The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Stakeholders

  • Stakeholders want Adighije in RMFAC board

    A Stakeholders from the three senatorial zones of Abia State have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to re-appoint Senator Chris Adighije as the member representing the state at the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

    The stakeholders, including a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Tony Ukasoanya, Senator Onyeka Okoroafor, Abia North and Hon. Ngozi Ulunwa, Abia South, said re-appointing Adighije will give the state quality representation.

    The group said Senator Adighije has done well since during the period he has represented the state at the commission, stressing that his record of achievements has helped to boost the image of the state.

    The appeal was part of the resolutions of a one-day meeting of the stakeholders held in Umuahia, the Abia State capital where they said the re-appointment of Adighije was not subject to discussion or a zonal matter.

    Highlighting his achievements to include bringing positive changes to the state in line with the change mantra of the present administration, they stakeholders said re-appointing him would bring more development to the state.

    Reacting, the Abia State Government stated that the nomination and recommendation of its representative at the RMFAC is and remains the prerogative of the Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu.

    A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Godwin Adindu said the governor has not nominated anyone to represent the state in the board of RMFAC.

    The statement added that the governor will nominate and recommend a representative at the appropriate time. He said nobody should pre-empt or prompt him to do things at the wrong time.

    The statement reads: “Nobody  or group should make any claim in this regard and purporting it to have the seal of the Abia State Government, as the governor has not nominated anyone for the job.

    “This clarification has become necessary given a media report which alleged that some unnamed and faceless political stakeholders from the three political zones have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to approve the re-appointment of Senator Chris Adighije as the state’s representative  at the RMFAC.

    “The governor has not given any support or endorsement to any political group or the so-called ‘political stakeholders’ to speak on his behalf on this matter. The government is not aware of any forum convened to make representation for Adighije for his re-appointment.

    “This report is a ruse and a contraption aimed at positioning Senator Adighije for a position where the candidate is only but an ambassador of the state and therefore must emerge as an endorsement of the state.”

  • Council holds stakeholders’ forum

    The Mosan Okunola Local Council Development Area of Lagos State has organised its 2016 security and budget stakeholders’ meeting. Addressing residents at the council’s secretariat on the essence of the meeting, the Executive Secretary, Mrs. Akindele Adunni-Opeyemi urged them to pay their taxes and levies promptly. For the council to succeed in its efforts to better the people’s lives, the residents must devote their energies towards the growth and development of the area, she said.

    On the 2016 Budget of the LCDA, Adunni-Opeyemi said all hands must be on deck for its success.

    The issue of security dominated discussions as stakeholders expressed their worry over what they called unsavoury security challenges confronting various communities in the council. They urged the management of the council to tackle the problems head on in order to protect lives and properties of the residents. They also expressed their optimism that the council has the capacity to make the 2016 budget workable.

    The Community Development Associations (CDAs) and the Community Development Committees (CDCs) were bothered about issue of boundary adjustments. They canvassed for an adjustment that will enhance the council’s internally-generated revenue (IGR). They called on the state government to urgently do something about the issue.

  • Rescind ban on crude palm oil, stakeholders urge Minister

    Rescind ban on crude palm oil, stakeholders urge Minister

    Stakeholders in the agric and manufacturing industry have called on the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, to intervene by encouraging the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to reverse its foreign exchange (forex) policy that included one of their most important raw materials, Crude Palm Oil (CPO) on the ‘not valid for forex’ list.

    Speaking in a forum with industrialists in Lagos, MAN President, Dr. Frank Udemba Jacobs, said forex should be made available for genuine manufacturers that use CPO as a major raw material for production of end products such as noodles, biscuits, cosmetics, etc.

    According to him, this singular decision by the apex bank threatened the existence of several manufacturing companies who rely heavily on crude palm oil as a major raw material for production. “These companies have invested heavily in plants and machinery worth several billions of dollars in the country and what the CBN is indirectly telling them is that it could not be bothered with the challenges this policy is posing to our members,” he said.

    The MAN boss noted that affected companies have leaned towards the agricultural sector as part of their backward integration programme, creating more jobs and strengthening the nation’s ability to be self-sufficient in food, beverage and cosmetic production.

    He hailed the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari on its move to revive local industries through this policy, but insisted that there are certain indices that must be taken into consideration before full implementation of the policy.

    Jacobs explained that while the policy is a welcome development, there should be no sudden obstruction to importation of the raw material that is needed for local production, especially when demand for such material cannot be met locally.

