the president has always gathered more votes than any presidential candidate.

    Gov. Kashim Shettima announced that stakeholders of the party in the state were poised to ensure Borno falls amongst states that will give the President the highest votes come February 16 elections.

    In their different remarks, the Leader of the APC, Bola Tinubu, the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole and the Director-General Buhari Campaign Organization Rt Hon Rotimi Amaechi were all amazed by the crowd while expressing confidence in the re-election of President Muhamadu Buhari.

    While making his remarks, Buhari promised to sustain the fight against corruption and Boko Haram.

    Buhari, who spoke in Hausa, said: “In 2015, I promised to you that I will fight graft, Boko Haram insurgency; and transformation the economy for self-reliance, instead of massive importation of food.”

    “As your President, I want to assure you that our government will reciprocate all the support you have been rendering to this administration and APC.

    “The security situation is glaring that government has done wonderfully well, we will not relent, but strive to ensure total restoration of peace in the country.

    “All of you have attested that this government is committed to ending Boko Haram and other criminal activities.”

    In Yobe State, President Mohammadu Buhari met with traditional rule in a closed door at the presidential lodge where they asked the president to consider their teeming farming population.

    Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam promised that Yobe is going to give the president one hundred percent votes as the state has always done.

    “In 2011, Mr. President, Ibrahim Shakarau was our presidential candidate in ANPP but you in CPC got the highest votes in Yobe State. In 2015, you had 96% votes in Yobe, this time we are going to close that gap by giving you 100% votes in Yobe State,” Gov. Gaidam said.

    The governor assured that PDP has no votes in Yobe, Stressing that, “ the last soul of PDP in zone B, Ibrahim Talba, a retired Federal Permanent Secretary has defected to the APC with Hajiya Mairo Amshi with their supporters”.

    The National Chairman of APC, Mr. Adams Oshomole accused former president Obasanjo as introducing corruption in the country.

    According to Oshomole, Obasanjo during his time was giving millions of naira to members of the National Assembly while calling on the president to probe those finances if re-elected.

    One of the high points of the event was the symbolic presentation of APC flag to the party’s governorship candidate of Borno and Yobe, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum and Alhaji Mai Mala Buni respectively

    Meanwhile, some key figures of the PDP amongst them former Governor of Borno, Mohammed Goni and some other chieftains were formally received into the APC. A spokesman on their behalf said the defection marked the burial of PDP in Borno.

     

  • Let’s debate your achievements in 16 years, Amaechi challenges PDP

     

    Director General of President Muhammadu Buhari campaign Organisation Rotimi Amaechi on Tuesday challenged the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to a public debate on its achievements while in power for 16 years.

    He dared the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar, to also engage him in a debate on his suitability for the office.

    Speaking at the kick- off of the reelection campaign of Adamawa state at the Ribadu Square in Yola, the Minister of Transportation assured the federal government will award a contract for construction of a rail line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri through Yolanda and Mubi before end of January 2019.

    Amaechi, who accused the PDP of destroying the country in the 16 years it held sway, stressed the 2019 election will be a contest between PDP’s rich men and APC’s poor men.

    He said Nigerians must not allow those he described as thieves to return to power, saying “the National Chairman of the PDP apologised to Nigerians the party stole public money and that they will not do it again.

    “Don’t let them deceived you because a thief is a thief.”

    He asked the people of Adamawa to reelect Buhari and Governor Bindow, saying “If somebody has done well, you tell him thank you and the best way to do that is to re-elect him for a second term.

    “This election is an election between the rich and the poor. It is an election that is being contested between the rich in the PDP and the poor in the APC”.

     

  • Amaechi: PDP hits Buhari over Amaechi’s leaked tapes

    The Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organization (PPCO) has mocked President Muhammadu Buhari over leaked audio tapes in which Rotimi Amaechi allegedly vilified the President.
    Amaechi, who is the Minister of Transportation, is also the Director General of Buhari’s Presidential Campaign Organisation.
    In a statement on Monday by the spokesman for the PDP Campaign, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, the party urged Buhari to throw in the towel and end his re-election bid.
    The PPCO noted that since the audio recording leaked last Friday, neither  Rotimi Amaechi nor the Buhari Campaign Organization has mustered the strength to deny or offer any cogent explanation on the matter.

    The main opposition party said the continued silence from Amaechi and the Buhari Campaign Organisation was an indication that the President has lost the loyalty of his support base.

