₦airaland Forum

MXrep:
Lol. You are now crying at the bursting of your nonsense fabrication. You keep saying empty boast but when I tell you power sector gains in abia since fg reduced control to barest minimum you will still switch to another lane. Imagine Mr constituted authority completely disgraced starting port project few weeks to go. Just imagine?

We're talking about dry ports you're talking power sector. You're the one running away from topic. Instead telling me what the the governors committee accomplished on dry port you tell irrelevant stories. You wont ever tell when and how much Buhari paid to get Kaduna dry port running.

30 months turned to 10 years because of empty boasting and excuses. Its buhari fault none of yall got it done. Why not blame Jonathan and Obasanjo while you're at it.

Find some new investors if your dry port is so viable. The NSC will approve it.

Bello said, “We are here because Oyo State is critical to development in transportation in Nigeria. Since 2006 the Federal Government had taken a decision to establish inland port in the six geo-political zones of the country, of which Oyo State is important. We have others in Abia, Jos, Kano, Maiduguri and Funtua.

“Because of the strategic importance of Ibadan, we have had inquiries from a serious Chinese investor for the project. Five days ago we signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop this very important Ibadan dry port project.

Link

MXrep:
You talk with shallow knowledge and play around words to suit yourself. FG Project is fg project. Concessioning is Concessioning so the comparison is in order. Is it the stvpid oyo governor that failed woefully and disgraced in the last election that "changed course and found Chinese investors" few weeks to go? Stop phooling around dude

Lol more irrelevant nonsense. Who cares about the election stick to topic of dry ports. Why did 30 months turn to a decade. Why not partner with NSC to find new investor. All these tears wont get the dry port built.

I noticed you still wont provide proof buhari fund Kaduna port. Why didnt state assist concessionaire after buying 20% stake in project. All the governor is good for useless committees on topic.

Excuse makers are only good for empty boast. The concessionaire and state failed. This is after saying FG was in full support of his project he couldn't deliver.

Ps: What was accomplished by the governors committee?

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council has entered into partnership with the Oyo State Government to establish a $200m (N72bn) modern dry port, as well as a truck transit park in the state, in conjunction with some Chinese investors.

Bello said, “We are here because Oyo State is critical to development in transportation in Nigeria. Since 2006 the Federal Government had taken a decision to establish inland port in the six geo-political zones of the country, of which Oyo State is important. We have others in Abia, Jos, Kano, Maiduguri and Funtua.

“Because of the strategic importance of Ibadan, we have had inquiries from a serious Chinese investor for the project. Five days ago we signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop this very important Ibadan dry port project.

Link

MXrep:
You are confused. What makes what I bring up irrelevant? Which oyo? In FG project. Keep quiet. FG brings concessionare and revoke it they fail. Ode

Its irreverent because it doesn't matter. Nobody cares about road construction when we have apples to apples comparison with dry ports. Oyo looked into dry port issue first then fg approved.

The FG not looking for new investors yet. They're helping them look for funding. Oyo doesnt have dry port because they sat on their buts like Abia. They changed course and found chinese investor. All without crying about FG. Has every state asked or is even interested in dry port?

MXrep:
You are a confused zombie. Was Lagos ibadan road not convessioned to certain yoruba company and remained unbuilt till FG revoked it after donkey years? Was onitsha owere road not dualized within same period? Should we blame your governors and praise ours for that when its all federal matter?

You are person who said that FG is looking for new investors for other ports, why was it not states? Why has ibadan not built theirs till now. Who brought new concessionare for kaduna. Why is every state not building dry port as they wish?

Lol you're bringing up irrelevant nonsense since you can't justify the dry port anymore. The point is the FG gave everyone same opportunity the consessionaire and abia state failed. Now you're here crying about buhari a decade later. Why not copy oyo if you guys are lost.

Prove FG funded Kaduna dry port you wont. 30 months turned to ten years because they're only good for empty boasting.

MXrep:
Continue spewing confusion. Oyo and FG my foot. Why didn't you say oyo alone? The only thing el rufai "facilitated" was being buhari's friend, party man, and tribal man. Where was oyo when abia got investors for Ariara which now enjoy off grid 24hr supply? I challenge you to embark on reforms in port sector and remove FG power let's see

FG approved the new concessionaire and dry port. The approve anyone thats probably why Edo is also supposed to have one. Lol Kaduna got theirs working while Abia only has useless implementation committee. You're senselessly blaming FG even when they gave the concessionaire and state same approvals. Then you rattle off irreverent stories about your market. Why not show proof the FG funded Kaduna instead.

