₦airaland Forum

SanusiGworo:
For over 3yrs the only thing Osibanjo has done is give meaningless speeches.
Atiku stood up to Obasanjo when Obasanjo wanted 3rd term.
Osibanjo can never stand up to Buhari regarding lopsided appointments or Fulani herdsmen killers.

Osibanjo is as useless to Nigeria as a used sanitary pad is to a woman.
Anyway someone who can't take care of his own father should not be expected to care of 160mil people.

*Modified*
For those quoting me, can you please say who the worst vice president in history is?

You people are shameless, ignorant and disgusting. ndi nzuzu. Tomorrow, you will claim to be a christian. Don't just know the type of criminal and dishonest environments some of you grew up in. How some of you can audaciously call black, white makes me cling

SalamRushdie:
A leader that always leads his country into disaster is nothing but a big failure . Buhari failed WAEC , failed staff school , failed his military oath when he overthrew a democratically elected govt , he failed as an economic administrator then , failed his first wife and today again his poor leadership has failed Nigerian...if he is not a failure then who is

All you said are just figments of your imagination, borne out of hatred. They are not backed by any evidence and are far from factual. Even a truthful elementary school child knows the comments don't make sense. The shocking thing is that most of you call yourselves Christians yet terribly dishonest and hateful.

DeWorlex45:
Only a wise mind can detect dis question. I hav been asking dis same question about Buhari having no any tangible certificate to tender, not even ordinary reasonable WAEC, & yet he is today d President of NIGERIA, a country with millions of professors, & countless scholars with various degrees, Despite tagging him as a failure, but i wonder how a failed man can rose to becoming d President of a great country like Nigeria. Should i call it ''LUCK , or OPPORTUNIST??

You are wasting your time arguing with typical arrogant, ignorant and annoying Nigerians. They show their ignorance and lack of proper education at every turn. Addressing one who has led Nigeria twice, as a failure makes you think if these people have any gene of intelligence in their system. So sad!

GooseBump:
Wednesday, April 18, 2018 was my saddest day of 2018 so
far. My privilege as a Nigerian was breached when President
Buhari, who should be the main marketer and chief
diplomat of Nigeria and Nigeria...
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/04/it-is-buhari-who-is-lazy-and-not-nigerias-youth-reno/

Reno, Omockery. Yes, calling people lazy is the saddest day of your life. Are we continuing to justify the sub-human tag given to us by more advanced brains? yes. For years, you worked with hardened criminal politicians who looted and stole this country dry but those days were not your saddest days and yet you have litany of shameless and lazy supporters. I'm sorry but I believe now that the daftest set of human beings come from a country called Nigeria. See Obama here referring to Americans, not some, as lazy and they did not go to war as some disgruntled and hateful elements are doing at the moment: http://video.foxnews.com/v/5119742641001/?#sp=show-clips

Obi1kenobi:
Yes, they're the ones soliciting your politicians to cart away billions of dollars and live in opulence in their white countries. You're not ashamed at how many corruption cases (Halliburton, Malabu oil deal, laundering cases of the likes of Ibori, Alamieseigha, Diezani etc) that they've prosecuted (or are currently prosecuting) people for in their countries while the same criminals escape justice in Nigeria and people like Ibori are greeted like the Pope in their home states after they were treated like common criminals abroad. You no dey shame at all, at all. I pity people like you consumed by hatred and resentment of a vastly more successful civilization instead of focusing on the roots of the rot in your own society.

And no, they're not exploiting you. Africa in general is a basketcase for Western countries. They send you subsidized medicine for disease-ravaged populations with Polio, HIV etc. They send food aid when your people are starving and your hopeless countrymen find ways to divert the aid: like the IDP camps in the North East that divert foreign NGO's aid. Or the scumbags that diverted Saudi Arabia's food aid that found its way into the markets. They help you exploit your resources since after decades of independence, your country still lacks the technical capacity to even explore and exploit its oil and can't even refine its own product. Millions of economic refugees are risking their lives to cross the Mediterranean into Europe and become liabilities and eyesores on their streets. I blame the Italians, Greeks, Spanish people etc who go to rescue and provide shelter, clothes, food and medicine to arrivals before sending them on to plague the rest of Europe. Maybe if they provided food and sent every boat they catch all the way back, people may learn their lesson. We can't even help matters when we also breed like rats with exploding populations. Several economic projections predict this continent will be a huge scourge on the planet over the next century and we're sitting on a keg of gunpowder ready to explode. Instead of looking inward at ways to tackle the crisis, continue pointing your jealous fingers at people who can competently run their countries and blaming them for your failures.