    According to IndexMundi, a data portal, the domestic palm oil produced in Nigeria totalled 930,000 metric tonnes (MT) in 2014. The consumption of palm oil in Nigeria amounts to 2.0 million MT per year. Official figures estimate the shortage in oil palm industry at 900,000 MT yearly. This poses a very precarious situation for the manufacturing sector that depends largely on CPO as a major source of raw material.

    Experts say if the gap is not filled with the massive importation of high quality food grade palm oil, the economy will lose further investment in the manufacturing sector as companies would be forced to shut down and relocate their business outside the country, like it happened in the past.

    Some analysts are already predicting the mass movement of manufacturing companies to friendly West African countries with robust manufacturing policies if the government insists on going ahead with policies that are inimical to manufacturing.

  • SON, ANCLA train stakeholders on electronic clearance

    SON, ANCLA train stakeholders on electronic clearance

    Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in collaboration with Association of Nigeria Clearing Agents (ANCLA) at the weekend in Kano launched a sensitisation campaign aimed at educating stakeholders in techniques of e-SON-CAP and Nigerian Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS) for easy clearance of goods at the ports.

    Speaking with reporters at the training programme, SON’s Deputy Director and Head of Operations at the Ports, Alhaji Suleiman Isah, disclosed that the new system was designed to ease the stress formally associated with clearing of goods at the ports.

    He said: “What you have seen today is a sensitisation programme and an interactive session between Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the Association of Nigeria Clearing Agents (ANCLA). You know the agencies are under Project Implementation Team (PIT) for trade facilitation. The programme is made to encourage all government agencies that have any role to play at the ports to come into the fold and key into the Nigerian Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS) for the processing of Form M and PAR.”

    “This NICIS is for the government agencies, but the government is also trying to see that at the end of the day, we have the National Single Window (NSW) that would also have all stakeholders to key in so that trade can be facilitated and we can even have less than 48 hours clearance.”

    Speaking on the importance of the program, Isah added, “This program is organised to provide the stakeholders with the skill and competency in terms of using the electronic system in order to speed up clearance of goods at the port without much stress.

    “We have the SON website to give you any information you want for your import, and all you need to do is to key in. When you want to apply for your certificate, also you key in.”

    Also speaking, Babatope Ogungeemile, ANCLA Assistant National Secretary, urged clearing agents whose goods were already at the Ports before the December 10 ultimatum date to exercise patience, as arrangements have already been made to clear their goods without delay.

    He said: “.This programme would help to improve our clearing system; it will also reduce the fatigue of our members taking SON certificate to their offices for processing and certification. But now, it is going to be processed electronically within a very short time in the comfort of your office. You can interact with SON at any time you want to and get the certificate without delay and hitches.

    “There is a programme we started on September 10 on the importers that ordered goods before the expiration of the three months ultimatum given for importers to order their consignments into the ports. For those whose goods were brought after the expiration of the window date, a team has been saddled to interact with them on how to clear their goods. So, the clearing agents should not entertain any fear over the new regime.”

     

     

  • Stakeholders tackle malnutrition at Lagos talks

    Stakeholders tackle malnutrition at Lagos talks

    No fewer than four groups gathered at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) last Thursday,  to address rising  malnutrition in Lagos State.

    State Nutrition Officer, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Mrs Olubunmi Ibrahim, said nutrition affects all stages of the life cycle from pregnancy to when a baby is born up to adulthood.

    According to her, 55 per cent of child mortality is associated with malnutrition, adding: “If not addressed, malnutrition is transmitted from generation to generation.”

    Ibrahim, who spoke on the adoption and implementation of the National Strategic Plan of Action For Nutrition (NSPAN), said the objective is to build upon the framework outlined in the National Food and Nutrition Policy to improve the nutritional status.

    She said: “NSPAN aims at promoting the delivery of effective interventions that will ensure adequate nutrition to all Nigerians, especially vulnerable groups.”

    Representative of United Nations International Child Fund (UNICEF) and Nutrition Specialist, Mrs Ada Ezeogu, advised expectant mothers to take enough nutrients for the development of the baby.

    “The window of opportunity to address malnutrition is the first two years of life. Children who are malnourished during this period lose 11 centimetre of potential height,” she said.

    Malnutrition, she said, does not concern only the poor, adding that even the children of the well-to-do are malnourished.