Lol excuse maker a whole decade after you're approved you're still crying about Buhari. Why not challenge your law makers to raise that issue? Explain how 30 months turned to 10 years.

The project concessionaire, assured during the ceremony that it would be completed within 30 months.

He said that the state governor, Chief Theodore Orji has strong confidence in the viability of the project and the capacity of the concessionaire to deliver on his promise hence the state government has acquired 20 percent equity share in the venture in order to give the people a sense of ownership.

Chairman of Eastgate, Mr. Bill Nkemdirim, expressed happiness that the ICD was finally taking off the ground after eight years of planning, noting that the company had during the waiting period passed through thick and thin to see to the commencement of he project.

He said that the federal government has supported the project right from inception and the decision to site an ICD for the Southeast was economically and politically wise given its viability.

Link

PS: If King of the north Buhari is bankrolling dry ports why is Katsina complaining about lack of funds?

MXrep:
You see how stvpid you sound? Why is FG looking for another investor instead of Abia state government? Ports are completely FG property. They got the wrong investor for aba. Nothing stops them from sacking him. Stop talking about access road, lol, its purely funny. What is the state of access road to Lagos ports?

Yes i know its the FG fault the state and concessionaire didt get it done after a decade. Lol oyo will probably have theirs done before abia and you'll be here screaching about the FG. Nothing stopped Abia from looking for new person that's what Oyo and FG did.

Why should I stop speaking facts. Kaduna state government did build access roads for them. The FG didnt fund any of them directly. They're only offering help it now since they failed to make progres on their own.

The president also praised Governor El-Rufai for the facilitation of the establishment and urged  relevant stakeholders to properly utilise the port.

He said, "I also want to commend the Government of Kaduna State for facilitating the establishment of Kaduna Inland Dry Port. The provision of access roads and other utilities to the Dry Port by the Kaduna State Government is worthy of emulation by the other Dry Ports host State Governments.

Link

MXrep:
Don't deceive yourself. FG money built kaduna dry port. Which assistance? Which access road? That the governor was talking about the importance of the port doesn't mean it's no lomger a federal project

There's no proof of that FG. The managers of the port said Kaduna state government built access roads. Abia dry port doesn't exist becsuse the state and concessionaire have been sitting on their hands. The FG is currently looking for funding for other six dry ports including abia since they cant get job done themselves.

MXrep:
Why do yo talk like illiterate? Let them remove ports grom FG hands and lets see. GEJ power reform led to the Ariara power which the clueless one commissioned despite contributing nothing. Aba was the first in nigeria to house private power plant, geometric

Why are you whining and telling me irreverent stories? Its been years of talking yet theirs no dry port. All you can do is blame FG for concessionaires and states failure.

chijos12:
Make igbo man the manager of that inland port and see it function expectedly ...

Tell them to start with Abia dry port.

MXrep:
Lol. The most viable dry port is located in Aba but as usual your nepostic government wasted money on unviable ones.

Lol dont start the blame game. The FG didnt do anything but give the approvals. Its the Kaduna state government that gave them assistance building access roads and other stuff. The Abia state governor has been talking for years about getting it running with nothing to show. The concessionaire recieved approval back in 2006 and has done nothing.

He noted that shipping companies has the responsibility to move the containers from the port of loading to port of destination, and hand over the containers to the customs, who then hand it over to the port managers.

Lol they dont owe you their business or in your words recognition. Maybe they didnt care to use dry port because of the cost. Why not direct the blame at NRC since they didnt have rail transport a whole year after the dry port opened.

The cost of moving containers by road from Lagos to Kaduna is not stable, could cost between N800,000 and N1million, which can be halved through the railway.

By Joke Falaju

Abuja — Given Federal Government's efforts to decongest the seaport, the Manager of the Kaduna Inland Dry Port, Mr Rotimi Raimi, have accused foreign ship owners of refusing to recognise the dry port as port of destination.

Raimi, who spoke on the sidelines of the flag-off of rail operation for cargo delivery at the Kaduna Dry Port, said customers have been complaining of the reluctance of shipping companies to deliver goods at the port.

He said often time, shipping companies complained about poor infrastructure in terms of bad roads from Lagos-Kaduna, and the unstable price by transportation companies.