ObiKenobi, You are too educated and knowledgeable to be on this forum, arguing with some unreasonable folks. You see, I do not know if this is peculiar to nairaland but I sometimes wonder and find it absolutely strange, how supposed educated folks sound so illogical. With all the wanton stealing that has characterized and continue to plague governance in Nigeria since independence and for people to still think it intelligent to blame the British is absolute insanity, I tell you. Keep educating them!

SARMAT:
DOWNLOAD VIDEO WITH THIS LINK


http://www.datafilehost.com/d/38b1f9b6


SOURCE : http://biafrasay.com


A pro-Biafran Facebook user, Chukwudi Utum has taken to the social network to warn his kinsmen in Anambra to adhere to the order given by leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu to boycott the upcoming Anambra gubernatorial election.

According to him, if the Anambra people go ahead to vote, against the collective will of the Biafran people, he will cease to bear CHUKWUDI which is part of his name.

WATCH:






WATCH VIDEO BELOW








youtu.be/qdr8gyRRe-o




http://biafrasay.com/p/326860/if-anambra-people-vote-i-ll-denounce-my-igbo-origin-us-based



SOURCE : http://biafrasay.com

ndi Igbo, kedu mgbe nzuzu unu a ga akwusi. Never been this ashamed of a group of touts in my life. Ndi nzuzu.

Dinobenson:
corruption is not restricted to the national assembly,every sector is corrupt in Nigeria.The main reason OBJ is bitter towards the national assembly is the simple fact that they denied him 3rd term.For the records the executive is the most corrupt arm of government.

Senseless comment. When will you guys start making statement that make sense? He did not say corruption is restricted to the national Assembly. 3rd term has nothing to do with the truth he he told.

IGBOyoruHausa:
[size=28pt]Rochas APC man Imo ApC state, how come Rochas cannot attract ordinary minister to come and commission one project though no standard project to commision. I thought Rocha is a friend to Hausa ppl, or friend to PMP, shame on him, None Apc states have one visitation or other by PMB and VP/. He wants to be the president of Nigeria. I pity Nigeria if he goes there he will sell every body and disappear while leaving Nigerian with gully everywhere

No road, no Job, no water in Imo state, gully every where, Bad rulership, No conscience, all the state money stolen by one man Called Rochas. He said that Imo State is owing him that is why he steeling all the money in his possession please brother take a trip to Imo and see how Nigeria will be should this man called Rochas goes in Aso Rock [/size]

Childish! Did you post this when PDP was in power? BTW stop shouting!

VulgarVulvas:
We read the FG is proposing cutting the feeding allowance of his ministers and appointees.

Can anyone verify if the Grand wizard of hypocrisy has cut his 1.7 billion naira kunu allowance?

Please where is the 1.7 billion naira feeding allowance. I have checked the budget again and again and did not find it. Please where is it or is it just a figment of imagination of the same disgruntled and criminal elements wishing Nigeria bad. Here is the budget-
http://saharareporters.com/2016/05/19/exclusive-all-ministry-and-presidential-budgets-now-available-public
Please help me to identify 1.7 billion feeding budget

[video]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlXbkRnvH88[/video]

MyLot:
With so much of likes and dislikes that has been trailing the first Presidential Media Chat of PMB's Administration, I may not be sure if his performance is good enough to still retain our hope but given the fact we all know, he is not in the league of orators.

That prompts me to ask this question; "is his performance giving us hope of better Nigeria in this 4yrs tenure or dashing it?"

What's your take?

[size=13pt]What has presidential media chat got to do with actual performance in office if I may ask? His performance after 2 years will be 20 times better than 16 years of PDP's misrule. I confidently want to be quoted. [/size]

•‘NPA generated N162b, spent N160b’

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) earned N162 billion and spent N160 billion in one year, a governor alleged yesterday.

Another revenue generating agency failed to remit a dime to the Federation Account from the taxes it collected, claiming that what it generated was not enough to fund its operations, Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole said.

He spoke at the eighth quadrennial delegates conference of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Abuja.

Also at the occasion, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Ayuba Wabba cautioned members of the National Peace Committee not to be an obstacle to the fight against corruption and recovery of stolen funds from former public officers.

Oshiomhole, who is the Chairman of the committee set up by the National Economic Council (NEC) to investigate revenue generating agencies, also hit at members of the National Peace Committee and other Nigerians for asking President Muhammadu Buhari not to investigate former President Goodluck Jonathan because he conceded defeat and handed over power.