    “Malnutrition is not about being wealthy or poor. Children of the rich also get malnourished. This is often due to lack of time for the parent to monitor their children to consume the appropriate nutrients,” she said.

    Ezeogu said when breastfeeding and complementary feeding fail, it means the mothers have malnourished their children.

    Coordinator, Local Working Group (LWG), Dr Modupe Akinyinka said the first 1000 days from when the mother is pregnant to the second birthday of the child determines the child’s growth.

    She said: “Two out of every three infants and children are not being fed appropriately. Mothers should exclusively breastfeed their babies for six months without adding anything, then after six months, complementary foods can be added.”

    Malnutrition, she said, is a national problem and finding solution should be a shared responsibility.

    Akinyinka said according to a research done in 1994, seven per cent of children are exclusively breast fed in Nigeria and Ghana. “A research done in 2013 shows that 63 per cent of Ghanaian children are now exclusively breastfed while just 17 per cent of Nigerian children are breast fed appropriately,” she noted.

    Project officer, Civil Society Scaling-up Nutrition Nigeria (CS-SUNN), a Non- Governmental Organisation (NGO), Okoronkwo Sunday said malnutrition is a silent crisis because it can happen around us without being aware.

    He said: “Nigeria has attempted to address the issue of malnutrition by developing a NSPAN which has been reviewed but is yet to be endorsed and a multi-sectoral nutrition partners platform to drive and coordinate action.

    “However, low public funding for nutrition and a challenging federalised system of government are considerable challenges,” he added.

    Sunday affirmed that the NGO is advocating for the implementation of the NSPAN at the national, state and local government levels.

  • How to improve power, by stakeholders

    Stakeholders have advocated urgent measures to transform the power sector. To them, industrialisation would remain a pipe dream if the power sector challenges are not addressed. They spoke at theAnnual Power & Utilities Roundtable organised by PricewaterhouseCoopers in Lagos. The theme of the forum was: “The challenges with transforming the Nigerian power landscape.”

    Oando Gas and Power, Chief Executive Officer,  Mr. Bolaji Osunsanya, said over 540 per cent of Nigeria’s gas is associated gas (AG), and that it could be taken out like bongas and airgas.

    Osunasanya said: “In the infrastructure deposit, Nigeria’s master is currently wet. This can produce 1,200megawatts of electricity (Mw) offshore needs.

    “The gas industry is a low defined value chain, and a wise approach is needed to transform it,” he added.

    He also identified historical preference for oil, absence of communication in terms of gas, lack of clarity and standardisation, fall in international oil price, processing, transportation and distribution as some of the challenges besetting the industry.

    On gas market revenue, he said there were various policies that have contributed to the required infrastructure blueprints.

    Osunsanya noted, however, that the distribution sector is fraught with constraints from the DisCos, GenCos to the gas suppliers, adding that  “Close to 90 per cent of transmitted gas gets to the end users. An increase of available generation will be needed to curb the gas constrainsts”.

    Also, Chief Executive Officer, Genesis Energy Group, Mr. Akinwole Omoboriowo, said electricity regulators should be independent in discharging their obligations without interference from the government, adding, however, that clear key performance indicators needed to be set for them.

    “Towards transforming the Nigerian power landscape, there should be active encouragement of mini and micro grids, as well as grid-based power supply to discos/municipals, operated by laws and incentives,” operated by laws and incentives, “he said.

    Explaining that mini-grid requires DisCo to be carved out and operated independently, the energy expert,  however, canvassed for alternative funding from multinationals and corporate organisations through their Corporate Social responsibility (CSR).

    Managing Director, Niger Delta Power Holding Company, Mr. James Olotu, said Nigeria generates 4,200Mw of power as against 42,090Mw generated by Eskom of South Africa.

    According to him, Ethopia generates over 10,000Mw of hydropower versus 4,700Mw by NIPP Sudan, which built 1,250Mw Merowe hydropower Dam.

    Olotu said issues such as regulatory clarity, certainty of what is generated not being paid for; policy inconsistency, access to long term finance, merry-go-round for the investor and infrastructure deficit-gas were challenges facing the sector.

    He said: ‘’While pricing is being sorted out and infrastructure ongoing by the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP), lack of effective gas, acts of vandalism, state of finances owing to low operating tariff, uncompleted legacy projects and declining budgetary appropriation, still pose major challenges to transforming the power landscape.’’