    The statement said, “This development amply shows that the Buhari Campaign Organization is in agreement with Amaechi that President Buhari’s incompetence, nepotism, insensitivity and corruption, and not the 16 years of the PDP in government, are responsible for the myriad of problems facing our nation.

    Read Also: Buhari vows to secure the country more

    “Our party, therefore, holds that President Buhari now lacks the honour and integrity to campaign and seek for votes since his Campaign Organization is holding him directly responsible for the biting economic hardship and security problems our nation has been facing in almost four years of his tenure, as expressly communicated in the leaked recording.

    “Amaechi’s confession, that President Buhari does not listen and that he does not give a hoot about the sufferings of Nigerians but laughs and glees at the misfortunes and plights of our citizens shows the world the level of disdain President Buhari holds Nigerians.

    “Mr. President is now merely clinging on straws and walking by his own shadows and Nigerians can now see why he is desperate to use his niece in INEC, Amina Zakari, to rig himself back to power”.

    The PPCO challenged President Buhari to dare Amaechi and speak out on the alleged poor rating by his Campaign DG, saying that the President lacked the rectitude to canvass for votes from Nigerians.

    “We therefore urge President Buhari to advise himself, having seen that he has no support left, by throwing in the towel instead of allowing his desperation bring more opprobrium to his person and plunge the nation into unnecessary crisis.

    “Finally, we hope that no harm will befall some members of the APC Presidential Campaign Organization for the exercise of their freedom of expression”.

  • Lagos-Ibadan rail: Amaechi gives contractor two weeks to complete Iju-Agbado axis

    Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi has given the contractor handling the Lagos-Ibadan rail project two weeks to complete construction between Iju-Agbado axis.

    The Minister also disclosed the slow pace of work witnessed on the project was due to the scarce nature of the necessary equipment.

    He also hinted 30 passenger coaches and about 300 wagons would be used on the axis upon completion.

    Amaechi also said the federal government will continue test run on the Itakpe-Warri rail till May after which it would commence commercial activities.

    Speaking during the monthly inspection of the project, he said: “The problem the contractor has now is the civil work between Agbado and Iju, which is critical to me because I don’t think passengers should go and board train from Agbado.

    “I believe that it is important that the closer we are to Lagos, the better for the rail.

    “That is what we are battling now because I want them to use the same speed noticed in some sections in the construction of Agbado area to Iju.

    “They want us to flag off from Agbado but I don’t want because I feel Iju will be more appropriate to flag off and they said they will be ready with that axis in two weeks but I think we should get to Iju because it will not be wise to drive from Lagos to Agbado to board train.”

    On the unavailability of equipment, he said: “They argued that lack of equipment was responsible for the pace of work because the equipment are not on the shelf equipment that can just be picked and paid for. What is causing the delay on the Agbado to Iju axis is equipment related.

    “The equipment have to be applied from overseas, we will have to wait for the processing and then ship it down and if we wait for those equipment, we might be finishing the job when the equipment will arrive.”

    On the arrival of coaches, he said: “We are expecting 30 passenger coaches mixed with locomotive wagons, 300 wagons and two sets of DMU made up of ten coaches each and two motorcars will arrive Lagos before the construction work is completed.

    He also said the major challenge at the Lagos seaport was not clearing but inefficient rail line.

    The Minister also dismissed the claim his frequent visit to the construction site was due to external pressure.

    He said: “I am not under pressure from anybody. Part of the solution to Lagos seaport is an efficient rail line.

    ”You can argue that the narrow gauge is there but it is not efficient. The moment we fix this, those goods will be transferred to the rail and the logjam will disappear.

    “So the pressure is more economic than political or people based. Once they finish Iju, I will push them to go to the seaport.

    “Once that is done, there will be no more logjam and then businesses will grow which will give room to more employment.”

     

     

     

  • Smooth sailing amid turbulence

    Stakeholders are praising the Federal Government for paying attention to the Maritime sector last year, reports Correspondent OLUWAKEMI DAUDA.

    Stakeholders in maritime have given kudos to the Federal Government, especially the Minister of Transport, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, for paying attention to an industry which freight is worth about $6 billion.

    They said  Amaechi, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director-General, Dr Dakuku Peterside; the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Managing Director, Hadiza Bala Usman, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) Executive Secretary, Mr Hassan Bello, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Comptroller-General, Col Hameed Ali and the National Inland Wateways (NIWA) Managing Director, Senator Olorunimbe Mamora, are round pegs in round holes.