He said: “Last week, somebody told us and this was an official report, that in one federal agency, the Nigeria Port Authority, admitted to collecting N162 billion in one year and spent N160 billion, remitting only N2 billion to the Federation Account.

“Is that Justice? Can you have peace in the face of this kind of abuse? We listened to some others and they have huge number as to what they earned, but how much of this did you remit?

“In Europe and other places, government is run on taxes, but when the tax collector consumes what he collects, will there be peace? Some of those who want to maintain the peace must ensure that peace is a product of justice. The real victims when power is abused are the ordinary people.

“This is the time for the NLC to initiate policies and suggestions to the Federal government on how to ensure that government policies are job-based and job-driven, that Nigeria’s economic growth is job-led growth and not jobless growth”.

He told the delegates and guests including President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ) Waheed Odusile that: “Buhari is resolved that by whatever guise anybody will come, he is going to fight on the popular mandate that Nigeria conferred on him. Organised labour must be clear.

“We must not amplify the fact that the other man handed over and has saved the nation from crisis. Yes, he did, but are we actually saying that the power to vacate does not rest on the Nigeria voters and that if the man said he was not going to go, he had a choice to stay. That was not a choice. The choice he had was between leaving the way he left or ending up like former Ivoirien President Laurent Gbabo in the Hague.

“The world has changed that no dictator today can claim to be too powerful and hold his nation to ransom. When you overpower your nation, you cannot over power the international community.

“So, those who want Nigerians to go on their knees thanking President Jonathan for conceding defeat are over dramatising it because he is not the founder of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He is a beneficiary.

“He is not a traditional ruler and did not become a king by reason of his birth. If those who were military government who took power by force of arms were forced to vacate, how can we talk of a man who was a product of our laws.

“I want to appeal to those who are exaggerating this point, that we went through an election and the man who lost conceded defeat, We refuse to shut up. If they ask you to shut up, you should refuse to shut up.

“When workers were sacked because they turned the searchlight on you, saying the problem isn’t the civil service, you now know that the dollars picketed by one person is far much more than the total wage bill of all the workers working for the Federal, government and the 36 states of the federation. So, labour cannot afford to be silent.

“All of a sudden, I hear people talking about witch hunting. Where I come from, when a witch is alleged to have killed somebody, in a typical rural Nigeria, the villagers go after the witch.

“So, what is wrong in going after the witch if it has actually caused a problem for the community? So, witches are meant to be hunted and not to be celebrated. So, people should stop trying to confuse the President and make it look as if he is the problem when he is just trying to lay a foundation.

“We should advise members of the National Peace Committee to include justice because peace is a product of justice. So, for us to have peace there must be justice otherwise, we are going to have grave yard peace and there can be no justice if one person can pocket $6billion.

Some members of the committee are: Former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, John Cardinal Onaiyekan and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) President Ayo Oritsejafor

“The time to engage is now. There is the talk of the delay in appointing minister. If rushing to make decisions deliver nation states, Nigeria would have been like heaven. What matters is not the haste with which you make decisions, but the quality of the decision you eventually arrive at. It is the quality of your cook that determines the quality of your soup.

“So, if you rush to hire your cook because you are hungry, don’t complain when he gives you erosion pot in the name of soup. Let it be clear especially in the trade union movement that ministers are not the heart of governance.

“What is the heart of governance is the civil service. If the civil service is competent and productive, with initiative, the fact that there is no minister in the ministry does not mean the ministry is grounded.

“As you can see under two months, without minister of energy, power has stabilised. The only thing Buhari has invested is the power of integrity. Is it minister we need or action? The merchants of confusion who benefit from crisis appeared to have hijacked the debate.”

The NLC president said the Congress will stand solidly behind the President in his quest to recover all stolen monies and prosecute all those found to have stolen such monies.

“Those stolen monies must be retrieved and offenders prosecuted and punished for their crimes against the Nigerian people”

http://thenationonlineng.net/oshiomhole-nlc-urge-kukah-others-not-to-obstruct-loot-recovery/

We’ve blocked revenue leakages in ports with ICT – Habib Abdullahi, MD/CEO, NPA

BY UCHE USIM

The Nigerian Ports Author­ity (NPA), a landlord to the maritime industry, has been in the eye of the storm over time for several reasons.

First, there is a general belief that the authority is not doing enough to boost port operations, a development many believe has left the sector operating below interna­tional standards.

Some stakeholders also fingered the NPA for not doing enough to lower the cost of doing business at the ports, which consider remains abysmally high.

