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Don Tasks FG On Infrastructure Dev

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The Federal Government
has been advised to make fundamental change that would facilitate rapid provision of infrastructural development, which has remained a huge challenge to Nigeria’s economic growth.
Speaking with The Tide in Port Harcourt recently a university lecturer in the Department of curriculum studies and Instructional Technology, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Mr Adolphus Dokubo, stressed that even as the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) was targeting over N3.2 trillion to scale up infrastructure development in the country it launched a Public Private Partnership (PPP) snooping web portal for good governance and accountability.
He is requesting the Federal Government to increase yearly allocations to enable the commission do the best to the Nigerian people.
Dokubo said the present dispensation should specifically explore and implement schemes, especially PPP that will help achieve desired level of infrastructure in Nigeria.
He explained that the disclosure initiative should be designed to enhance transparency and prudent management of resources that come when government is poised to attract private investment and expertise to boost the nation’s infrastructural development.
According to him, this initiative should not only be relevant but timely, stressing that given the huge capital layout required to address the massive infrastructure deficit in Nigeria as private sector is expected to play critical role to providing basic infrastructure in collaboration with good agenda of government under PPP plans.
“I applaud that the challenges are daunting and enormous but we are resolute in our determination to ensure the benefits of PPPs by creating needed enabling environment for the schemes to flourish in Nigeria,” he said.
The academic scholar lamented that several intervention programmes were initiated in the past to bridge the high infrastructure gap in the country without much progress due mainly to corruption, mismanagement and outright divertion of resources meant for the provision of critical infrastructure to Nigerians. He further disclosed that the commission’s target of N3.2 trillion fell shot of the total funds required to build robust infrastructure that would be a pride to the nation.
As he puts it, Nigeria is challenged by massive infrastructure deficit in housing, roads, airports and in other areas and that with the best infrastructure, the nation would be the hub of development in Africa.
He said that the infrastructural needs of Nigeria, far exceeds what the government could handle.

By: Bethel Sam Toby & Peace Kasarachi  Ihedoro.

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Mile 2-Jetty Toxic Leakage: SEREC Worries Over Environmental Pollution 

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The Sea Empowerment and Research Center (SEREC) has raised alarm over the environmental pollution at Mile 2 Jetty following a sunken barge which cargo is leaking.
SEREC noted that the sunken barge has led to chemical pollution at the Mile 2 Jetty adding that the continued rainfall has worsened toxic leakage into the waterways, threatening marine life and public health.
In a Press Statement, the Head of Research, SEREC, Dr. Eugene Nweke, said the incident calls for immediate institutional reform of Nigeria’s barge operations.
According to him, independent findings showed that industrial chemicals stacked at a “shipping terminal and nearby bridge locations have been seeping into surrounding waters, with minimal visible regulatory response”.
He said the development was a wake-up call to strengthen the governance and administrative architecture of Nigeria’s barge operations adding that they are currently weakly coordinated across multiple agencies.
This, he said, has left gaps in safety enforcement, vessel standards, environmental control as well as emergency response.
In direct response to this and similar recurring incidents, SEREC strongly advocates the creation of a Directorate of Barge Operations and Logistics Services (DBOLS) within the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to be headed by a Director and operationally driven by a Deputy Director of Barge Operations and Logistics Services.
This specialized Directorate would, “Enforce mandatory registration, inspection and certification of all commercial barges and tugs operating along Nigerian inland and coastal routes.
“Institute safety, loading, and environmental standards for barge construction, cargo handling and waste management.
“Develop digital traffic monitoring systems (AIS/GPS) for barge movements to prevent congestion and accidents”, Nweke said
By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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“FCCPC Approves Sale Of Chivita|Hollandia To UAC Nigeria PLC 

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UAC of Nigeria PLC (UAC) has announced the completion of it’s in a press release on October 3, 2025, that it has completed the acquisition of Chivita|Hollandia (CHI Limited), following approval from the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
Revealing this in a Press Release, at the Weekend, UAC said the transaction, first disclosed on July 30, 2025, involved the transfer of ownership of CHI Limited, a leading Nigerian food and beverage company best known for its market-dominant Chivita juice and Hollandia dairy brands, to UAC.
Commenting on the development, the Managing Director, CHI Limited, Eelco Weber, expressed optimism in the company’s future under UAC’s ownership.
“We are pleased to have received regulatory approval for this transaction. We look forward to a smooth transition and to seeing Chivita|Hollandia thrive under UAC’s ownership,” he said.
Group Managing Director of UAC, Fola Aiyesimoju, highlighted the strategic importance of the acquisition saying “We are excited to officially welcome the Chivita|Hollandia team and brands into the UAC family, and we are eager to work together to build on their strong legacy and market leadership”.
The acquisition is expected to strengthen UAC’s position in Nigeria’s fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, expanding its footprint into the growing juice and dairy markets.
UAC further said that the acquisition aligned with its growth agenda by adding two market-leading brands and a well-established distribution network to its por.
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PenCom Reintroduces Gratuity For Federal Civil Servants

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The National Pension Commission has said it has deployed a framework to restore gratuity for Federal Civil Service under the Contributory Pension Scheme.
Director-General of PenCom, Omolola Oloworaran, disclosed this at a Stakeholders’ Conference on the Workings of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) for Employees and Pensioners of Federal Government Treasury-Funded Ministries, Departments and Agencies, in Abuja, last Thursday.
Represented by the Acting Commissioner, Technical, PenCom, Hon. Hafiz Kawu Ibrahim, Oloworaran said, “Working with the office of the Head of the Civil Service, a framework has been developed to restore gratuity benefits for federal workers under CPS, in line with Section 4(4) of the PRA 2014.”
The PenCom DG added that “PenCom has enhanced pensions for over 241,000 retirees, representing 80% of those under Programmed Withdrawal. Monthly pensions rose from N12.157 billion to N14.837 billion, effective June 2025.
“Also, since July 2025, no retiree waits to access their pensions. Payments are now immediate, aligned with monthly salary releases from the Federal Ministry of Finance”.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, Ekpo Nta, stated that the Commission would partner PenCom to examine the current rate of retirement benefits and recommend appropriate mechanisms for periodic reviews of retirement benefits.
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