     

    Gaps in the maritime sector

    In the year under review, Amaechi and the five heads of the maritime agencies, the stakehold-ers said, did their best to ensure that the sector’s potential were realised. The officers, they added, initiated policies, which attracted local and international investors.

     

    NIMASA and the maritime industry forecast

    Stakeholders and operators described the forecast released by  Peterside in the first quarter of last year as a very good.

    The forecast, they said, prepared  how developments on the international scene would affect the maritime last year and this year.

    The forecast, according to a lecturer at the Lagos Business School, Dr. Doyin Salami, was essential tools for growing an industry. He urged investors, local and international to take the forecast serious to grow their businesses.

    The forecast, the first in the sector, will serve as a roadmap for those hoping to do business in the maritime domain.

    A university don and maritime lawyer, Mr Dipo Alaka, said the forecast highlights key drivers of the sector, such as geographic factor, availability of skilled labour force, an efficient and effective regulatory environment, manpower and human capacity development, maritime infrastructural development, globalisation and new technology, among others.

    Also,  the Abuja Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Secretary-General, and NIMASA former Director-General, Mrs. Mfon Usoro. Usoro, a lawyer, commended the forecast, saying it would move the sector forward.

    She observed that the increased presence of NIMASA in the West and Central Africa sub-regions  indicates that the leadership of the agency was on course.

    Highlights of the forecast  are: the maritime is projected to grow by 2.5 – five per cent; there will be more demand  for maritime services in Nigeria; total fleet size will grow by 4.08 per cent in 2018 and 4.41 per cent in 2019; oil tanker fleet size will decrease by 2.23 per cent in 2018 and increase by 1.7 per cent in 2019; non-oil tanker fleet size will increase by 8.15 per cent in 2018 and 8.72 per cent  in 2019 and the oil rig count will increase by 27.67 per cent in 2018 and 0 per cent in 2019.

    Speaking with The Nation, Peterside said: “As a regulator, we are driven by values and commitment, as these are the only ways that investors can be attracted to harness the great potential in our maritime sector. On our part, we will continue to work out incentives and maritime sector specific interventions to attract investments.”

    Critical to the realisation of the projections in the forecast, Peterside said, are some bills now in the National Assembly. These include the Anti-Piracy Bill, the establishment of the Maritime Development Bank, Inland Fisheries Amendment Bill, the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract Amendment Bill and the Cabotage Act Amendment Bill 2017.

    “All these, if passed to Law, will help realise the dream of making Nigeria the maritime hub in Africa,” he said.

     

    Proposed Nigerian Maritime Data Bank

    Experts, lawyers and stakeholders also gave Peterside a pass mark for his policies and his call for the establishment of Nigerian Maritime Data Bank (NMDB).

    For instance, a senior official in the Federal Ministry of Transport (FMoT), who craved anonymity, said the country loses over N10 billion yearly to inaccurate data in the  industry.

    Peterside, the official said, wants the NMDB to become the official information source approved by the government in maritime.

    The vision of the NMDB, according to him, include the following: It will provide all information needed for decision makers and people interested in the maritime transport industry through the NMDB website.

    Other stakeholders said they supported the move by NIMASA to have a credible data bank and urged the agency to ensure that the nation’s ways are safe for business.

     

    Criticism

    International reports on piracy, and other criminal activities on the waterways, importers said, were not given the necessary attention by NIMASA. They called on Peterside to collaborate more with local and foreign agencies to tackle these menace.

     

    NPA in stakeholders’ eyes

    Operators and stakeholders in the industry said Ms Usman brought to the front burner the Apapa gridlock and the industry and ways to resolve them.

    The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Vice President, Dr Kayode Farinto, gave credit to Usman for the collaboration between the NPA, AG Dangote Construction Company Limited and Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc in fixing the road from Wharf/Apapa.

    Farinto, like other stakeholders and residents of Apapa, said they were happy over the completion of work on the Apapa-Wharf Concrete Road.

    With the completion of the road, ANCLA immediate past president, Prince Olayiwola Shittu and other stakeholders said it would end the gridlock on that side of the Apapa Road and boost the 48 hours cargo clearance policy of the government.

    “In September 2017, Hadiza  Usman had expressed displeasure with the slow pace of work by contractors handling the Apapa Road when she visited the construction site.

    “The two-kilometre road starts from the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa to Ijora Bridge end of Western Avenue.

