The efficiency of the nation’s ports, particularly those in Lagos are set to get better, as the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approves two memoranda in respect of matters pertaining to the efficient performance of the Nigerian Ports Authority.

The Minister of Transportation, Muazu Sambo, confirmed this, at the end of the Council meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday in Abuja, putting the cost of the first at $29,871,615.22. 

Stated the Minister: ”The first memo was the renewal of the management contract for the management of Tugs, Pilot Cutters or Mooring Launches within the limits of Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports complex.

”This management contract was signed between Nigerian Ports Authority and Messrs LTT Coastal and Marine Services Limited, initially in April 2007, for a period of 15 years, which therefore meant the agreement had expired March last year.

”So the purpose of the memorandum is to seek Council’s approval to renew the management contract, as provided in the management agreement and endorsed by the Bureau of Public Procurement, in favour of Messrs LTT Coastal and Marine Services Limited, for the sum of $29,871,615.22.

”This is an equivalent of N12,440,332,875.44, inclusive of 7.5% VAT, at an exchange rate of one US dollar to N416.46

”The second memorandum that was considered by Council and approved is in respect of a contract for the design, construction and supply of two 80 tons marine tugboats in order to support the operations of the newly commissioned Lekki Deep Seaport in Lagos.”

The FEC also approved N95.8 billion for dualization of Akure/Ita Ogbolu – Iju/Ado Ekiti road, linking Ekiti and Ondo States.

Minister of State for Works and Housing, Umar El-Yakub, while speaking on this, stated the first section of the road project on the Ondo side was awarded to two construction companies at the cost of N46.6 billion.

He said that the remaining balance of N49.2 billion would be expended on the second section of the project from Ekiti state border.

”The Ministry of Works and Housing presented a memo for the consideration and approval of Council.

”This is for the award of contract for the dualization of the Akure/Ita Ogbolu –Iju/Ado Ekiti state border, on the Ondo State side.

”In favour of Messrs Samchez Nigeria Limited and Messrs Horizon Construction Company Limited, in the sum of N46,684,481,745.44, with a completion period of 24 months.

”The section two of that road was awarded to Messrs Kopek Construction Limited at the cost of N49,295,088,593.98, with a completion period of 30 months.

”So, one is doing it from the Ekiti State border and the other one is on the Ondo Stateside. That’s the two sections of the contract that was awarded.”

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, also said that the Council approved N2.24 billion for the construction of a 150-room capacity female hostel, at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, Kaduna State.

He said: ”On behalf of the Minister of Aviation, who presented a memo to Council today, seeking Council’s consideration and approval for the award of contract for the construction of a 150-room capacity female hostel, at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria.

”The contract was in favour of Messrs Best Homes Construction Limited, in the sum of N2,244,713,424.56, inclusive of 7.5% VAT with a completion period of 12 months.”

The minister also revealed that the Council approved N383.9 million for the procurement of 13 operational vehicles for the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN).

According to him, the operational vehicles will be used for the day-to-day operations of the FRCN.

…Bala says the removed extortion checkpoints have returned to port corridor*** 

The Port Standing Task Team (PSTT), from 2021 to 2022, averagely saved the nation’s economy, the sum of N5.4 billion ($12,350), in terms of demurrage, from vessels.

The National Coordinator, PSTT, Mr. Moses Fadipe, said this at the enlarged meeting of the Presidential Port Standing Task Team (PPSTT)  on Wednesday in Lagos.

Fadipe said that the amount represented an average of $20,000 per vessel demurrage per day.

He attributed the feat to the interventions of the PSTT in restoring order along the port corridors and ports logistics ring.

Fadipe noted that through the interventions of the PSTT, over 85 percent of vessels that came through the nation’s ports and terminals left without incident in 2021.

“Some others are drastic reduction in incidences of extortions by both state and non-state actors, and freer movement of vehicles and persons along the ports’ logistics ring.

“Even though revenue generation is not the primary concern of the task team, deterrence through fine is one of the tools through which we are able to record our successes of “Operation Free the Port Corridors”.

“In the process, revenues to the tone of N1,023,000 have accrued to the Federal Government Treasury Single Account through fines,” he said.

Fadipe said that the activities of the task team was a positive barometer, showing the team’s contribution to the actualisation of the objectives of Executive Order 1 on ease of doing business in Nigeria as enshrined through the Nigerian Port Process Manual (NPPM).

He, however, expressed optimism that the successes would be sustained with good strategies of consolidation aimed at surpassing the previous gains.

Fadipe pointed out that their achievements did not come without occasional hazards such as assaults on personnel of the task team, which were carried out by private operators and high-ranking government officials.