He noted that shipping companies has the responsibility to move the containers from the port of loading to port of destination, and hand over the containers to the customs, who then hand it over to the port managers. "We then store and hand it over to the business owners but that is not playing out now," he said/

Raimi also stressed the need for shipping companies to incorporate the Kaduna Dry Inland Port into the system, such that when importers demand that their goods be delivered to Kaduna, they would oblige.

He noted that containers are at the Lagos seaport incur demurrage, while in Kaduna there would be none, as goods can be easily cleared at the dry port than at seaports.

With regards to transportation, he said the cost of moving containers by road from Lagos to Kaduna is not stable, could cost between N800,000 and N1million, which can be halved through the railway to as low as between N450,000 and N500,000.

He disclosed that since the Kaduna Port commenced operations last year January, it moves an average of 200 containers monthly, adding that with increased awareness of the rail system, container volume would be doubled, especially as the Nigerian Railway Cooperation is planning to channel more locomotives and wagons to the axis.

Source: https://allafrica.com/stories/201905140806.html

netpro:
Mr. Referendum, the law in Kano State governing the existing of the emirates places that responsibility on the State Assembly. Why are you wailing than the indegenes of Kano?

Lol you clearly don't comprehend what I wrote. The question about referendum is just a hypothetical alternative. I said he didnt break the law and stated the judge cant punish him for being vindictive. Read whats written not what's in your imagination.

I know if Ganduje scrapped the monarchy all together alot of people complaining would bite their tongues. All he has to say is we're going to redirect cash to education and helping almajaris. They'll just maintain things associated with it for tourism and tradition. (Think of German or French castles)

Should decisions like this be voted on by popular referendum? I dont see where Gandolla broke the law splitting Emirate. Lol the only thing people can whine is being vindictive and hypocritical both of which are character flaws not crimes. Is the judge going to reverse decision because his heart was in wrong place?

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor

Second Republic Lawmaker, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, has applauded Kano Government for responding to the yearning and aspirations of the natives and splitting sprawling Kano Emirate into more.
Mohammed, who spoke with Vanguard last night, said the governor of the state, Ganduje, has done no wrong by taking the bold initiative to respond to the age-long desire of the majority of the people of Kano.


“If the governor does not create Emirates, who will do so,” the politician asked rhetorically when confronted with the question whether Ganduje was right in the first place to dismember Kano Emirate and appoint new Emirs.

“Governor Ganduje is simply responding to the age-long and popular demand of the people of the state and he should be applauded for this bold and courageous action, which has been widely accepted by the broad spectrum of our people,” Mohammed said.

The former Shehu Shagari’s aide pointed out that the laws of the state vest the powers on the governor through the state House of Assembly to regulate the existence and operations of Emirates in Kano State, adding that by splitting them into more, the governor was simply discharging his statutory duties.

Asked if the governor’s action would stand the test of the law, Mohammed affirmed that it would, adding, “Ganduje has not breached any known law by his action”.

Source: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/05/new-kano-emirates-ganduje-has-done-right-thing-junaid-mohammed/

The national id program has a failure anyway. Lol it's easier to get a passport or drivers licenses. They might as well unify the two since Nigerian ecowas id already comes with national id number.

(NAN)Ghana has said that its smart dual-interface cards would incorporate the ECOWAS identity card to save costs and ensure convenience for its citizens.

Members of Ghana’s parliament made this known while presenting the Country Report at the ongoing ordinary session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja on Friday.

According to the report, presented by Ama Boateng on behalf of the country’s delegation, the Ghanaian Government began the card registration on April 29 to end on March 31, 2020.

The government also made agreements with ECOWAS to have the regional biometric card integrated in the Ghanaian card.

In his response to questions from members of the parliament, Mr Mahama Ayariga said that citizens would be able to use the card in various institutions in the country.

“Many institutions were coming up with biometric ID cards and were using state funds that related to their specific area.

“The government took a decision to have one Ghana card that has captured all the information of an individual and the card can be used by any institution to save costs and for convenience of our citizens.”

The card which would be issued to citizens from the age of 15 and above would be valid for 10 years.

Furthermore, the report stated that the country had begun the rehabilitation of its ports at Tema to make it the “Container Hub” for West Africa as part of contributions to the promotion of regional integration.

“This is being done under a Public Private Partnership among Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Meridian Port Holdings of Netherlands and Ballore Transport and Logistics/APM Company of France.

“When completed, Ghana will be the hub for off-loading bigger vessels and containers to other ports on the West Coast.

“It will also be the main hub for moving containers to inland countries like Burkina Faso and Niger.”

Also, the delegation from Cote d’Ivoire and the Gambia presented their country reports.

