Business
Senate Bars NNPC, Others From Spending Money
The management of Rivers Transport Company (RTC) is to introduce new routes to ease transport difficulties in the remote areas of the state,including riverine communities.
The Board chairman of the Company, Chief Ibe Eresia-Eke, disclosed this when the National Executive Committee of Egi People’s Assembly (EPA) led by its President-General, Apostle Magus Elemele, paid a courtesy visit to his office in Port Harcourt, recently
Eresia-Eke said when the plan materialized, Egi community would not be left, say that apart from relieving the people from transport difficulties it would also serve as source of job creations for teeming youths of Rivers.
“Towards this end, it is expected that Rivers people will support and encourage the state governor, Chief Nyesom Wike as he gradually unfolds welfare package for the people”.
Speaking on Egi People’s Assembly, the chairman said it was formed to address the issue of backwardness and development of Egi ethnic group, therefore those elected to pilot its affairs should remain focused.
He said for “ you to remain relevant, you should remain focused, articulate, straightforward, and cohesive strategically identifying those issues that destroyed fast organisations in Egiland and tactically avoid them.
When you have done this, “as a preliminary ground work in your service to the people, be assured that the elders and elites of the clan would be ready to offer their supports.”
Eresia-Eke who is also a trustee of the organisation, pointed out that the clan is encumbered with numerous challenges which could only be solved through sincerity of purposes and effective administration.
He advised them not to be daunted by critics and opposition as that would provide the leeway to success but stressed the need to be accountable to the people, and avoid selfish ventures.
Earlier, Apostle Magnus Elemele had said, the visit was to congratulated Chief Eresia-Eke on his new appointment and also to give a brief on the activities of the national executives which was elected a few months ago.
Elemele said the major challenge when the Exco came on board was insecurity and the unpatriotic activities of those who erroneously “believed that without them the clan will not move forward”.
He outlined some achievements recorded so far to include reconciliation process among some aggrieved groups, the release of signed MOU of 2012 gas eruption with TOTAL, and provison. relief materials to displaced people of Egi.
In another development, a foremost educationist, Elder Isaac Izeogu has urged the leadership of Egi People’s Assembly not to betray the trust placed on them by the generality of Egi people..
Izeogu, a retired school principal, who spoke to the National Executive Council of Egi People’s Assembly led by Apostle Magnus Elemele who visited him in his residence in PortHarcourt, said “the dream, and principles behind the formation of the organisation by the founding fathers must be upheld”.
“Don’t allow this noble project to die in your hands, because without coming together, abandoning personal interest, and reasoning together for the progress and development of our clan, generations to come will not be happy with you”.
He commended the efforts and sacrifice being put in place to restore the lost glory of Egi clan, wishing them God’s guidance and protection saying “I will always attend all your programmes and your activities when informed.
Earlier, Apostle Elemele had told him that the visit was to tap from his wealth of knowledge, and to seek his advice on numerous problems confronting the clan, saying a forum is in the pipeline where all the boards of trustees in which he is a member would be invited to a formal meeting with the executives.
In a concerted effort to tackle racketeering and reduce inflated transportation costs in the Nigeria’s seaports, Trucks Transit Parks Ltd. (TTP) has trained Licensed Customs Agents and Freight Forwarders on the use of its Ètò electronic call-up system.
The training was held recently at Customs Processing Centre (CPC) Auditorium, Apapa, Lagos, in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and supported by the leadership of the Joint Association of Licensed Customs Agents and Freight Forwarders (JALCAFF), Apapa Command.
Speaking at the event, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu expressed appreciation to TTP for facilitating the training and emphasized the need for customs agents to take personal ownership of the Ètò booking process.
“I want to thank TTP for this impactful training. I encourage all customs agents to begin doing their own bookings directly. By doing so, they can take back power from the unscrupulous elements exploiting their lack of knowledge, selling tickets at highly inflated prices,” Olomu declared.
He noted that empowering agents with hands-on training was key to dismantling racketeering networks that have plagued access to the ports and frustrated efficient logistics processes.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Apapa Chapter of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Chief Emeka Chukwumalu, said the engagement was critical to the ongoing push to reduce cargo transportation costs and ease business operations at the Apapa Port.
According to a freight forwarder, “The training is basically for us to have awareness of the operations of the Ètò call-up system through TTP. We also want to brainstorm on ways to reduce the high cost of cargo transportation in Apapa Port.