But for the NPA Managing Direc­tor, Malam Habib Abdullahi, who opted to put the records straight in this interview listed the thrills and challenges of his job to clear some doubts in the minds of Nigerians. Only recently, the NPA boss reeled out the achievements of the au­thority under his leadership, saying a lot more successes are in the offing.

According to him, investment in human and equipment has led to a leap in revenue, while ensur­ing seamless port operations. He speaks more about the NPA.

Excerpts:

NPA in the last two years

Yes, indeed there is need for me, on behalf of NPA management, to give an account of our stewardship, which is mainly on our efforts to make the nation’s seaports the leading and most efficient ports in Africa. In the last two years, and in line with the mandate given to us as well as the Transforma­tion Agenda of President Goodluck Jona­than, the present management embarked on programmes designed to improve efficiency of our operations. Interestingly, all stakehold­ers, including the media, have been part of this significant milestone, which has brought this very special and epoch-making occasion. Just like you know, the major determinant of an efficient and user-friendly port is hinged on vessel turn-around time, cargo dwell time, security of ships at berth, as well as safety of the channel. Apart from this, Nigerian ports are also in need of huge resources for rehabilita­tion and modernisation of its infrastructure to meet the demand of stakeholders.

Marine operations

In this area, our efforts are anchored on the need to deliver efficient port services in a safe, secure and customer-friendly environ­ment, in accordance with international best practices. To achieve this, we have continued to pay attention to improving existing port in­frastructure in the areas of rehabilitation of port quay walls and aprons, deepening of our chan­nels, upgrading of our common user facilities and wreck removal from our channels. As you are aware, the biggest vessel to call at any port in West Africa (WAFMAX) with a length overall of 232.33 metres and capacity of 4,500 TEUS requiring draught of 13.5 meters has started visiting our ports due to our consistent dredging campaign. The weekly call of the WAFMAX vessel to Lagos and Onne ports is a great achievement. Generally, stakeholders and shipping companies have confirmed that the channel management and conservancy function of the authority have continued to improve. Analysis has also confirmed that most of the ports recorded increase in the Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) of vessels mainly due to the capital and maintenance dredging of the channel by our Joint Venture (JV) Companies, namely the Lagos Channel Management (LCM) Company, for the man­agement of the Lagos Channel and the Bonny Channel Management (BCC) Company for the management of the Bonny Channel. These strategic developments have reflected in increasing cargo throughput to 77 million metric tons in 2013 from 44,953,073 MT in 2005 excluding crude oil and gas. Again, in order to provide efficient towage service, the Federal Government approved the outsourcing of these services in Port Harcourt, Onne, Warri and Calabar ports. Very soon, I assure you there will be no more complaints on delay in ship movement in and out of the ports.

Health safety and environment

In recognition that excellence in environ­ment, safety and health enhance efficient and successful port operations, an environ­mental health policy was formulated under our administration. In view of that, I can say we achieved a lot which include procurement of six Mercedes Benz (Actross 3332) fire engines with foam tenders, complete with accessories and one year back-up spare parts. Another was supply of two Mercedes Benz (Actross 3332) fire fighting trucks with aerial platform, com­plete accessories and one year back-up spare parts. Others are supply of first aid intervention equipment, construction and supply of four Heavy Duty fire trucks, supply of six Land Rover (defender) fire tender with complete ac­cessories and one year back-up spare parts.

Development of deep seaports

It is also a privilege that it was during my tenure that the Federal Government approved the development of a deep seaport in Lekki under a PPP arrangement. Similar projects located in Ibaka, Akwa Ibom State, Olokola in Ondo and Ogun states, Badagry, Lagos State, are also being considered. Aside all I’ve stated, we have continued to make strides in improving existing port infrastructure in the areas of rehabilitation works. We have seen to the conclusion of East and West moles and upgrading and renovation of common user facilities. Worth mentioning is the comple­tion of Phase 4 and approval received for the commencement of the development of port facilities Phase 4B at Onne Port Complex.

Capital projects

In pursuance of the development of our ports to ensure that they meet international standards in service delivery and satisfying the requirements of port users and stakehold­ers, management has continued to vigorously pursue major capital projects in all our port locations nationwide. We have witnessed the completion of the construction of 1.6km road at the Lagos Port Complex (LPC). We have also completed the reconstruction of Termi­nals B and C at old Warri Port, and equally completed the rehabilitation of rail track at LPC. The rehabilitation of TCIP quay wall and quay apron is ongoing. There are also third party projects, which include the initiation and completion of Island Berth on Lagos Channel by Oando and completion of Eko Support Services at Bullnose, Apapa.