Source: https://www.sunnewsonline.com/integration-ghana-to-incorporate-ecowas-id-to-national-id/

.

Also speaking, the Managing Director of NRC, Mr Fidet Okhiria, said that the Apapa station would be completed within seven months.

We'll see It took yall a year to move cargo to Kaduna. Moving cargo via rail is ling term solution. Buhari already ordered all ports be connected with rail.

Keep your eyes on updates involving Lagos-kano-Maradi rail line.

The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, has ordered the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to re-evaluate its existing assets at the Apapa Ports, to create space for the proposed Apapa rail station.

Amaechi said this on Saturday while inspecting the site for the proposed station, which is part of the ongoing Lagos-Ibadan standard guage rail project in Lagos.

According to him, after inspecting the site, the railway property at Apapa actually calls for an audit, to know which of the property is still on lease, as well as those whose lease had expired.

“How can the NRC acquire its own property, if all this property is for the NRC and it is leased out? We need to know for how many years, if it has expired or not.

“Let us revalue them. If we are to convert some of the property for the proposed station, will that make economic sense or not? Or do we modify them into a Hotel or a Shopping Mall, just as we have done at the Ebute Meta station?

“They should not just evaluate but also identify the owners of such assets, and if we have leased them out, they have no choice but to pay.

“If the lease has expired, the owners do not have a choice than to hand over the property back to us, but we have to do an audit before that,’’ he said.

Speaking on issues hindering the use of rail to transport cargo to the Apapa port, the minister said only the standard guage lines could be used to increase the volume of cargo that could be transported daily.

“We have yet to construct the standard guage, and until that happens, you can’t be able to move enough cargo.

“Currently, I hear we are moving about 200 to 300 thousand tonnes of cargo yearly. We need to make sure that the tracks are functioning properly to enable us to be able to move more cargo,’’ he said.

The minister said that work was ongoing on the Jibowu and Costain bridges that would be demolished.

“There are two bridges we are going to demolish in Lagos; one is at Jibowu and the other is at Costain. But we have to finish construction before we demolish, because Lagos is such a heavy economy that if you demolish without first of all constructing the alternative bridges, you cause serious crisis with the traffic.

“So, we will first finish construction before we demolish the Jibowu Bridge. They have commenced with Costain; when they finish with the construction and get the traffic relieved, then we demolish the old bridges,’’ he said.

Also speaking, the Managing Director of NRC, Mr Fidet Okhiria, said that the Apapa station would be completed within seven months.

He said that those using the corporation’s property at the Apapa station only got temporary licences, adding that after revaluation. they would be made to handover the assets to the corporation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Amaechi inspected the Jibowo and Costain bridges, the Apapa rail station, as well as the Papalanto site in Ogun during the visit.

Source: https://dailypost.ng/2019/05/11/amaechi-issues-order-nigerian-railway-corporation/amp/

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

The Bauchi State Controller of Prisons, Suleiman T. Suleiman, has lamented that five persons who have been convicted to be stoned to death and 10 others whose legs and hands are to be amputated are languishing in prison.

Suleiman, who was speaking in an interview with journalists in his office last Tuesday on the state of the prison in the state also lamented that these two sets of convicts have been in jail for over 10 years without any action taken on them.

He said six other inmates have also been condemned to death; five on life sentence and 188 are on long term sentence from two years and above.

According to Suleiman, the prison now has 947 inmates in the 500 capacity Bauchi prison.

He said: “The condemned convicts we have are mostly coming from Sharia courts; this and other related cases like amputation of hand or leg victims have been in jail for over 10 years without knowing their fate. Their hands or legs are not cut off yet, they don’t know their fate. There are those who are supposed to be stoned to death, so I am worried.

“I feel touched that each time I go to any of the prisons to visit, they would be the first to confront me with questions about their cases. I have written to the state governor and Chief Judge to see that something is done about these people.

“They’re the only category of people that cannot be taken to court because they have already been convicted, but there’s no execution.”

The Prison Controller said if their legs cannot be amputated, they should be given terms of imprisonment and if these cannot also be done, they should be granted pardon and counseled them to be of good behaviour and free them.

He said this has become necessary because “I am really worried, and the officials in charge of them are also worried about their cases. I want the government to execute the law as it is and if they cannot do that, the governor has the power to give clemency to these convicts.”

Source: https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/05/09/five-bauchi-prisoners-to-be-stoned-to-death-10-face-amputation/amp/

This is coming barely a week after the National Human Rights Commission raised the alarm that no fewer than 523 children were languishing in various (adult) prisons in the state.