He noted that their operation was an offshoot of the implementation of the Nigerian Port Process Manual (NPPM) which successful implementation should change the corruption perception index by Transparency International about Nigeria.

On the issues of touting along the port corridor and other complaints, Fadipe assured the stakeholders that it would be addressed in less than 30 days starting from April 3.

“It is important to consciously partake in proffering effective and sustainable solutions in partnership like this. I am confident that today’s meeting whose objective is to review activities in 2022 and strategies for 2023, will come up with strong resolutions going forward.

“Operation Free the Port Corridor is an action plan put in place by the collaborative efforts of the Federal Government agencies and private stakeholders in the port supported by the Federal Ministry of Transportation to rid the port corridors of impediments and corrupt practices.

“It was realised that stoppage of trucks along the port corridor constitutes the biggest encumbrance to the free flow of traffic and this breeds extortion and corrupt practices,” he said.

Fadipe said that the Federal Ministry of Transportation had on April 14, 2022, flagged off the exercise to remove all illegal checkpoints and shanties along the port corridor to eliminate traffic gridlock and corrupt practices and impediments to ease of doing business.

“On strategies for the year, we will not dwell on challenges, we focus on the best we can do to achieve what we can within the resources in our disposals. This is the spirit that we will continue with,” he said.

Some of the stakeholders who commented during the meeting decried the activities of touts, and non-state and state actors along the port corridor, urging the PSTT to look into it.

Commenting, Mr. Mohammed Bala, from the Association of Maritime Truck Owners, while appreciating the efforts of the task team said that the extortion checkpoints that were removed had returned on the port corridor.

“The touts have technically crossed to the inbound section of the port access road and causing so much havoc there.

“Truckers are profusely bleeding due to the activities of these people. From Mile 2 down to Second Gate, these touts are littered there,” he said.

In his own contribution, Mr. Aloga Ogogbo, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners, said that the extortion was now taking place at odd hours.

Ogogbo urged the task team to extend their operations to cover the odd hours that the touts operate.

Responding to the issues raised, Mr. Dennis Idoko, Head of Legal Department, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, assured stakeholders that the commission would work within its power to meet the objectives of the team.

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA has donated two vehicles to the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, while the two bodies restated their commitment to continuous stakeholders’ engagement as effective tool for peace sustenance, which the nation’s maritime sector has enjoyed in recent years.

NIMASA Director General Dr. Bashir Jamoh, and the President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju both made the assertion in Lagos at the ceremony where the vehicles were handed over to the Union as part of the Agency’s Corporate Social Responsibility. The vehicles are a 16-seater bus and one Hilux.

Dr. Bashir Jamoh applauded the union for adopting dialogue in ensuring and maintaining peace in the maritime sector, which he said has aided the peace and industrial harmony witnessed in the sector leading to the successes recorded.

In his words “In the past few years, the maritime industry has experienced relative peace and harmony, which has been made possible through the instrumentality of the leadership of MWUN. NIMASA is committed to ensuring the union is equipped with adequate facilities needed to perform their duties judiciously”.

He also charged the Union to continue to support the policies and instruments of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), towards ensuring better welfare and decent work for the seafarers.

“We acknowledge that you have done so much in championing the cause for better wages for Dockworkers, Seafarers and other labour components in the maritime sector.

“We urge you to continue your stakeholders’ engagement in achieving implementation of international labour laws to achieve better welfare in consonance with international best practices for workers in the maritime sector”. 

Furthermore, the DG assured that the Agency would complete the renovation of the headquarters of the Union in order to give them a befitting habitation.

On his part, the Ibadan Prince and MWUN President General, Comrade Adeyanju expressed the gratitude of the union to the Management of NIMASA, and assured that they will continue to work closely with the various stakeholders in the sector to ensure continuous progress.

He also urged Terminal Operators, Government Agencies and other major maritime players to emulate NIMASA in the discharge of their CSR Projects.

The MWUN President General who is also the National Vice President of the Nigerian Labour Congress commended the leadership of NIMASA under Dr. Jamoh urging the Federal Government to consider a second tenure based on performance.

“We will continue to play the role of stabilizing the sector. The era of confrontation in the maritime sector is gone, as we have embraced dialogue, which has ensured sustained peace and harmony. The leadership of NIMASA under Bashir Jamoh has excelled in staff welfare, regular staff promotion, and attending to the needs of stakeholders.

“Based on performance, Jamoh deserves a second term in office; his achievements speak volume. You made dialogue a way of life here at NIMASA and resolving labour-related issues have been seamless under your leadership.

“We have had good DG’s in the past, but Jamoh is exceptional.

“We have been watching you and we know you have a track record of fulfilling your promises; we charge you to continue as the union will continue to support the humanitarian policies of your Management”, Adeyanju stated further.