To further encourage private participation in port development, technical approvals were granted to Digisteel Limited and MRS Oil & Gas to expand their services at Ogogoro and TCIP respectively. We have also granted approval to Niger Dock for development of additional berth to its existing one at Snake Island. Similarly, we are processing a number of applications from prospective investors. Already, applications from PTML and GDNL have been processed and recommended for requisite approval.

In order to accommodate the rapid expan­sion and development in the port, we are intensifying effort in the final production of a National Port Master Plan.

Finance

At the commencement of this adminis­tration, it became imperative to seek ways of improving the revenue of the authority without compromising efficiency and to pro­vide comfort for all customers. Consequently, management unveiled the e-payment initiative to deliver our vision for overall transformation of the authority.

I guess you were there when we unveiled the e-payment solution some time in Febru­ary this year (2014). That product, I must emphasise, has tremendously improved our operations. These include identifying and blocking all avenues of revenue leakages, investment in massive infrastructural renewal and development geared towards deepening the channels to attract larger vessels. Others include automating and integrating our various ports nationwide using the same informa­tion technology platform, thereby improving efficiency and reducing manual intervention in our processes. I am glad to mention that this has already started yielding results.

Some of the benefits of the e-payment platform include instant payment confirma­tion; elimination of human interface in the payment procedures; improvement in vessel turn around time and reduction in cost of doing business in our ports, which impacts positively on the national economy. Going forward, it is expected that introduction of this platform would eliminate, among others, delays in confirmation of payment of provisional bills across the ports; long documentation and payment confirmation procedures arising from the above; unnecessary delay of vessel in port awaiting payment confirmation leading to demurrage payment by ships; delay in the 48 hours clearing process. Again, the process has helped to improve service delivery between terminal operators (concessionaires), shipping companies, leases and other stakeholders and the Nigerian Ports Authority. This is evident from the recent 15.4 per cent increase in cargo throughput recorded in the first half of 2014.

Human capacity building

This administration, for the first time, undertook a massive train­ing plan (both local and foreign) that cuts across every cadre of the workforce. In 2013 alone, manage­ment trained 3,091 personnel out of the total workforce of 4,245. This figure represents 90 per cent of total workforce.

Again, considering the huge responsibility of securing the ports in line with international standards, the present management has suc­cessfully completed the recruitment and training of security men for the authority. Similarly, we are in the process of recruiting additional fire­men and women.

Corporate Social Responsibility

In line with our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy, we undertook several projects, includ­ing relief materials to 2012 flood victims; relief materials to Bakassi returnees; donation of buses to UNILAG; donation of security boats to the Nigerian Navy and provision of social amenities (classrooms and health centres across the country).

Rewards for staff

We resuscitated the long service award by honour­ing 321 personnel, who have served the organisation for between 30 and 34 years as at December 31, 2011. This is to show appreciation to the workforce. However, we intend to make this an annual event.

Introduction of electronic ship entry notice

Yes! In our resolve to continue to deliver efficient port ser­vices according to our mandate as an authority, we have taken a giant stride to introduce another major initiative that will further drive with great speed the wheel of shipping in our ports. This is the Electronic Ship Entry Notice (e-SEN). The Ship Entry Notice (SEN) process hitherto was done manually. Stakeholders purchased booklets of application forms, filled a leaflet and submitted manually to the designated SEN offices located in either the Western Ports or Eastern Ports head offices depending on the port of call. This manual process was fraught with challenges such as duplication of requests, slow response to requests due to delayed verification and vali­dation of ship data. Important to note also, is the feedback from stakehold­ers revealing the inconvenience faced in travelling back and forth between designated SEN offices to pick up their SEN certificates and ports of discharge, loss of manhours in business and the risk involved in commuting. Consequently, we have integrated an online payment plat­form on the e-SEN application. This is to simplify the payment processes to NPA and enhance the provision of a link to the world economy thereby encouraging international trade.

25-year port development plan

To harness the potentials of the Nigerian maritime sector, the Federal Government has the 25-year port development plan. It has been tidied up and once it is approved by the government, you’ll see the level of development that will be recorded in the nation’s maritime sector.

