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…As 309 Dockworkers Get Severance Package

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6 years ago

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No fewer than 309 disengaged dockworkers from Rivers Port Complex received their severance packages from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in Port Harcourt on Monday.
The disengaged dockworkers, who were mostly aged persons between the ages of 67 and 90 years, clustered the NPA Dockyard Canteen, the venue of the payment, before 9am on Monday.
The Tide reports that some sick disengaged persons were conveyed to the venue by their wards and children, even as over ninety percent of them were riddled with poverty.
Deputy Secretary, General Organising, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Abudu Eroje, said a total of 309 disengaged dockworkers would be paid today (Monday) and Tuesday by the NPA in Rivers Port Complex.
He disclosed that the same exercise was ongoing at NPA Onne complex.
Eroje described the class of the beneficiaries as disengaged extra— service workers comprising tally clerks and on-board security men that were disengaged in 2015 by NPA.
“We are here to carry out payment for disengaged tally clerks and on-board security men disengaged by the Stevedoring in 2015”
On how much is due to each disengaged worker, Comrade Eroje said NPA was paying each person the sum of Four Hundred Thousand Naira (N400, 000) only.
He also said, each of the disengaged dockworker had put in over 10 to 20 years in the service.
Describing the extra-service as service providers to NPA, Eroje said the Federal Government was kind to pay the severance package because they were employed by the Stevedoring who later provided service to NPA.
Also speaking, the Trustee, Dockworkers Branch of MWUN, Port Harcourt, Comrade Waite Harry, said the disengaged dockworkers were happy to receive the sum paid to them even as some of them were not satisfied with the amount.
He said the dockworkers had been disengaged for years without any benefits, even as some were swimming in the pool of poverty without getting help from anywhere.
Comrade Harry said over 18 disengaged dockworkers died in 2019 due to hardship and poverty as many could not afford to pay medical bills.
He confirmed that each disengaged person is entitled to the sum of N400,000 as severance package from NPA.

 

Chinedu Wosu

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Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons

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3 days ago

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September 22, 2025

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Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.

Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.

The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.

Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.

“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.

“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”

Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.

In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.

Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.

Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.

 

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NIS Ends Decentralised Passport Production After 62 Years

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3 days ago

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September 22, 2025

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The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has officially ended passport production at multiple centres, transitioning to a single, centralised system for the first time in 62 years.
Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the disclosure during an inspection of the Nigeria’s new Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja, last Thursday.
He stated that since the establishment of NIS in 1963, Nigeria had never operated a central passport production centre, until now, marking a major reform milestone.
“The project is 100 per cent ready. Nigeria can now be more productive and efficient in delivering passport services,” Tunji-Ojo said.
He explained that old machines could only produce 250 to 300 passports daily, but the new system had a capacity of 4,500 to 5,000 passports every day.
“With this, NIS can now meet daily demands within just four to five hours of operation,” he added, describing it as a game-changer for passport processing in Nigeria.
“We promised two-week delivery, and we’re now pushing for one week.
“Automation and optimisation are crucial for keeping this promise to Nigerians,” the minister said.
He noted that centralisation, in line with global standards, would improve uniformity and enhance the overall integrity of Nigerian travel documents worldwide.
Tunji-Ojo described the development as a step toward bringing services closer to Nigerians while driving a culture of efficiency and total passport system reform.
According to him, the centralised production system aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda, boosting NIS capacity and changing the narrative for improved service delivery.
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FG To Roll Out Digital Public Infrastructure, Data Exchange, Next Year 

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3 days ago

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September 22, 2025

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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced plans to roll out Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and the Nigerian Data Exchange (NGDX) platforms across key sectors of the economy, starting in early 2026.
Director of E-Government and Digital Economy at NITDA, Dr. Salisu Kaka, made the disclosure in Abuja during a stakeholder review session of the DPI and NGDX drafts at the Digital Public Infrastructure Live Event.
The forum, themed “Advancing Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure through Standards, Data Exchange and e-Government Transformation,” brought together regulators, state governments, and private sector stakeholders to harmonise inputs for building inclusive, secure, and interoperable systems for governance and service delivery.
According to Kaka, Nigeria already has several foundational elements in place, including national identity systems and digital payment platforms.
What remains is the establishment of the data exchange framework, which he said would be finalised by the end of 2025.
“Before the end of this year and by next year we will be fully ready with the foundational element, and we start dropping the use cases across sectors,” Kaka explained.
He stressed that the federal government recognises the autonomy of states urging them to align with national standards.
“If the states can model and reflect what happens at the national level, then we can have a 360-degree view of the whole data exchange across the country and drive all-of-government processes,” he added.
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