“This training opened our eyes to how simple it is to book tickets ourselves. We now know the right steps to follow and how to avoid falling victim to fraudsters.”
Earlier, Head of Operations at TTP, Mr. Irabor Akonoman, talked on common misconceptions about ticket pricing, reaffirming that the cost of Ètò bookings had remained consistent since its inception.
“The official price remains the same since inception. What people are paying higher amounts for is the manipulation by racketeers”.
Towards strengthening small businesses and promoting a more supportive regulatory environment, the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) says it will hold the 2025 edition of its flagship MSMEs Fair on Tuesday (May 6, 2025).
The event, themed, “Galvanising MSMEs for Economic Growth and Stability”, will take place at NECA House in Lagos.
According to NECA’s Director-General, Mr Adewale Smatt Oyerinde, the fair seeks to provide micro, small, and medium enterprises with essential tools, resources, and strategic networks to thrive in Nigeria’s challenging business climate.
He emphasised the vital role MSMEs play in national development, describing them as the “lifeblood of Nigeria’s economy.”
Oyerinde noted that the fair is designed to offer entrepreneurs practical solutions to navigate economic uncertainties, regulatory hurdles, and business scalability issues.
A major attraction of this year’s event is the keynote address by the CEO of FATE Foundation, Mrs. Adenike Adeyemi, a prominent advocate for MSME development.
She is expected to share transformative insights on innovative strategies for sustaining and growing small businesses in Nigeria.
A unique feature of the fair will be interactive sessions with key regulatory bodies. Entrepreneurs will engage directly with agencies responsible for licensing, compliance, taxation, and business registration.
NECA said these sessions aim to demystify bureaucratic processes and foster a more enabling business environment.
It also said the fair will provide a platform for entrepreneurs to exhibit their products and services, connect with potential investors, and explore new markets.
It added that participants would gain critical knowledge on digital transformation, access to finance, and strategies for sustainable business growth.
·
· NECA stressed that the fair aligns with its broader mission of promoting enterprise development and economic resilience.
·
· “By empowering MSMEs with the right support and information, the organisation aims to stimulate job creation, innovation, and long-term economic stability”, NECA said.
·
· The 2025 MSMEs Fair is expected to attract a wide range of stakeholders, including financiers, tech experts, regulators, and industry leaders, all united in advancing the growth of Nigeria’s MSME sector.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Transport, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, says over two million passengers have been transported on the Blue Line Rail since its launch, while state-run buses move an average of 42,000 commuters daily.
Osiyemi, who disclosed this during the Year 2025 Ministerial press briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, on Tuesday, noted that the Lagos State Transport Policy, launched in May 2024, was now in its implementation phase, focusing on inclusivity, safety, affordability, and sustainability.
“On rail development, Phase One of the Blue Line (Marina to Mile 2) has served over two million passengers, with Phase Two (Mile 2 to Okokomaiko) in progress.
“Phase One of the Red Line (Agbado to Oyingbo) is now operational with eight stations and additional rolling stocks procured, while Phase two (Oyingbo to link Blue Line at National Theatre) is underway”, he said.
The Commissioner said in the state-owned bus operations, over 60 million commuters have been served since 2019, with daily ridership exceeding 40,000.
He also said plans were on to deploy new buses with Quality Bus Corridors under construction, adding that the Abule=Egba Bus Terminal had also been commissioned.
“For water transport, 15 locally-built Omibus Ferries have been launched and are in operation, with the Ijegun Egba Terminal now open.
“The OMI EKO project, in partnership with the French Development Agency (AFD), will deliver 25 terminals and 78 electric ferries.
“Over 280,000 passengers have used ferry services in the past year, and 12 boats have been upgraded to meet safety standards”, he said.
On road infrastructure and traffic management, the Commissioner said 49 junction improvement projects had been completed, including ongoing ones at Ikorodu, Iju, as well as Allen-Opebi-Toyin axis.
He added that solar-powered Traffic Signal Lights, road markings covering 67.9km, new medians, laybys, and 3,941 parking lots had also been provided.
Additionally, Osiyemi announced that the deployed Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras had detected over 470,000 traffic violations and that the Vehicle Inspection Service issued over one million roadworthiness certificates.
He also said that the Lagos State Drivers’ Institute trained more than 32,000 drivers in the past 13 months.
The event marked the second anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term, showcasing major strides in the transport sector under the THEMES+ agenda.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos