News
Shipowners Assure NIMASA Of Proper Utilisation Of Cabotage Fund
Dr Mkgeorge Onyung, the President of the Shipowners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), has assured of members proper utilisation of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) when disbursed by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Onyung gave the assurance while speaking at the Centre for Financial Journalism, the Bullion Lecture, on Thursday in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the lecture was: “Banking on Blue Economy for Nigeria’s Economic Development.”
He described the members of the association as seriousminded people in the business of shipping.
“We are not taking it as a grant, but a proper loan.
“The point is, we from SOAN, are a group of genuine ship owners. There is no member of our association that does not have a ship.
“Our members are already working with International Oil Companies and we adhere to international standards and rules. We are ready and responsible to take this facility.
“When one ship berths in our water, you will see that clearing agents and several others will be part of the business,” he said.
He appreciated the Federal Ministry of Transportation and NIMASA Director-General, Dr Bashir Jamoh, for the CVFF.
On the issue of blue economy, Onyung said that it was not a new nomenclature but had been in existence.
“Just that the United Nations drew attention to it because of the increasing poverty that was going on across the world.
“When God created the oceans, he put 700,000 species inside the water. The number of creatures in the ocean is big enough to feed us, we are just 7.7 billion. God buried all the treasure in the ocean.
“Today, we have just found a cure for sea blindness, Jamoh just told us that sea blindness is a disease that is inflicting the maritime industry and the solution to that is maritime knowledge which he has impacted on us.
“Telling us to learn more about the ocean so that we can benefit from it and we need to tap into the benefits of the ocean,” he said.
He noted that another part of blue economy which had to do with ferries was that the need to have ships that could take 450 passengers at ago to boost water transportation.
“For us to sustain the tourism and ferry transportation and make Lagos a sea transport city, we must look at the future.
“We are talking about sustainability of the blue economy, we have to be deliberate about this, so in building ports we need to ensure that free entrance and exit of ships,” he said.
In his lecture, Jamoh noted that while the country await a blue economy, a cohesive national policy to fully kick into gear, the country must for a starter become blue ambassadors, advocate for it.
“There is the need for total rethink of our waters, from a ceremonial to a commercial view, events such as Argungu Fishing Festival and others must be redesigned and repackaged from the standpoint of the blue economy.
“We must intentionally work to banish sea blindness amongst Nigerians, ensure shipyard expansion for shipbuilding and others,” he said.
Jamoh said that NIMASA was driving Nigeria blue economy through the disbursement of the $720 million CVFF, deployment of modulator floating dock, capacity building of seafarers, wreck removal, underwater marine cable regulation and management and others.
Also speaking, Mrs Jean Chiazo-Anishere, Chairman of occasion, said the country successfully bank on the blue economy to drive economic growth.
“Nigeria is blessed with vast coastline and abundant marine resources that can be harnessed for economic growth and development.
“It is just not for us to tap on the ocean resources, we need to ensure that it is sustained otherwise, we will not have anything to tap from.
“The sustainability of the blue economy is very key. It represents a significant opportunity for Nigerians to diversify it’s economy and create other ways for job creation and revenue generation by investing in things such as fisheries, aquaculture, maritime transport tourism and others.
“To fully unlock all the potential of the blue economy, it’s essential that we adopt the strategic approach,” she said.
News
Mba Seeks Closer Synergy To Check Road Accidents
Worried over the high rate of accidents on Nigerian roads, resulting in the death of hundreds of thousands of people, the Governor of Enugu State, Barr Peter Mbah, has called for closer synergy and cooperation among security agencies to check the ugly trend and ensure safety on all the roads within the country.
Governor Mbah, made the call in an address at the Graduation Ceremony of Senior Course 2 of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Command and Staff College, Udi near Enugu.
Represented by the state Commissioner for Information, Chief Aka Eze Aka, governor Mbah noted that closer security and intelligence sharing on incidents on roads within the country by various security formations and agencies both military and para-military would lead to greater security and safety of lives and property on roads.
