Transport
Gov.’s Aide Harps On Work Specification
Road contractors in Delta State have been called upon to ensure speedy completion of their work and to specification.
Chief Felix Omel-Melenu, Senior Special Assistant to the Delta Governor on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) made the appeal at Obiarukwu, Ukwuani Local Government Area of the state.
Omel-Melenu, who was inspecting projects in the area, said that the era when contractors collected money and abandoned projects was over.
He said that Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration was desirous of ensuring the completion of all roads projects in record time because of the benefits of good roads to the economy of the state.
He said, “It is wrong for contractors to collect money for projects and fail to execute the project.
“It is even worse when communities are not aware that contracts for projects have been awarded in their area and keep blaming government for not performing.”
He said that most of the road contractors were working at a slow pace due to the rain, adding that he hoped contractors would mobilise fully to site when the rainy season was over.
The senior special assistant also appealed to communities where roads were being constructed in the state to show understanding as the projects would soon be completed.
He said that the essence of the visit was to assess the level of progress made on projects being executed by the NDDC.
He said that it was sad that some contractors had done so little to show that they were capable of executing road projects.
At Umukwata also in Delta, he commended the people of the community for their patience and determination to protect projects being executed in their area.
He assured them that no stone would be left unturned for Eziokpor/Umukwata road to be completed.
The Okpala-Uku of Umukwata, Chief Ossai Idu, through his spokesman, Chief Progress Asogu, said that the visit was the first of its kind where a government official came to assess the level of work done in the community.
He complained that for years, they had not seen or heard from the contractor handling the Eziokpor/Umukwata road project.
He assured the government that the community would continue to welcome development projects from government and would continue to protect and ensure that the contractor executed the project to specifications.
In the same vein, Omel-Melenu has urged local government councils to be aware of projects being executed in their area.
He gave the advice when he paid a courtesy visit on the Head of Personnel Management (HPM) of the Ukwuani Local Government Council, Mrs Blessing Bialonwu.
He said it is important for local government councils to be aware of these projects and play roles, no matter how little.
This he said was to ensure that contractors handling government projects in their areas carried out their functions effectively.
Transport
Immigration Steps Up Anti-Touting Vigilance
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Passports Command, Ikoyi, has increased its surveillance on touting in a bid to check extortion within its jurisdiction.
Speaking in an exclusive chat with The Tide in Lagos, last Friday, the Immigration Comptroller, Passports Office, Ikoyi, Lagos, Deputy Comptroller Liman A.I , said the negative impact of touting on the nation’s economy would not be allowed to continue under his watch.
He said ,”we are applying persuasion, dialogue and seeking the support of all well meaning stakeholders in this area to spread the anti-touting message and dissuade people from unlawful acts. However, we could apply coercive power as the need arises.
“With the selfless leadership shown by the Comptroller General, Alhaji Mohammed Babandede, we at the PCO, Ikoyi, Lagos, have decided to re-dedicate ourselves to duty and complement the efforts of the CGIS.
“We are prepared more than ever to wage the anti-miscreants war relentlessly.
Liman assured the general public of friendly environment for legitimate transaction in an effort to strengthen the national economy, warning deviants to shun touting and other related vices.
According to him, “the command has keyed into the various strategies including the use of ICT in gathering of intelligence, among others.
“The service believes that the fight against miscreants within its corridor cannot be undertaken by the service alone, hence our call on Nigerians to partner with us in ensuring that the passport seekers do not patronise touts to defraud them. Our resolve is unshaken and our commitment is total”.
On her part, the Public Relations Officer of the command, a Deputy Superintendent of Immigration (DSI), Mrs Adetoun Shiyindemi, commended the Deputy Comptroller Liman, for his selfless service, pointing out that he has really given the officers and men of the command a sense of belonging.
“Since the Comptroller came in, it has been a servant-leader relationship here at Ikoyi PCO and we are all motivated to put in our best with what the CGIS has given us, you will see a new immigration service”, she assured.
By: NkpemenyieMcdominic, Lagos
Maritime
Union Urges NIMASA, RSG To Dredge PH/Bonny Jetty
The Bonny Maritime Transport Association (BMTA) has called on the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Rivers State Government to dredge the Port Harcourt/Bonny Jetty to enhance marine operations.
The union said the low shore of the river hampers its operations and grounds boats.
The Marine Safety Officer, BMTA, Comrade Kings Don, who made the call, said the low shore of the jetty was not helpful to marine operations.
According to him, drivers and passengers find it difficult to ply the route whenever the tide is low, thus wasting man hours.
“Sometimes, we push the boat to a level it would afloat due to low tide suffered in the jetty. We are appealing to NIMASA and the state government to assist and dredge the jetty for more efficiency”, he pleaded.
Don described the Port Harcourt/Bonny Jetty as the gateway to Bonny Island and other riverine communities, and called on NIMASA and the state government to intervene and make the marine sector viable in the area.
He said that the prompt dredging of the jetty would enhance water transportation in the state and improve its revenue generation.
He, however, commended the security agents, especially the Nigerian Navy and the marine police, for rescuing the waterways and creeks from all forms of criminality.
Comrade Don appealed to the security agents to engage in 24-hour patrol of the routes and other channels to save lives and property.
By: Chinedu Wosu
Maritime
Boat Mishaps: Ship Owner Blames Absence Of Safety Regulations
A renowned ship owner in the country, Alhaji Aminu Umar, has decried lack of standardisation and enforcement of safety measures on the nation’s inland waterways by the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).
He also blamed lack of will to enforce regulations, safety, standard and regulations on overloading, night voyage, rickety and old craft as causes of mishap on the inland waterways.
Alhaji Umar, who is a former president, Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA), said in Minna, Niger State, recently that enforcement of safety and standard on the nation’s inland waterways was weak.
Reacting to incessant boat mishaps in the country, Umar said, “there is no standard applied on movement of people, as all kinds of boat are being used. It is important that we standardise, because lack of safety and standard will increase accident.
“I think, the task of NIWA is to standardise conditions and procedures on the nation’s waterways”.
He also called for the regulation of movement of badges and passenger boats across the port environment.
“It’s a huge risk allowing badges moving containers around the port area side by side with boats carrying passengers.
“Moving people and containers at the same time is a huge risk, and a safety concern.
“NIWA and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) should see to this and tackle the menace”, he said.
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