    The Leader, Power and Utilities West Africa (PWC), Mr. Pedro Omontuemhen, said the firm recently conducted a survey across Africa, where it interviewed senior executives in the energy industry, in 15 countries, including Nigeria.

    Omontuemhen said the survey showed that over 620 million people live without electricity in the rural areas of Africa, adding that by 2025, there would be a better improvement if huge investment is made in the sector.

  • Stakeholders to govt: monitor donors-funded projects

    Stakeholders to govt: monitor donors-funded projects

    Stakeholders in the cocoa value chain have advised the federal and state governments to take measures to tighten the monitoring of donors-funded agric projects in the country.

    This advice is coming on the heels  lapses  discovered in many projects funded by donors across the country. Lapses, such as deficient civil works certified as complete, poor equipment certified as compliant with specifications, and under-delivery of services from contractual obligations have been identified by stakeholders.

    Stakeholders, who spoke during the annual conference of the Farmers Development Union (FADU), convened to access the impact of Kokodola Project in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, said if there is proper monitoring, the aim of the funding would be defeated.

    The Kokodola Project is implemented by Continaf, FADU and Oxfam Novib, in partnership with international buyers, Ferrero and Petra Foods, and powered by IDH, the Sustainable Trade Initiative.

    The stakeholders observed that standard best practices were largely ignored and as such urged the government to improve monitoring of donor-projects and aid packages to make them accountable and responsive to the farmers.

    One of the speakers, Prof Adegboyega Oguntade of Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State capital, said better managed projects would boost growth and increased farm incomes.

    In a paper titled: Development projects: Ends within an unending cycles, Oguntade observed that since 2001, various intervention projects had been initiated and implemented in the cocoa value chain, which has failed to create meaningful impact in the lives of the farmers.

    To transform the way cocoa is grown and dramatically boost farm yields and incomes, he advised the government and private sector to embark on projects that will improve farming practices and technologies for the benefit of cocoa producers.

    Such projects, he added, should focus on improving outcomes, facilitating efficiency benchmarking for both productivity and environmental performance.

    He called for collaboration between the industry and academia to improve the crop.

    According to him, Kokodola was designed to and must have contributed to raising living standard of cocoa farmers.

    He said: “If Kokodola has contributed to the well being of cocoa farmers in these ways, it has definitely contributed to the development of Nigeria’s economy.”

    Oguntade, who is also the Managing Director, FUTA Business Development Company, called on farmers to embrace the culture of savings in cooperatives.

    FADU Project Coordinator, Sir Victor Olowe, called for cooperation between FADU and partners for the betterment of the project.

    According to Olowe, it has become necessary to re-evaluate the partnerships to protect the overall interest of the farmers and integrity of the country, hence the need to go back to the drawing-board.

    Olowe added that the next few months is critical to the survival of the Kokodola Project, which has trained over 7000 cocoa farmers in Osun and Ondo states. The project also employs over 50 field workers who undertake training of farmers, monitoring and evaluation, certification and audit control, among other roles.

    Team Leader, Cocoa Transformation Agenda, Dr. Peter Aikpokpo-dion, urged stakeholders and government to work together to reposition the cocoa industry.

    The  plant breeder who pioneered the latest hybrid cocoa pods, noted that for Nigeria to get the result it needs, “we should support the setting up of coordinating body that will take care of all challenges in the industry. The way the sector is organised is posing a problem.  It is this platform that will bring all together under one roof and have issues resolved adequately and holistically.”

    Tulip Nigeria Limited Managing Director, Chief Simon Conway-Jarret, noted that the Kokodola Project has had meaningful impact on the quality and quantity of cocoa beans bought and used in the company.

    He said Theobroma Cacao, the parent company,  based in the Netherlands,  grinds over 400,000 metric tonnes globally and would therefore only partner with groups and associations that can deliver on good quality cocoa beans.

    Another partner, Dutch Sustainable Initiative, IDH, represented by the head, Africa Cassava Initiative, Mr. Cyril Ugwu, said the organisation is prepared to support any project that would bring benefit to farmers.

    Ugwu noted that the Kokodola Project has had positive impact on the farmers, going by initial reports from the field. He urged FADU to make its assessment report available to IDH for review of its support to cocoa farmers under the project.

    The Kokodola Project Manager, Mrs. Mopelola Fabunmi, informed that the project would undergo some significant changes in order to meet the emerging demands. She stated that farmers in the project area are already adopting the trainings on good agricultural, business, and organisational practices.