Concessionaires worries about poor infrastructure, power

We are addressing the issue of electricity challenge for the concessionaires to operate. Power is very vital, no doubt about that. It’s step by step. People just want to wake up one day and see that ev­erything in the port system is done. It’s not in a day. As you fix one, another issue comes up. So, it’s a gradual process and I can assure you that we will get there. Let me say here that we have already submit­ted the power generation document to the Ministry of Transport. I am aware that favourable decisions have also been taken on that issue at the Federal Executive Council (FEC). But there are few things to sort out here and there. You know that a major issue is that of sorting certain things out with the Generat­ing Companies and Distribution Companies (Gencos and Discos). There is also the power commis­sion that regulates them, which is the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). Also, we are aware that there are some compa­nies like the Flour Mills Plc that is generating more power than it can consume. They are ready to sell out some of it. So, they can supply the ports. Even at that, it is not as easy as I’ve said it. We have to look at, for instance, the legal aspect of it. Can we take it and distribute it? What about the other agencies that control electricity in Lagos, I mean the Eko Distribution Company? What role will they play in this and so on? But we’re on that path of addressing the issue of power. The matter is with FEC. I believe very soon, by the end of this year, everything concerning power will be taken care of.

Now, as regards issues like access roads within the ports, we are ad­dressing that as well. In fact, the one constructed in Apapa Port, you can do car race on it. We’re grappling with these challenges and solving them.

Tugboats

We don’t have enough. We’re trying to bring in more. In fact, you may never have enough. You know, as your operations increase, you need more and more of that. We have ordered for four additional ones. But as a stop gap measure, you outsource some of that function, which we are doing. We get some companies to assist us as we go along buying. So, we’re addressing that issue.

Addressing slow clearance process at the ports

There are so many agencies operating at the nation’s seaports. For maximum efficiency, all the agencies must also operate within the highest standards. Sec­ondly, our roles have changed. We are just landlords now. We are no longer operators as you are aware. We also technical regulators and our responsibility in that area is the pilot­age and by that I mean bringing in the vessels and taking them out. We are also in charge of security at the ports, common user facility, access roads, among others. We don’t clear goods; we don’t examine goods; we don’t even receive goods. There are people handling those functions now like the terminal operators, shipping agents, Customs, agents, etc. So, none of these I mentioned has anything to do with the NPA. Unfortunately, quite a number of people have forgotten about our new roles since after the conces­sion. It’s no longer the NPA of old. So, whatever happens at the ports, they heap it on the NPA. If goods delay to be cleared, it’s the NPA; if a truck conveying containers spoils, it’s the NPA; if a container is lying idle by the roadside, it’s the NPA. I don’t blame some people who don’t know because those that are even supposed to know forget the new status of the NPA, that the issues mentioned earlier are completely not our responsibility. NPA is not involved in the clearance of goods. So, if a container delays in com­ing out, who am I to go and query those involved? Congestion issues are painful, no doubt, but we’re not involved in the clearance process. There was a time we went with the Transport Minister to the ports and we saw sister agencies in uniform by the gates re-examining the goods already cleared and signed off to go. That was being done on the road and it caused traffic congestion. Who am I to query them? Mine is to ensure there is free passage at the gates because they are mine. I am also to make sure the roads are tarred and smooth for free flow of vehicles and trucks. But vehicles parked on the queue waiting to load or examination are not mine. Left to me, I would want to be moving well without hindrances because the faster they move, the better for me and, of course, more revenue for me. Even the other agencies working at the ports have their challenges as well. I think you should just move into the port and see things for yourselves, then you appreciate their challenges as well. Port operations is a multi-dimensional system. One is integrated into the other. It’s a chain. There are so many people involved in the clearance chain.

Donating boats to Nigerian Navy

The boats we donated to the Nigerian Navy were patrol boats. It is to help boost security of the channels and beyond. We’re in charge of security so the boats are to help take care of that. It’s like a CSR. For your information, it’s not only us that did it, other agencies too within the Nigerian ports system were involved. The money for that was approved by the Federal Execu­tive Council. Remember few years ago, we used to hear of incidents within the Gulf of Guinea on a regu­lar basis. Now, it’s no more a regular occurrence. You hardly hear of that again. The reason for that success is partly donations like this. We just offer such assistance to sister organ­isations like the Navy to make our channels safe and secure for vessels to come in. If there is insecurity on the high seas, no matter the number of patrol boats we have, nobody will come in and that is why NIMASA is also offering such assistance. Secu­rity is very important. No business activity will thrive without security. That much we appreciate and that is why we offer assistance that will improve security at all times in the interest of the maritime sector and the country’s economy in general.

Interestingly, we have the backing of the FEC in the urgent need to secure the channels and the high seas so that we can boost business in Nigeria.

