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Govt Will Not Seat Back And Watch Ports Collapse – Minister Tell Reps

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2 years ago

March 15, 2024

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By Gloria Ikibah

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola has said the government will not seat back and watch the ports to completely collapse.

The Minister stated this in view of the political will shown by President Bola Tinubu led administration to develop the nation’s maritime sector.

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

Oyetola who stated this at an interactive session with the House of Representatives Committee on Privatisation, disclosed that at the moment, the concessioning of 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

He 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”.

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”, the Permanent Secretary added

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, Rep Ibrahim Hamisu Chidari, said the Ministry must put measures in place to ensure that government does not lose any revenue as a result of the delay in renewing the condeasion agreement.

The Chairman stated: “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, and that all plans by the government should be concluded within the six months period.

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Atiku’s camp angry as El-Rufai spends 200 days in prison

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54 minutes ago

September 5, 2026

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The camp of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has kicked against the continued detention of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

The former Kaduna governor has spent 200 days in detention since he was taken into the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC.

A statement by Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, said El-Rufai is entitled to justice, due process and equal treatment under the law.

He described the former governor as a political prisoner, alleging that he is being detained simply because he decided to chart a different political path, as provided for in Nigeria’s Constitution.

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2027: Christian, Muslim youths sign peace accord in Abuja

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1 hour ago

September 5, 2026

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The Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN) and the National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations (NACOMYO) have signed a peace accord ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The historic signing took place at the National Christian Centre on Friday in Abuja during the 2026 National Christian Youth Security Summit and Thanksgiving Service, held under the theme: “Empowered for Leadership, Service and Nation Building.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the peace accord aimed at fostering religious tolerance, rejecting political violence, and promoting peaceful coexistence ahead of the 2027 elections.

The three-day summit, brought together security officials, government representatives, Church leaders, and youth delegates from across the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), five CAN blocs, and six geopolitical zones.

Delivering his welcome address, the National Chairman of YOWICAN, Ven. Evang. Ademola Arowolo, described the peace accord as a “covenant of hope and a declaration of unity” designed to curb electoral violence and interfaith friction from the national level down to the grassroots.

”Today marks a defining moment in the history of youth engagement, faith-based leadership, national security advocacy, and interfaith collaboration in Nigeria.

“This Peace Accord represents more than a document. It is a covenant of hope, a declaration of unity, and a collective commitment by Christian and Muslim youths to work together in promoting peace, justice, dialogue, tolerance, and national development.”

Addressing newsmen during an interview, Arowolo emphasised the sanctity of human life and urged young people to resist political thuggery and vote-buying as the country prepares for the next electoral cycle.

”The key objective of today’s gathering is for the Christian youth of this country to sit down and see that security is very important, because every life whether of a Muslim, a Christian, or any other faith is sacred.

“God Himself does not divide us; it is human beings that divide us in their own mindsets.

“An idle man is the devil’s workshop, but as elections approach, if somebody meets you for any violence, tell them your children should not come. We cannot destroy our own land,” he said.

Corroborating the commitment, the National President of NACOMYO, Sani Sulaiman-Maigoro, stressed that interfaith solidarity remained the most viable tool to defeat security threats and political manipulation.

”First and foremost is for us to accept the reality that we are first Nigerians, and Nigeria is our country. Together we live and prosper, and when we are divided, we all suffer.

“When we work together, we are able to defeat the negative narrative and those few people who choose to be evil and divide us along religious, ethnic, or sectional lines.

“Nigerian Muslim youths are here in solidarity with Christian youths to say we are together towards securing and making Nigeria a better place for all,” he said.

Representing President Bola Tinubu, and First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Bishop Stephen Adegbite, cautioned young people against allowing politicians to use them as instruments of destruction.

”We are meeting at a very crucial time in the history of our great nation a period when we are moving towards another election

“It should be a period that none of you will be used as a sacrificial lamb. We don’t want any politician to use you and waste your life.

“The Muslim and the Christian in Nigeria must work together; we are brothers and sisters, and it is only when you have peace that you can talk of progress.”

The President of CAN, Most Rev. Daniel Okoh, urged Christian youths to rise as nation-builders and moral exemplars.

Okoh, represented by Rev. Simon Dolly-KIF, the Secretary-General of Northern Christian Religious Leaders Assembly (NOCRELA), urged youths to rise beyond the limitations of yesterday.

“The time has come for Nigerian Christian youths to rise beyond the limitations of yesterday and embrace the responsibility of building the Nigeria we desire to see tomorrow.

“Let no Christian youth become an instrument of violence, hatred, manipulation, or destruction.

“We must refuse to be recruited into anything that destroys the lives and future of our fellow Nigerians. Nigeria is bigger than our ethnicity, denomination, and political differences.”

Highlighting the security perspective, the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd), noted that peace was essential for youth productivity.

Muse, represented by Mr Musa Likita, Special Adviser on Security and Intelligence to the Minister of Defence, recognised the important role of the youth in national development under a whole-of-society approach.

“The youth are full of energy, creativity, and innovation, so they will thrive better when the environment is peaceful.

“Youths are implored to hold values where they will not allow themselves to be exploited by extremist forces or criminal elements.”

(NAN)

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Rep Ugochinyere Takes ‘Operation Light Up Ideato’ to Seven Communities

Published

7 hours ago

September 4, 2026

Gloria Ikibah

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By Gloria Ikibah

Member representing Ideato Federal Constituency of Imo State, in the House of Representatives, Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere, has expanded his electricity intervention programme to seven communities with the installation of 500KVA transformers and other power infrastructure.

The latest phase of the Operation Light Up Ideato initiative covers Ogwume, Dikenafai and Akpulu, where transformers, electricity cables and other essential components are being installed to improve power supply.

The intervention cuts across Ideato North and Ideato South, with the latest installations building on earlier projects in Umuopia, Obodoukwu, Abukwa and Umukegwu.

The completion of the transformer installation in Akpulu, alongside ongoing work in Ogwume and Dikenafai, brings the number of communities reached by the initiative to seven.

According to the lawmaker, “the expansion underscored his “commitment to addressing critical infrastructure needs at the grassroots and ensuring that communities that have long experienced inadequate electricity infrastructure are not left behind.

“Unlike a one-off intervention, Operation Light Up Ideato is being implemented as a continuing community focused programme, with more transformers expected to be supplied and installed in additional communities identified as being in need.”

The programme is aimed at improving electricity infrastructure in communities that have faced inadequate power supply, while supporting economic and social activities at the grassroots.

Speaking on the continued expansion of the initiative, Ugochinyere, who is also Chairman, House Committee on Downstream Petroleum, reaffirmed his determination to ensure that every community in Ideato requiring electricity infrastructure is eventually covered.

He stressed that the objective was to progressively close the gap in power availability across the federal constituency.

The latest intervention adds to ongoing constituency projects by the lawmaker aimed at addressing basic infrastructure needs across Ideato North and South.