  • Stakeholders push for larger social entrepreneurs’ role in development

    Stakeholders push for larger social entrepreneurs’ role in development

    Social entrepreneurs are using innovation to accelerate economic growth and social development. To this end, stakeholders are advocating that they be empowered to play a greater role in development in Nigeria. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    Social entrepreneurs are becoming an important force in global economic development, therefore the government should empower them to move the economy forward. These were the recommendations of stakeholders in the Social sector  at at   Ideation Hub Africa ‘s Development Dialogue for social entrepreneurs and development champions in Lagos.

    The  Country Director, African Development Bank, Dr. Ousman Dore, in his contribution, observed that social entrepreneurs are  emerging as active players in the development field and  this underlines  the  need to strengthen their  role in implementing the future sustainable development goals.

    This is because they have  the  capacities to boost development efforts as long as they are empowered in a socially responsible way. He further expressed the huge role of government, academia, and the private sector in supporting social prosperity, nurturing innovation from an early age, as well as promoting risk taking culture in social entrepreneurs, in order to enable them push beyond boundaries and create ground breaking innovation for society.

    He, however, expects the number of development practitioners to continue to grow, but demanded  a stronger framework to enable them  build skills to  drive lasting development  and  sustain economic growth.

    Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of Ideation Hub Africa, AdebolaDeji-Kurunmi, stated that the Development Dialogue was a rallying point for social entrepreneurs and development professionals to share ideas, connect, hone their skills and deepen the knowledge for solving Africa’s challenges.

    She also stressed the need for   collaboration within the non-profit space and across the private sector and  the government, as a defining requirement for social prosperity and economic development on the continent.  She said the country has   seen social enterprise become the model of choice for entrepreneurs who want to effect real change in the society and community, adding  that social entrepreneurs are coming from a variety of sources – universities, schools and colleges to help to improve people’s lives and  drive for social justice.

    In the seminar on: How social innovation emerges and thrives, Founder, LEAP Africa, Mrs. NdidiNwuneli, spoke on the tremendous power of social innovation as a new approach to solving pressing problemsand create ideas, products and services that heighten the quality of life for citizens.

    She also spoke about creating social innovation including scaling, recruiting right talent, board governance, financing, investment-readiness amongst others.

    Manager, Public & Government Relations, ExxonMobil, Mr. Akin Fatunke, gave an interesting expose about  his organisation’s credible Corporate Social Responsibility Projects as well as the reasons many social enterprises find it hard to leverage the support and funding of multinational corporations.

    Drawing from her successful involvement with government agencies on her organisation’s programmes, the Chief Executive, CSR in Action, Mrs. Bekeme Masade, spoke on strong tips for engaging the public sector on social projects and development work.

    Her guidelines included understanding the unique environment, clarifying the real issues to address, staying persistent, dealing ethically and engaging stakeholders from the beginning.

    The event, which held at Commerce House, Victoria Island, Lagos; attracted change makers, government stakeholders, NGO owners, and development leaders from diverse impact areas.

    In attendance were Executive Director,FATE Foundation Adenike Adeyemi; Executive Director , Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), MosunLayode; Chief Executive, Red Media Africa, ChudeJideonwo; Executive Director,  Institute of Voluntary Sector Management;Akin Olukiran; Executive Director, Enterprising Nigeria, Dele Osunmakinde and Co-founder, ANDELA Iyinoluwa Aboyeji .

  • Stakeholders push for larger social entrepreneurs’ role in development

    Stakeholders push for larger social entrepreneurs’ role in development

    Social entrepreneurs are using   innovation to accelerate economic growth and social development. To this end, stakeholders are advocating that they  be empowered  to  play a greater role in development in Nigeria. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    Social entrepreneurs are becoming an important force in global economic development, therefore government should empower them to move the economy forward. These were the recommendations of stakeholders in the Social sector  at at   Ideation Hub Africa ‘s Development Dialogue for social entrepreneurs and development champions in Lagos.

    The  Country Director,African Development Bank, Dr. Ousman Dore, in his contribution, observed   that social entrepreneurs are  emerging as active players in the development field and  this underlines  the  need to strengthen their  role in implementing the future sustainable development goals.