Restiveness of marine pilots

I’m not aware of any restive­ness of the marine pilots. And like you observed, I have a good relationship with them right from time. At some point, I was in charge of their training for a very long time, like some 10 years ago. May be I understand their problems or chal­lenges and sort them out. Even when the Executive Director of Marine came, he also tried to understand their operations and challenges. He made some changes here and there and perhaps that is why everywhere is calm a bit.

Calabar Channel

The Calabar Channel Manage­ment Company has been approved now by the government. So, we’re on the verge of starting off the work of the company. But what government has approved is that before we do the maintenance of the channels, we have to tidy up a work that was started about seven years ago. The entire thing was assessed; some areas were done and some others undone. We have to do a capital dredging to ensure that the required drought is reached, then the company will not start doing the maintenance dredging of it. We don’t up till now, know who’s going to do the capital dredging because we have been asked to procure the project and when it is done, we’ll call for the inaugural meeting very soon. I’m just waiting for certain things to be sorted out before we do that. The company, like I said, is already on ground and are approved by the government.

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/weve-blocked-revenue-leakages-in-ports-with-ict-habib-abdullahi-mdceo-npa-2/

anonimi:
This PDP abi, not so




www.nairaland.com/attachments/2102459_apcteam_png6dc9407cdcc2b68174c445361fc3e4c9




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In the end, it is about the government that is able to root out corruption, impunity, incompetence and cluelessness from Nigeria. PDP wasted 16 years and ended up nationalizing and legalizing corruption. It will never be about the many trivialities that many lovers of corruption in Nigeria are trying to make us see and believe.

huthority01:
This APC Government will fizzle fast! I have never seen a more vindictive Government in my life. I said a leopard does not change its color. Buhari is both prejudiced and vindictive. During campaigns every candidate is responsible to his or her Par...



Is Evil Adams Oshiomhole, now the great party spoke person

What nonsense are you talking about. What is wrong with Nigerians? Are they mentally and psychologically okay at all?

gurunlocker:
This Fugly man won't keep shut....... If work no dey edo to do, just STFU

So you are not concerned about this disturbing news? You are only concerned about the messenger. Nigerians!

$40000 in his house. What a criminal. These are the types of characters entrusted with the task of securing Nigerians. Most Nigerians are hopelessly shameless!

Anti-graft agency to quiz BPE chiefs over legal, consultancy fees
Anti-graft detectives are probing the alleged N1.45 billion legal and consultancy fees scandal at the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).
The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) called in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Of the cash, N950 million was paid to one of the lawyers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the liquidation of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) when the company had ceased to exist. A N500 million consultancy fee went to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
The fees were paid contrary to the advice of the immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), and BPP.
The BPP requested the EFCC to investigate the payment scandal in a June 27 letter to the anti-graft agency.
A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “We have submitted a letter to the EFCC to look into the circumstances behind the payment of legal and consultancy fees. It is left to the anti-graft agency to interact with those involved.
“We had in a September 22, 2014 letter, told the BPE that Due Process Certificate of ‘No Objection’ cannot be granted to the Bureau of Public Enterprises for the appointment of the legal firm.
”We also drew the attention of the Director-General of BPE to Section 12.30 of the revised Review Report for consideration and necessary action.
“In another letter on December 24, 2014, the BPP advised the BPE against going ahead with the procurement of the legal service for the winding up of PHCN.
“The Legal Advisory Services for the winding up of PHCN was no longer required, based on the advice of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice vides September 11, 2014 letter.
“It was surprising to the BPP that the BPE went ahead to pay about N1billion to a lawyer without following Due Process.”
As at press time, it was gathered that some top officials of the BPE might be invited for interrogation on the curious legal fee.
An EFCC source said the agency has launched an investigation.
“We are going to interact with some officials of the BPE after preliminary investigation has been concluded,” the source said.
The Director-General, Mr. Emeka M. Ezeh, said in a letter that no instruction was received from the AGF nullifying the earlier directive.
The letter said: “The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) having examined the request, wishes to draw the attention of the BPE to Paragraph 14 of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation (HAGF)’s letter to the BPP referenced that “item 1,3,5,6 and 8 of the scope of work for the Legal Advisor unnecessary for the liquidation of the PHCN.
“Similarly, any of the remaining items 2,4,7 and 9, which is not contemplated by the procedure described in Sections 457 -468 (and there is hardly any contemplated) would equally be unnecessary to accomplish the liquidation”.
“ It can be deduced from the above citation that the HAGF’s position on this procurement clearly indicates that Legal Advisory Service is not needed as all constituent items (1-9) under unnecessary as listed by the HAGF constitute all items under the Legal Advisory Service, as such; no item is left for BPP’s consideration for a further review.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/new/efcc-probes-how-bpe-paid-n1-45b-to-pdps-lawyer-others/

sambas: imagine asking Obama if osama was died... and he said i don't know....