This is good move. The next step is to decriminalize petty offenses. Let them do commuity service and or pay fines. Jail should be left to egregious crimes or repeat offenders.

Ps: who cares if they build a prison for politicans let them languish with the violent immates.

If the cost are like America $30 for at hoe test. You'll pay $300 for a legal one (notarized). If you want to do pre-natal test its $1675. This is also legal one.

rawitools:
Abeg which goods dem de cargo? And which rail lines?

The imports consist of household equipment and vehicles. The exports consist of ginger, cow horn and chsrcoal. The narrow gauge lines.

If it is by rail, the cost will drop by over 60 percent,” he said.

Man that's alot of saving. At least 2000 containers can be moved by rail. These truckers can do shorter routes instead of parking on highways. Lets hope they keep the date.

Hopefully the new NRC management isnt trash like last bunch. They're just getting rail services started like the dry port was a last minute development or they're doing these services for free.

The Federal Government has concluded plans to start cargo delivery service by rail to the Kaduna Inland Dry Port this Tuesday May 7.

The programme scheduled to hold on Tuesday May 7th, at the facility’s premises in Kakuri, Kaduna state will have in attendance the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam, Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai and the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi who will flag-off the service.

A statement by the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), the promoters of the dry ports across the country, said the Council will also hold an interactive session with all relevant stakeholders immediately after the event.

The statement signed by Mr. Tahir H. Idris, the Special Assistant to the Executive Secretary, NSC said the interactive session with the stakeholders has the theme “optimizing the Kaduna dry port as key to Nigeria economic diversification.”

The stakeholders’ interactive programme/clinic will witness presentations on the following topics: “Inland Dry Port development and management – key to diversification of Nigeria’s economy; The role of Nigerian Custom Service in facilitating the operations of inland dry ports; promotion of exports and Kaduna Dry Port as key to Nigeria’s economic diversification and prospects and operational challenges of Kaduna inland dry port.”

Commenting, the Executive Secretary and CEO, Nigerian Shippers Council, Bar. Hassan Bello said the commenting the railway to the dry port is a watershed to the facility.

“So much cargo is coming to Kaduna now but on trucks. It takes so much money to transport goods by trucks from Lagos to Kaduna. If it is by rail, the cost will drop by over 60 percent,” he said.

He also said transporting containers by railway will also eliminate the risks of diversion, goods tampering and also reduce the risks of accidents by over 95 percent , thus driving down the cost of insuring cargo to Kaduna as a point of entry.

Source: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/cargo-delivery-by-rail-to-kaduna-dry-port-starts-tuesday.html

According to her, management of Osubi and Akwa Ibom Airports had paid up parts of their debts as at Tuesday, but regretted that Gombe and Kebbi airports refused to comply with the directive.

If these airports dont even cover opperating expenses why bother keeping them open. FAAN did right thing there's no point begging for cash. Just shut them down and call it a day.

https://66.media.tumblr.com/f9d818ae1b3263be6d1261ca5a11a2dd/tumblr_nqueocj6zi1rvvk8yo1_500.gif

Chinedu Eze

Flight operations may have stopped at the Gombe and Kebbi airports as indications emerged that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) may have withdrawn its services over N800 million unpaid debt owed it by the two airports.

FAAN for several months have requested that the two airports and the other state-owned airports in the country, which owed FAAN a total sum of N4 billion, should liquidate the debts incurred as charges for security and fire services.

A source from the agency, which confirmed the withdrawal of services yesterday, said FAAN may have made good its threat of shutting down any state-owned airport that didn’t pay up its debts on or before May 1, 2019.

It was gathered that in response to the withdrawal of the services by FAAN, airlines could not fly to any of the two airports yesterday because without security and fire cover any airport is automatically closed for operations.

THISDAY also learnt from Gombe that a meeting was ongoing between FAAN and Gombe airport to resolve the issue.

FAAN had urged the indebted airports to offset their bills and threatened that without the payment of the debts, it would withdraw its services.

The agency issued Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) to inform airlines that it would withdraw its services from yesterday.

This followed expiration of the last one-week ultimatum issued to them by the agency, which said it had exhausted the option of amicable settlement.

This was confirmed by the General Manager, Corporate Communications, FAAN, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu who said the agency had issued a NOTAM to the airports and airlines operating there.

She explained that the withdrawal of service would take place mid-night of yesterday and it would be indefinite until the debts owed the agency were paid.