    This is because they have  the  capacities to   boost development efforts as long as they are empowered in a socially responsible way. He further expressed the huge role of government, academia, and the private sector in supporting social prosperity, nurturing innovation from an early age, as well as promoting risk taking culture in social entrepreneurs, in order to enable them push beyond boundaries and create ground breaking innovation for society.

    He, however, expects the number of development practitioners to continue to grow, but demanded  a stronger framework to enable them  build skills to  drive lasting development  and  sustain economic growth.

    Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of Ideation Hub Africa, AdebolaDeji-Kurunmi, stated that the Development Dialogue was a rallying point for social entrepreneurs and development professionals to share ideas, connect, hone their skills and deepen the knowledge for solving Africa’s challenges.

    She also stressed the need for   collaboration within the non-profit space and across the private sector and  the government, as a defining requirement for social prosperity and economic development on the continent.  She said the country has   seen social enterprise become the model of choice for entrepreneurs who want to effect real change in the society and community, adding  that social entrepreneurs are coming from a variety of sources – universities, schools and colleges to help to improve people’s lives and  drive for social justice.

    In the seminar on: How Social Innovation Emerges and Thrives, Founder, LEAP Africa, Mrs. NdidiNwuneli spoke on the tremendous power of social innovation as a new approach to solving pressing problemsand create ideas, products and services that heighten the quality of life for citizens.

    She also spoke about creating social innovation including scaling, recruiting right talent, board governance, financing, investment-readiness amongst others.

    Manager, Public & Government Relations, ExxonMobil, Mr. Akin Fatunke gave an interesting expose about  his organisation’s credible Corporate Social Responsibility Projects as well as the reasons many social enterprises find it hard to leverage the support and funding of multinational corporations.

    Drawing from her successful involvement with government agencies on her organisation’s programmes, the Chief Executive, CSR in Action, Mrs. Bekeme Masade, spoke on strong tips for engaging the public sector on social projects and development work.

    Her guidelines included understanding the unique environment, clarifying the real issues to address, staying persistent, dealing ethically and engaging stakeholders from the beginning.

    The event, which held at Commerce House, Victoria Island, Lagos; attracted change makers, government stakeholders, NGO owners, and development leaders from diverse impact areas.

    In attendance were Executive Director,FATE Foundation Adenike Adeyemi; Executive Director , Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), MosunLayode; Chief Executive, Red Media Africa, ChudeJideonwo; Executive Director,  Institute of Voluntary Sector Management;Akin Olukiran; Executive Director, Enterprising Nigeria, Dele Osunmakinde and Co-founder, ANDELA Iyinoluwa Aboyeji .

  • Apapa Road : Senate committee meet stakeholders

    Apapa Road : Senate committee meet stakeholders

    The Senate Committee on Marine Transport yesterday visited the Lagos Port Complex and the Tin-Can Island ports to access the impact of the gridlock on the roads leading to the ports.

    Led by its Chairman and former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima, the committee arrived the Lagos Port Complex at 10.59am.

    The lawmakers experienced the gridlock on the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway as they approached the Tin-Can port.

    Their convoy drove against traffic from the Liverpool Under Bridge to access the port.

    After passing through the second gate, the vehicles were stuck amidst container-laden trucks.

    The lawmakers alighted to access the failed sections of the road.

    Addressing reporters and other stakeholders at a forum by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Yerima  said the ongoing construction work at the 500-truck capacity holding bay in front of the Tin-Can port, was put on hold because  the Federal Government owed the contractor N1.5 billion..

    The chairman noted that, though, work at the site was about 95 per cent completed, the contractor pulled out because he was yet to be mobilised by the government.

    He promised that the Federal Government was making efforts to pay up so that work would resume.

     

    “We have seen the situation on the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway. While we were on the tour, Senator Kabiru Gaya, called the Ministry of Works. He was told that construction work at the Holding Bay at Tin-Can Island was 95 per cent completed. He was also told that the contractor is being owed N1.5 billion.

    “If the money is paid, work would resume and all these trucks will have no cause to continue to park on the road.

    “The park at Tin Can Island is still under construction. That is why you did not see trucks there,” Yerima added.

    The Managing Director of NPA, Mallam Habib Abdullahi, the Acting Director-General of NIMASA Pastor Haruna Jauro, Executive Secretary of Shippers Council Hassan Bello and other stakeholders identified lack of rail system, indiscriminate licencing of tank farms, lack of holding bays, non-usage of barges, unorthodox behaviour of truck drivers and other factors are responsible for the gridlock.