Business

Shortage Of Funds Stalls Projects At MMA, PHIA

Published

10 years ago

June 15, 2015

R-L: Interim President, Motor Dealers Association of Nigeria (MDAN), Alhaji Ibrahim Bello, the Chairman, Northern Zone, Mr Rotimi Fabiyi and the interim National Secretary, Malam Suleiman Kato, at the national meeting of the association in Kaduna, on Sunday.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Mrs Binta Bello said shortage of funds is stalling modernisation projects at Murtala Mohammed International Airport(MMIA) , Lagos, and Port-Harcourt International Airport( PHIA) in Rivers.
Bello said this while speaking newsmen on Sunday in Lagos when she embarked on an inspection tour of some ongoing projects at the Lagos Airport.
The Tide source reports that the Federal Government had in September 2013 begun the construction of the facility at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos.
Also, Abuja, Port-Harcourt, Kano and Enugu were included in the building of five states-of-the art terminals.
The China’s Exim Bank and Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) funded the projects and handled the construction at the cost of $500 million and the construction completed in 20 months.
Bello, however, assured the contractors and the public that the projects going on at the two airports presently, will be completed upon release of funds by the Federal Ministry of Finance.
She said that with availability of funds the contractors would deliver the projects before the Buhari administration marks its first 100 days in office.
She explained that her visit to the airport was to enable her see the stages of completion in relation to money spent on them, so far.
Bello expressed satisfaction with the progress of work on the new terminals, saying that the ministry is determined to improve the existing infrastructure at the airports.
She noted that work at the power house of the Lagos Airport was suspended owing to lack of funds to pay the contractor handling the project.
“At the power house of the Lagos Airport, issues arising from funding came up and the fact that the contractor, Messrs Mantrac Nigeria Ltd. had suspended work because it was being owed.
“Consequently, some generating plants were not operating as the contractor insisted on reimbursement before he will return to site.”
Bello said that at the new protocol lounge, almost 80 per cent of the work had been done before the contractor suspended work.
“I was informed that the contractor has suspended work until further payment was made even as contract for the landscaping of the surrounding at the airport is yet to be awarded due to lack of funds.
“We will look at it and as soon as money is available, contractors will be mobilised to the site,” the permanent secretary added.
A contractor, Mr Nath Okechukwu, whose firm is handling the construction of the departure and arrival halls of the PHIA confirmed the development.
Okechukwu further said that the second phase of the project was awarded at the cost of N1.7 billion, adding that the last time the firm received payment for the work was in 2013.

Business

NPA Assures On Staff Welfare

Published

4 days ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said the management will continue to accompany its port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive with the development of the welfare of its personnel.

Dantsoho made the disclosure recently while responding to the commendation by the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) and the senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASGOC) on the clearing of the age-long problem of employee stagnation, when the union paid him a courtesy visit at the Authority’s headquarters in Lagos.

A Statement by NPA’s General Manager Corporate & Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, quoted Dantsoho as saying, “our Port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive will go hand-in-hand with continuous staff welfare improvement”.

The NPA MD disclosed that human capital development constitutes the key strategy for creating and sustaining superior performance under his watch, adding that “talent development constitutes a critical success factor for the actualization of the big hairy audacious goals we have set for ourselves especially in the area of Port competitiveness.

“The only way we can meet and indeed exceed stakeholders’ expectations is to deepen the competencies of our human resources assets and boosting their morale.”

Speaking further, Dantsoho commended the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for approving the strategic proposal of the Dantsoho-led Management team that solved the over a decade-long problem of lack of promotion that had fuelled industrial disharmony.

“I must specially appreciate our amiable Minister for graciously approving the multi-pronged stratagem we deployed that cleared all outstanding cases of employee stagnation by conducting examinations in one fell swoop and instituted timelines to forestall a recurrence of such anomaly”, he sad.

Speaking on behalf of the joint maritime labour unions, the President of Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations & Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Comrade Bodunde stated, “In addition to clearance of the backlog of stagnated promotions, we also wish to express our appreciation for the increase in productivity bonuses, provision of end-of-year welfare packages for staff, and the revision of the Financial Guide to the Condition of Service, which now addresses our members’ concerns about inflationary pressures.”

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos

Business

ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

Published

4 days ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Elder Olumide Fakanlu, has been elected Vice President of the Federation of ECOWAS Licensed Customs Brokers Association (FELCBA).

The election took place during the FELCBA Congress, held from Tuesday, June 17th to Thursday, June 19th, 2025, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Fakanlu’s emergence as Vice President marks a significant achievement for Nigeria within the regional customs brokerage community.

Apart from Fakanlu, Secretary of the Seme Chapter of ANLCA, Austin Nwosu, was also elected, securing the role of Secretary of Relations with Institutions.

The Nigerian delegation played an active role in the congress, with Michael Ebeatu nominated as a member of the electoral officer team, ensuring a fair and transparent election process.

The three-day congress concluded with delegates undertaking a visit to the Sierra Leone Port, offering insights into the host nation’s maritime operations, followed by a recreational trip to the Tokeh Beach.

The newly elected executives are expected to lead FELCBA in its efforts to harmonize customs brokerage practices, promote trade facilitation, and advocate for the interests of licensed customs brokers across the ECOWAS sub-region.

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos

Business

NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement

Published

4 days ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

In a bid to enhance more enforcement in the nation’s Port, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to stronger inter-agency collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The Council said the collaboration is aimed at enhancing stronger enforcement, compliance and improve operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.

Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, made this known during a visit to the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

The visit, which he said, focused on strengthening institutional synergy, comes in the wake of growing responsibilities for the NSC under the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

Akutah emphasized the critical role of security agencies in supporting port operations and ensuring regulatory compliance.

He called for the posting of police officers to assist the Council’s monitoring and enforcement teams at key port locations including Lagos, Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.

“The posting will complement the activities of our revived task teams and enhance our ability to enforce standards across the maritime logistics chain”, he said.

Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Egbetokun, assured the Council of the Force’s readiness to continue supporting the growth of the maritime sector.

The IGP acknowledged that compliance enforcement is essential to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s Blue Economy objectives.

“The NSC and NPF are expected to deepen collaboration in the months ahead, with a shared focus on building a secure, efficient, and competitive port environment”, to the IGP emphasized.

Chinedu Wosu