…Plans to generate 21m Jobs by 2025***
The Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, has disclosed that the Federal Government will soon harmonize taxes paid by jetty operators to eliminate double taxation and promote Ease of Doing Business.
Mu’azu disclosed the information this week in Abuja during a meeting with the Technical Sub-Committee of the Presidential Standing Committee on Private Jetties (PSCPJ), led by its Chairman, Engr. Joseph Ororo noted that operators are more often made to pay multiple registration fees by different regulatory agencies such as the National Inland Waterways and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency.
Speaking on the Committee’s mandate of licensing jetties and closure of illegal platforms, the Minister appreciated their exploits while advising that their inspections should not be restricted to timelines but should include unscheduled visits to jetties to ensure compliance with extant laws and regulations.
Earlier, the Chairman, Technical Sub-Committee on Private jetties, Joseph Ororo informed that the Committee was created in 2004, to checkmate security breaches, economic sabotage, gun-running and other criminal activities which were traced to private jetties.
The Honourable Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo receives on a courtesy visit, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Layiwola Mohammed, CON at the Federal Ministry of Transportation headquarters complex.
According to him, the Technical Sub-Committee is the expert arm of the Presidential Standing Committee on Private Jetties (PSCPJ), adding that prior to the constitution of the Standing Committee, there was a directive shutting down all private jetties across the country due to the intractable illegalities associated with them.
Speaking further, Ororo said the Committee had the following Terms of Reference: “To re-open all jetties deemed vital to the economy of the country as well as to examine all the remaining closed jetties and recommend those to be retained and those to remain permanently closed”.
Others are that: “The Standing Committee meet from time to time to consider applications for operating license for jetties and recommend those to be issued new licences by the Honourable Minister of Transportation.
Also, the Honourable Minister of Transportation to continue to issue licenses for the operation of jetties on the recommendation of the Standing Committee, and the Minister to prepare and present a note to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on the activities of the Standing Committee for its information, the Minister is also to keep the President fully informed on the work of the Standing Committee”.
Furthermore, Ororo informed that the work of the Sub-Committee has contributed immensely to increased revenue generation for the various regulatory Agencies and the Federal Government as well as bringing about a high level of safety at the respective private jetties.
Similarly, he pointed out that other derivatives from the work of the Committee are that multi-national companies no longer engage jetty facilities if such do not possess valid license duty.
He also observed that there is an improved relationship between the companies and their host communities due to Cooperate Social Responsibility Projects and job creation made available to them and Nigerians by extension.
In another development, the Minister Of Transportation, Muazu Jaji Sambo had said that the federal government would generate 21 million full-time jobs and lift 35 Million people out of poverty by 2025.
Sambo stated this in a speech he delivered at the 2022 Ministerial Retreat at Ibom Icon Hotel, Akwa-Ibom State adding that the Transportation Sector was setting the stage for achieving the government’s commitment of lifting 100 Million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.
Sambo said infrastructural gaps that exist in the Sector necessitated the development of the National Development Plans; Medium-Term Development Plans 2021-2025 and a Long-Term Plan called the Nigeria Agenda 2050.
“This is to invest massively in infrastructure, ensure macroeconomic stability, enhance the investment environment, improve living conditions and implement climate change mitigation.
“This will generate 21 Million full-time jobs and lift 35 Million people out of poverty by 2025, thus setting the stage for achieving the government’s commitment of lifting 100 Million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.
“The plans are aimed at accelerating the growth of the transportation sector in the country with a strategic Medium-Term Vision Statement, which is to have an effective, intermodal, safe, reliable, affordable and sustainable Transportation system contributing positively to the growth of the Nigerian economy,” he said.
He added that the Policy thrusts to drive the vision included; Improving safety and transportation security, Collaboration and synergy amongst transportation stakeholders.
Others are Professionalism and Human Capacity Building, Strengthening institutional governance and regulation and Multi-modal infrastructural development.
He added that five high-level strategic goals were selected to achieve these policy thrusts of ; Safe and Secure Transportation, Drive Economic Development, Facilitate Connectivity (Intermodal and Multimodal), Develop Local Capacity (Professionalism) and Ensure Sustainability.
“I am well aware that you are all conversant with these high-level goals, as they have become a blueprint for tracking performance towards the delivery of our mandates, addressing the bottlenecks militating against the growth of the Transportation Sector and stimulating domestic growth.
“The key Policy Initiatives and Reform Programmes for the Sector are; Implementation of the 25-year Railway Modernization Programme, the Ports Master Plan, and Inland Waterways Transportation Development.
“Others are; The Nigerian Transportation Master plan (NTM), Tariffs and costs, Creation of Private Sector led National fleet and Manpower capacity development,” he said.
Muazu Jaji Sambo acknowledged that efforts of the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration have been concentrated on the expansion and modernization of the Nation’s Transportation System which has resulted in numerous achievements in the Rail, Maritime and Road Sub-sectors.
He reiterated that the provision of transportation infrastructure is and will always be a work in progress for any nation that desires rapid development.
“This is what informed my call to you to identify and implement low-hanging fruits as was stated at the briefing Sessions held from 14th July – 1st August 2022 on my assumption of duty in the Ministry.
“With the recent presentations on the investment opportunities that exist in the Transportation Sector at various fora, I am optimistic that there will be an influx of international private investors’ patronage in the Sector soon.
“I, therefore, implore us all to leverage this Retreat to galvanize the Transportation Sector to become more competitive, efficient and productive,” he added
He further commended Prince Ademola Adegoroye, Dr. Magdalene Ajani and all members of staff of the Ministry for their support and diligence.
