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FG Approves N58.6bn For Ship Building
The Federal Executive Council last Wednesday approved N58.6 billion contract for the construction of ship building facilities and dockyard in Delta State.
The Minister of Transport, Alhaji Idris Umar, disclosed this to State House correspondents after the council meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, at the State House.
Umar said the contract was approved to end the huge capital flight in the procurement of ships by Nigerians from outside the country.
He said the project was also in line with the mandate of NIMASA under Section 22 (1k) of the enabling law of the agency.
The law provides that NIMASA shall develop and implement policies and programmes that will facilitate the growth of local capacities in ownership, manning and construction of ships and other maritime infrastructure.
Umar said that the contract was split into two; package one will cost N40.2 billion and package two will cost N18.4 billion.
He said package one of the contract would involve the provision of maritime equipments and structures, ancillary buildings and electro-mechanical works and facilities for the ship building facilities.
The second package of the project, he said, would involve the entire civil works and the infrastructure works for the facilities.
“We have a very serious dearth in the ship building capacity in the country and it is, therefore, imperative that we develop the facility in order to curtail the incessant capital flight that is being experienced by the Nigerian economy. Annually, we have to be acquiring vessels and ships outside the country which is telling on the economy” he said.
“This project has the propensity to drive sustainable development and step up capacity building in the maritime sector of the economy. It will also help Nigeria to take its rightful place among the developed maritime nations across the world,” he added.
The minister said that upon completion, the shipyard facility would have the capacity for dry docking of ocean going vessels, which would be useful in the training of the cadets of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria.
He said presently the cadets were being sent out of the country for the training and it was causing the country huge amount of money.
Umar said that after the development of the facility, there would be a tripartite agreement between NIMASA, the contractor and the private sector to ensure sustenance of the facility.
The minister also disclosed that the FEC approved N274.9 million contracts for the consultancy services for the dredging of escravos, Warri, Aladja to Koko channel also in Delta.
“In our determination to ensure safe and navigable channels for the proposed dredging of the escravos, it became necessary to engage the services of reputable consultancy to carry out the necessary berth-metric study and other studies.
“The studies will also prepare the pre-contract document for the project implementation and look at the safety and environmental implications of the project.The studies will also impact on the proposed gas to energy revolution project of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources in Ogidigbe, Delta,” he said.
Umar said that the contract for the dredging of the escravos would be awarded in 2014 at the completion of the consultancy services contract.
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