He stated that the state government had keyed into the FRSC vision of reduction in road crashes and fatalities, adding that it had equipped the state traffic officers with the same set targets.
“As an administration, we are making all efforts to fix and improve on all roads and road infrastructure within the state; while we are calling on the Federal Government to do the same.
“Our partnership with the FRSC for training and retraining of our road traffic officers will continue and be strengthened so that as a state it will also build its own capacity to deal with road traffic issues and challenges,” he said.
Governor Mbah, however, congratulated the graduating participants of the course, while commending the FRSC management for being in the forefront of raising the standard and quality of its staff.
According to him, “my administration will continue to partner with the FRSC and strengthen existing engagements of mutual benefits”.
Earlier, the FRSC Corps Marshal, Dauda Biu, said that the event was significant to the Corps as it marked its commitment to continuously improve its educational and operational standard and capacity.
Biu, represented by the Deputy Corps Marshal (DCM) Bisi Kazeem, who is in-charge of FRSC Training, said that the Corps was building resiliency and increasing its service delivery capacity by equipping its officers with quality and international standard training.
By: Canice Amadi Enugu
News
PDP Opobo/Nkoro Hails Fubara On Peace, Projects
Stakeholders of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Opobo/ Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State have commended the state Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara for his disposition that has fostered peace in the State.
Rising from an expanded stakeholders meeting last Saturday in Opobo Town, the body in an eight-point communique signed by its Chairman, Hon. Benneth Daminabo, Chairman of Council, Rt. Hon. Enyiada Cookey-Gam and LG party Chairman, Warisenibo Godwin Pepple commended the governor for linking Opobo/Nkoro LGA to the national grid.
In addition, it lauded the effort of the governor in pursuing the 50.15 kilometre Dual Carriage Ring Road, Elelenwo internal road, Aleto-Ebubu-Eteo Road in Eleme and Andoni Road projects.
Despite the distractions, the stakeholders said they were impressed that the governor had equally done projects in health-the unveiling of Prof. Kelsey Harrison Hospital, Agric projects at Tai and Oyigbo and improving welfare of civil servants.
In their words, “members reaffirmed their unalloyed loyalty and implicit confidence in his administration.”
Condemning the unfriendly and discourteous utterances of Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Tony Okocha in different fora in the State, the forum urged the duo to desist from such action in order not to heat up the polity.
The forum pledged to stand by the governor through, “thick and thin”, the stakeholders acknowledged the contributions of women, who through prayers for the government has impacted positively in the direction and posture of the governor.
Finally, the forum unanimously expressed gratitude to the Simplified Movement and other bodies that have thrown their weight behind the governor to ensure that the administration is stable and successful.
By: Kevin Nengia
News
‘Rivers People Are Now Breathing Fresh Air Under Fubara’
Aformer Caretaker Committee Chairman of Abua/Odual Local Government Council of Rivers State, Hon Elamo Arogu, says under Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the people of the State are now breathing fresh air.
Hon Arogu said Governor Fubara has given Rivers people hope, considering the impactful and people-oriented projects being carried out by his administration.
The former CTC chairman made the assertion during the Simplified Movement’s thanksgiving service and rally held in honour of Rivers State chief executive last Friday in Abua .
Arogu said under Governor Fubara, the Abua/Odual people have the confidence that the dividends of democracy will definitely get to them.
He noted that the Governor has the strong will to change the narrative in Rivers State, being the reason he is receiving massive support across the State.
“The people of Abua/Odual are strongly behind him. Our doors ate open for everyone because there is government in place to attend to the needs of the people. I believe that he will develop Abua/Odual and other Rivers council areas, hence, the massive support. This government is business- oriented and we are ready to encourage him succeed and invest in our land. The issue of a bank; road networks and other necessities of life bordering on development as demanded by the people will be considered by Governor Fubara”, he said.
He called on the opposition to team up with Governor Fubara to build a stronger, united and viable Rivers State.
He maintained that ward nine under his leadership is Simplified.
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