    “During the visit, we remember that Usman insisted that the contractors needed to bring more equipment to site and increase the number of moles used to fast-track the completion of the road as specified in the terms of agreement with the Federal Government.

    “Today, we are happy that the action she took then and the assurance she gave to port users, truck owners/drivers and Apapa residents that the Federal Government, through the NPA, would see to the quick completion of the road to alleviate their suffering have yielded the positive result. It shows that the heads of our maritime agencies are round pegs in round holes,” Shittu said.

    Stakeholders also said they were happy over the quarterly stakeholders’ meeting she organised across the country. Apart from implementing the suggestions made by operators and stakeholders, they said the authority also introduced feedback mechanism to ensure transparency and efficiency in all the ports across the country.

    A motor vehicle importer, Mr Gboyega Emmanuel said the NPA helmsman has recorded significant achievements. Among her many achievements, he said, was the drive to ensure that operators were held accountable.

     

    Measures to boost business at port

    Importers and clearing agents said  to cut losses, increase international trade and boost the economy, the NPA introduced at the end of last year, some positive measures.

    Last year, NPA  directed shipping firms to deploy sweeper vessels to evacuate empty containers from the ports to clear the backlog within four months. The NPA also directed the shipping firms to use Onne Ports for such sweeper vessels.

    According to NPA, the measures will reduce the attendant financial burden that the congestion at the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports has brought on importers.

    The agency also said there would be an increase in rent-free period for cargoes housed in the terminals from  three free days before commencement of rent charges to 21 free days before commencement of rent charges for four months.

    Stakeholders said despite the gridlock in Apapa, NPA failed to make the port outside Lagos attractive for business and urged Usman to address the problem.

    NPA and other agencies, Shittu and other stakeholders said, must bring the issue of National Single Window to the front burner in the new year.

     

    Nigeria Customs Service

    The Nigeria Customs Service under Col. Ali Hameed (rtd) also recorded tremendous success, notwithstanding the slow growth in economic activities.

    As at last November, the service has generated has generated N1.1 trillion for the Federal Government and seized contraband worth more than N40 billion between January and November last year.

    Its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Joseph Attah broke the news at the end-of-the-year breakfast meeting in Lagos last year.

    “Our experiences in this outgoing year have shown that with robust stakeholder engagement, enhanced automation and strict implementation of the import and export guidelines, NCS can generate more revenue and effectively suppress smuggling to the barest minimum.

    Despite the huge cash it made for the country, Customs, stakeholders said, did not do enough last year in terms of efficiency and trade facilitation programme of the Federal Government.

     

    Shippers Council/ MAN

    collaboration

    The collaboration between the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) and the Manufacturer Association of Nigeria (MAN) to streamline export, import procedures at port, importers said, was a robust initiative of its Executive Secretary, Mr Hassan Bello.

    Bello said he took the initiative because export trade is important to the Federal Government in its effort in diversifying the economy.

    He said the economy needs to come out from an import dependent economy and encourage manufacturing.

    Findings revealed  that the Council is discussing with export inspection agents and the NSC to ensure that export trade is done seamlessly.

    He said: “The Nigerian Shippers Council will continue to support project and programmes that will improve port efficiency and reduce cost and simplified procedures and processes for the clearing of goods at the Nigerian ports.

    “We have been advocating for the automation of the port operational processes and procedures in line with best practices.

    “We remain neutral, unbiased, providing a level playing field for all. We are indeed a referee and umpire and will ensure that decision of vital issues in this port sector is arrived at through consensus, opinions of stakeholders.

    “We are talking about reduction of cargo dwell time at Nigerian Ports, Nigerian Shippers Council is also a member of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Committee on Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme, CISS, and our pre-occupation is the procurement of scanners at various Customs formations across fozr quick examination of cargoes.

    “Shippers’ Council has keyed in this project to ensure that export trade documentations are streamlined and reduced to the barest minimum.’’

    Shippers Council, stakeholders said, has put measures in place to reduce the cost of transportation.

    Steps taken by the NSC last year, importers, clearing agents and terminal operators said, were in tandem with international best practices.

    Stakeholders urged the NSC to resolve the legal issue between it, and the terminal operators to boost government revenue and make the port attractive for business in the new year.

     

    NIWA

    The appointment of Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora as NIWA  Managing Director was seen as a good step by the government.

    Stakeholders urged the Senator to live up to their expectations by repositioning the agency and ending the rift between NIWA and the Lagos State Government.