He will definitely be impeached the next day

GEJ has very poor reasoning and analytical skills. Illogical arguements. Too bad

A question was asked about standard of living and the president of the federal Republic of Nigeria is talking about establishing Universities in every state and everybody having cell phones. No wonder we are in this mess.

klax: That party caleed CPC(Congress Party of Criticism) is a complete confusing party. Their second is criticism they have gone to a point that anyone who do not careful and follow CPC the peson will ends up be confused like them and even ends up become a "Sadist"

Anything good to CPC is bad, anything right to CPC is wrong even anything wrong is wrong to CPC, everything in their own WORLD is wrong and bad that is CPC way of proving opposition thereby making the party so childish and silly indeed.

Its yet time for CPC to be thrashed out and become a non existing party because I dont know what a hell they stand for or what a hell is their mision. "Purely a Sadist Party"

Only a dare-devil criminal can write this thoughtless trash. Nigeria is truly irredeemable with minds like this. What a cursed country.

chingyjant: Though i like your explanation but i beg to disagree.Many soccer pundits and administrators are still questioning the rationale behind this ranking.There are some countries that you and i know that they hardly play friendly matches.Mind you FIFA do grade the friendly matches played.A good example is Mali and some funny European countries way ahead of Nigeria.They barely play FIFA Grade A matches and even if they play they dont win.When it comes to major competitions they don't qualify or get eliminated in group stages still yet they are ahead of Nigeria.Even though for the past 8 years that our football has plunged we still qualify for AFCON and subsequent world cup,play a couple of friendlies but some of these countries that are ahead of Nigeria don't qualify for world cup,they don,t even do well in their continental football so i will like you to rescind your opinion of NLanders being myopic as pertaining to FIFA ranking

What is the basis for your disagreement? I see a lot of innuendos and conjectures in your response. Winning a tournament, qualifying for a tournamant, coming first, second, third in any tournament does not win points for any country. It is individual matches that count. Further calculations for averages for the year and previous three years are also made to determine current point. That is the scientific way of doing the rankings. For example, If a country plays the so called grade A team and loses, the average point goes down (lower than the previous points) while a country that does not play any friendly retains the same point. Please visit here and read http://www.fifa.com/worldranking/procedureandschedule/menprocedure/index.html

agabaI23: Thank you for the infor. I actually started with 'I think' which makes my post a hypothesis. I went further to explain what I thought. Thank goodness you have the right information. It doesn't warrant your disparaging everyone though.

Thanks

[b]

agabaI23: I think the influence of our win will be reflected in the March Ranking because the Feb ranking was based on January performances of the countries. You can agree with me that most of the countries above us now like CV, Mali and Ghana were still doing very well in the competition. We eliminated both Mali and CV in Feb. Ghana was also eliminated in Feb.

All games they played in South Africa have been factored in. Every game played by every country till February 13, 2013 were used for the ranking. I will advise Nigerians to learn to read and research. The level of ignorance here is baffling. The criteria for the ranking is there and not meant to favor anybody. One needs to think through the ranking procedures and understand how this works. A lot of folks already knew that Nigeria would be 4th in Africa with 747 points even before the ranking came out today. FIFA makes it possible for anybody to calculate the total points for any country for the month even before the ranking is announced. It is there in the website. The ranking is not by emotions or sentiments. It is by Mathematical calculations that weighs a number of factors including, type of game played (Qualifier, friendly, Continental cup, world cup, etc), whether you win draw or tie. They also compute a lot of averages to arrive at final point for the month. That is how things are scientifically done especially in serious and advanced societies. Winning AFCON does not automatically push Nigeria to first position in Africa. I felt the urge to write this because despite the availabilty of internet resources, most Nigerians always take delight in proudly displaying their ignorance which some people accept as intelligent contribution. [/b]

boron10: Oya o, bring out your calculator and let's start calculating how to avoid ivory coast ni o

Possibility #1: we have to beat ethiopia by atleast 2-0 and have Zambia defeat burkina faso by just a lone goal.

#2: Demolishing Ethiopia by atleast 5-0, while we pray for Zambia to Draw with Burkina faso

#3: Beating Ethiopia by as many goals as possible while praying for Burkina faso to commit an offense that will get them disqualified.

Nothing is impossible in football.

You are wrong. All Nigeria needs is a win to qualify (whether 1-0 or half-0). It will not matter the Zambia-BF score