According to her, management of Osubi and Akwa Ibom Airports had paid up parts of their debts as at Tuesday, but regretted that Gombe and Kebbi airports refused to comply with the directive.

With the services withdrawn, no airline can operate to the airports, which currently enjoys the services of Arik Air, Azman Air and Max Air.

Operation Manager, Azman Air, Saminu Tanko confirmed that the airline had received the NOTAM on the closure of the airports, saying their flights to the two airports would be suspended if the NOTAM were implemented.

Source: https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/05/02/faan-withdraws-services-from-gombe-kebbi-airports-over-n800m-debt/?amp

Operators blame NIMASA for poor regulation

Some vessels and fishing equipment valued at $5.2billion are wasting at the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal (KLT) and other fishing jetties  in Lagos due to poor regulations and activities of Chinese illegal fishermen.

Already some Nigerian trawler operators have relocated to Ghana and other neighbouring   countries  because of operational high cost and piracy.

It was learnt that illegal foreign fishermen in the country have devastated the industry with poaching.

Former President of Nigerian Trawler Owners Association (NITOA), Barrister Margaret Orakwusi said that the menace of Chinese on Nigerian waters had made the  country to contribute an insignificant percentage in the international fish market.

She added that poaching of Nigerian fish by the Chinese fishermen was a major challenge to local operators.

Already , a report by NITOA had said that more than 600,000 indirect jobs had been cut off in the sector because of regulation and activities of sea robbers in the last two decades.

The association noted some facilities, equipment and infrastructure worth $5.2 billion are already rusting at various fishing jetties due to the present harsh operating environment.

The association explained that the  sub-sector of the economy, which had helped to create 6,000 direct jobs and 600,000 indirect jobs in the past had lost some of its industrial fishing trawlers to sea robbers and pirates.

It added that in the last two decades, no fewer than 130 vessels have gone into in extinction.

Orakwusi also noted that the operators had no reason to relocate to Ghana or elsewhere when there was a readymade market for the catches in Nigeria.

However, she said that incidences of sea robbers and poaching had affected the industry.

According to her,  the Chinese are stealing our natural resources in an irresponsible manner. As operators, we cannot do anything except there is an intervention from government.

“We are still struggling with operational high cost. We use diesel more than any other industry and once there a little bit of price movement it affects us because we are not in a position to transfer that extra cost of production to off-takers.”

The former president stressed the need by government to have a dedicated maritime security and safety on the nation’s waters.

Lamenting the dwindling fortunes of the fish trawling sector in Nigeria,  Orakwusi noted that it was a crime to fish or poach on  natural resources without government approval or license.

She  called on the Federal Government to save the sector from its comatose state.

Also, Orakwusi said that Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) was the agency saddle with the responsibilities of maritime security and safety.

She lamented that there was no fire fighting sea craft in the country to combat fire on the sea. 

Orakwusi noted that government should go after those fishing illegally on Nigerian water without approval or license and arrest them.

According to her, no Chinese fishing firm can practice what they were doing in Nigeria in their country.

She said:  “Those without government’s permission or license should be arrested and punished.”

Source: https://newsnowonline.com.ng/2019/04/29/5-2bn-fishing-equipment-rust-at-kirikiri-jetties/

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has commenced series of intensive technical training for its staff, who are integral part of Abuja Rail Mass Transit (ARMT) operations team.

Our correspondent reports that the  training is part of the arrangements for full takeover of the management of the ARMT, otherwise known as Abuja Lightrail, when the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) currently jointly managing it exits the system, in the next two and half years.

Speaking at the opening of the training in Idu, on Monday, Assistant Director, Engr. Mustapha Mallumbi, FCT Transportation Secretariat said the essence of the training is for members of the FCT Rail operations staff to boost their knowledge base of the system.

Mallumbi added that the training organised by CCECC will improve the safety of the rail system and patronage.

While recalling that actual operations of the rail commenced since last year July 13, 2018, said currently, it’s a joint team operations and management by the CCECC and FCT Administration.

He disclosed that according to the plan, in the next two and half years to come, ARMT system, designed to cover the entire FCT and environs, which is over two hundred and thirty plus kilo meters, spread into six lots, will fully be in the hands of the locals.

“So far, what we have done is only lot 1A, Lot 3 that’s about 45km, which covers the city centre through Idu to Airport; and from Idu to Kubwa,” he stressed.

