Transport
Kwara Seeks Refund For Road Maintenance
Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, has urged the Federal Government to reimburse the Kwara State the balance of N12 billion it spent on the maintenance of federal roads in the last nine years.
Ahmed made the call in Erin-Ile, Oyun Local Government Area last Monday, during the 15th Erin-Ile Day celebration and added that the Federal Government should repair all federal roads in the state.
“We have recently commenced an intervention on Ajasse-Ipo-Erin-Ile road to make it more motorable while continuously seeking intervention by the Federal Government under whose purview the road is supposed to be rehabilitated and maintained,” he said.
Ahmed called on communities in the state to maintain good neighbourliness and shun all forms of rancour, particularly in land related matters.
“As our recent history as a nation has demonstrated, violence is not only frequently futile but also inflicts considerable damage on the affected communities,” he added.
The governor emphasised that his administration would continue to implement people-friendly programmes.
He said this would enhance the economic and social well-being of the people under its Shared Prosperity Programme.
He said that his administration appreciated the importance of good roads to the economic wellbeing of the people.
The governor said this was what informed the implementation of the first phase of his administration’s 800km rural and urban road development programme.
He said more roads would be constructed in the coming years to open up the state for economic development.
Ahmed also said that communities must partner with government at all levels for infrastructure development through an inclusive platform that would see communities partaking in the provision and maintenance of projects.
He said his administration had enhanced the economic wellbeing of the people through the provision of a N250 million micro credit scheme for small businesses.
Ahmed said his government had created more than 2,000 jobs for youths and implemented massive infrastructure development, namely roads, education, electricity, water supply, hospitals and security.
He commended Offa and Erin-Ile communities for choosing the path of peaceful co-existence.
The governor recalled that the traditional rulers of both communities recently restated their commitment to peace at a meeting with the state government.
The Elerin of Erin-Ile, Oba AbdulGaniyu Ajibola Ibrahim Olusookun pleaded with the sons and daughters of the town to work assiduously toward ensuring that peace prevailed among them.
He said this would be possible for development to reach the area.
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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