Also speaking, Deputy General Manager, Rail Operations Department, CCECC Nigeria Ltd, Tom Tang, said the training is core part of the arrangements for the technical transfer of ARMT operations and management to the local staff, to let them master all the necessary skills and knowledge to completely manage it.

He said after the training which will last for three months, more trainings will follow adding that: “We have a lot of equipment in the system which the local staff needed to know how to operate and manage effectively.”

The Assistant Director, Electrical, Transportation Secretariat, Engr Chika Ifesi, who is part of the FCTA Rail operations team, described the training as apt and a welcome development, because it enables FCTA, Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) and CCECC to work together as a team.

She said: “We have to be trained together, so that we have the same approach to the system, processes, challenges and solutions.

“We felt that there is a need for all team members to sit together and learn intensively for months, so that in the coming years, our people will able to take over the management of the entire system, when the Chinese exit, to probably build more lots.”

Source: https://thenationonlineng.net/govt-prepares-staff-to-take-over-abuja-lightrail-from-chinese/amp/

Uyo – The Akwa Ibom government has described Eket Local Government Area of the state as most difficult area to develop, blaming such on the character of the people.

The government said the people’s unfriendly and uncooperative attitude towarda government effort to develop the place has unduly delayed the ongoing Eket remodelling.

It has been observed that Eket, popularly known as the oil city as it provides accomodation to oil experts working with ExxonMobil and other oil servicing companies across the state has over the years presented challenges to most attempt to develop the area, especially in the area of road construction.

It is on record that the East West road which passes across some parts of the state terminated at the boundary into Eket due to community hostility and other internal issues which worked against the development.

In a chat with newsmen in the Uyo over the weekend, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Worls, Mr Ephriam Inyangeyen explained the delay in the completion of the Eket urban renewal scheme in which contract was awarded more than three years ago , saying it suffered a setback due to litigation by property owners on the project’s right of way.

The project which is being supervised by the Akwa Ibom state ministry of works consists of the construction of dual a carriage way from Atabong to Grace Bill road as well as the construction of a roundabout near Liverpool road in an attempt at the upgrade of facilities in the  oil city.

Inyang Eyen  said in addition to the series of litigation, the people in the area are difficult to work with and have made it difficult for the project to be completed in time.

According to him, though the state government is willing to pay compensation to property owners and has paid many of them, they have declined to accept compensation payment and have rather dragged to the state government to court making it difficult for many of the structures to be pulled down for the project to carry out.

‘If Eket remodeling is delayed, it should be made known that the people of Eket are not supporting us, they are the problem. Until, the cases are withdrawn from the courts, we cannot do anything,’’ the commissioner said.

He disclosed that even when the state government had paid compensation for the relocation of the Atabong market, the community had rejected all appeals for the market to built in another area saying the state government paid the construction of the new market through the chairman of Eket local government area.

The commissioner however expressed the hope that with moves being made to have the cases withdrawn from the court, the project would continue and complete without much delay.

He disclosed that the objective of the state government in construction roads across all the senatorial districts of the state was to create a network of roads in the for ease of transportation and ensure add value to road transportation.

According to him, the state government has taken steps towards the realization of the Ibom deep seaport saying that before now, no serious effort was made by the previous administration.

He also confirmed that the federal government made a refund to the state government on money spent on the construction of federal roads and other projects in the state.

Source: https://www.independent.ng/eket-lga-frustrates-akwa-ibom-development-efforts/amp/

The federal government decision to ban all mining activities in Zamfara state over the violent attacks by bandits will drive away thousands of artisan workers registered under over 300 mining cooperatives into the labour market, Daily Trust findings have revealed.

The Zamfara state commissioner for environment, Alhaji Mukhtar Ahmad Lugga, in an interview with Daily Trust said most of those mining golds in the state are small-scale miners, contrary to insinuations that they are mega companies owned by some prominent individuals.


"Those talking about ex-military generals conducting mining activities in Zamfara state, perhaps, they are talking about General Aliyu Gusau and General Abdulsalam Abubakar. Yes, they obtained the mining exploration license and but they are yet to start the mining activities proper," Lugga said.

"Even those with the exploration licence, few of them have obtained the mining lease that gives them the permission to start the mining activities. Before you even start the mining, you have to have a community agreement, that you will build hospitals or schools in the mining community," he said.

The commissioner said some of those who had gotten the exploration license "were yet to even start the exploration because without the exploration nobody can determine the quantity of gold deposit in a particular place."


Less than 15% of licenses are operational - Commissioner

Lugga said "I can tell you that you can hardly get 15 to 20 percent out of 100 of those that obtained either exploration licence or mining lease that is into the mining activities. Many of them have held their licences looking for investors. And an investor would not come until he knows what is on the ground. These are the issues concerning mining in Zamfara state."

"I know of Indians who obtained license for about 10 years but are yet to even come to Zamfara to develop the site. Most of those that obtained license has never been to Zamfara."

He said though the state has fallen into the gold belt in Africa, no one has verifiable reserve estimations of the gold deposit in the state.

The local government areas with gold mines in the state include Anka, Maru, Bukkuyum, Talata Mafara, Maradun and some parts of Gummi.

No official data on Zamfara gold

The President of the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN) Alhaji Kabiru Muhammed Kankara said it is difficult to know the quantity of gold coming from Zamfara. "You can only know what the genuine people are doing. The other ones will be doing it in secret and will not declare it to the government to generate revenue. And sometimes they do it in collaboration with some so-called foreign miners. They will be smuggling them out of the country."

Corroborating this, the director of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Department, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Mr Ojeka O. Patrick said the amount of gold gotten from Zamfara is much but being smuggled out of the country.


"They smuggle them out, so they don't bring it to us (the ministry), so we don't know."

"Just like Niger state that is sitting on gold, Zamfara is sitting on gold, even Kaduna state. That is why you are hearing crises in Zamfara and Birnin Gwari in Kaduna state," he said.

The director said there about 150 mining cooperatives registered in Zamfara alone.


The acting director of the Mines Inspectorate of the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Engineer Frank Odoom, said: "I cannot tell you the amount of gold produced now because they are not documented. Their production is not captured officially, but there is a production that is sustainable. The mining there at the exploration stages. They are not actually mining but they are developing their mines little by little. But there is no full-scale mining there now."

200 of my workers are jobless - Miner

Alhaji Shamsuddeen Sani Dahiru, the managing director Inta General Enterprises, a Gusau-based mining firm, said even though they were backing all moves by the authorities to bring lasting peace, but they are against linking the insecurity to mining activities

"Armed bandits have no links with mining activities in the state. Banning the mining activities would compound the problem of unemployment. I have over 200 people working under me," he said.

However, the chairman of Anka local government Alhaji Mustapha Gado, in whose local government Sunke mining field is found, told Daily Trust that they had earlier written to the state government requesting the authorities to halt mining in the state.

We're not chasing away foreign investors - FG

The suspension of mining activities in Zamfara state was temporal and will not be for so long, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Abubakar Bawa Bwari, has said.

The minister who was responding to questions by journalists whether the suspension of mining activities in the state will not chase away foreign investors.

"We are not chasing away miners/foreigner investors as we have to consider the welfare of the people. This is why we have to take this difficult decision and we want to plead with our investors that it is a temporary thing and they will resume mining again," Bwari said.

"The activities of bandits and criminal elements have affected the exploration of mining. If our mining inspectors visit sites, some of the activities there are unfortunate ... that is why the government is taking the decision to suspend the mining activities in Zamfara for now."

Mining suspension is welcome - MAN

According to the president of MAN, the suspension of mining activities in Zamfara state by the Federal Government is a welcome development.

"As far as we are concerned it is for security reasons. And if it's for security reasons, we have no option than to comply and agree with their positions. Because there is no country that can allow mining activities to thrive without security."

He said though mining happens to be an arm of economic activities in Zamfara state that tend to generate money locally for the people, a lot of people are capitalizing on it to create havoc which is not in the interest of the government.

How to end banditry -KADCCIMMA

The Director General of the Kaduna Chamber of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture (KADCCIMA), Malam Usman Saulawa has urged the federal government to involve community leaders in activities at various mining sites across to country with a view to tackling the incessant cases of armed banditry.

Saulawa, in an interview with Daily Trust, said: "the government should look at the whole scenario holistically and involve communities through their community policing programmes to check activities in mining sites across the country by doing so, the government will be attending to the social needs of such communities."

He urged the federal government to ask already registered mining companies to re-register again and get the communities around the sites involved in the activities.

"Community leaders should form a vigilante for community policing apart from the effort the government will draw up through regulation that will help in attending to the social needs of the localities.

"Because I believe unemployment is one of the causes of people being recruited into such activities, I am sure if they are involved it will reduce the activities of banditry in the area and someone will have control of exactly what is happening," he said.

Source: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/zamfara-ban-puts-300-mining-firms-out-of-business.html