Maritime
Lagos Completes Modern Floating Jetty At Marina
The Lagos State Government says it has completed the construction of a modern floating jetty at CMS, Marina.
The government said the floating jetty would enhance safe and comfortable commuting for residents and visitors.
Managing Director, LAGFERRY, Abdoulbaq Ladi Balogun, said the jetty is designed to serve as a strategic connection point to the recently commissioned CMS-Marina Blue Line Rail System.
“The Project is in tandem with the THE MES PLUS Agenda of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration for which the state government is commited to improving facilities for a safe water transportation system.
The Lagos State Government, Balogun said, is aimed at the provision of reliable alternative mode of transportation and improved productivity of the residents.
“The new floating jetty will enable our boats to anchor easily, provide easier access to different parts of the city,
“The Project would also boost economic activities along the Lagos waterways and make passenger disembarking more comfortable and safer”, he stated.
Balogun noted that the floating pontoon jetty is made from strong, durable materials and safe choice for all weather conditions and can ride out a storm without resistance from the water without causing damage to boats due to changing tides.
Maritime
Hunger Protest Paralyses Port Activities In Nigeria
The ongoing hunger protests and EndBad Governance in Nigeria embarked upon by Nigerians have paralysed seaport activities across the six Seaports in the country.
Ports operational activities were shutdown at the six nation’s seaports: Tin Can Island Port, Apapa Port, Onne Port, Rivers Port Complex, Warri and Calabar Port.
Àgrieved Protesters took to the streets nationwide to demand an end to economic hardship and bad governance.
The #EndBadGovernance protests, which began in major cities across the country on Monday, August 1,2024, crippled socio-economic activities and forced shops, business centres and commercial activities to shutdown, including air and seaports.
Following the hunger protests, maritime activities were paralysed as all the busy seaports were deserted by port users.
Ships birthed at the ports were not discharging cargos, neither did trucks load consignment to their destinations and to the consumers.
Seagoing vessels with cargos were stranded at the sea as marine workers were not on duty to carry out their marine operations.
Heavy security presence was noticed at major ports, including Apapa, Tin Can, Onne, and Port Harcourt as operations were grounded to a near halt.
Aggrieved youths, students and civil society organisations stormed major streets in various parts of the country, demanding that President Bola Tinubu should, as a matter of urgency, review or discard some of his harsh economic policies, which have brought hardship to Nigerians.
The protesters armed with various placards chanted solidarity songs, defled heavy downpour to protest harsh governance and hardship in the country.
They called on the President Tinubu government to review its economic policies, saying many Nigerians have been subdued by poverty and frustration since the advent of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government.
By: Chinedu Wosu
Maritime
Nigeria’s Fish Import Bill Hits N138bn In Nine Months
The Federal Government has said it spent over N138 billion in fish import bill in nine months in 2023, saying its yearly fish import bill stands at 2.4 million metric tonnes.
Government said such import bill drains the country’s foreign exchange reserves.
Director, Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Wellington Omoragbon, stated this during a courtesy visit by the National Working Group on Gender and Blue Economy.
He called on government to tackle challenges facing fishery and aquaculture, including dredging activities.
To address the challenge, Omoragbon said government is launching initiatives to increase local capacity, including locally-designed technologies such as storage facilities and inclusion of women and youths in production.
The Director emphasised the need for state and local governments to prioritise fisheries projects, particularly in supporting women and youth as 70 per cent of the population lack necessary support in the fishing industry.
He highlighted the need for market and technology development to reduce reliance on fish imports.
“The government plans to intervene in the fishing sector, signing an MoU with the Ministry of Water Resources to utilise the country’s water bodies for fishing”, he said.
He acknowledged the skill gap in the sector and called for a need assessment to identify targeted issues across fishing communities.
Maritime
Corruption At Ports: Group Writes To Presidency
National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Lucky Amiwero, has charged the Federal Government to implement the Single Window Environment (SWE) to curb corruption-related problems at the nation’s seaports.
In a letter addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Amiwero noted that apart from curbing corruption-related problems at the seaports, implementation of the SWE has many other benefits.
The Council listed some of the benefits to include provision of standardised information, single entry point, and reduced malpractice associated with import-export and transit-related regulatory requirements.
NCMDLCA also added that “the SWE will help facilitate the accelerated flow of service in Customs release and Cargo clearance, enhance the availability and handling of information, and harmonise better sharing of relevant data across Government system.
“It will reduce malpractice associated with Import- Export and Transit regulated requirements, provide trade related government information and receive payment of duties and other charges”.
The Council added that the provision of Section (1a) of the Customs Act provide for lead agency and one stop-shop process under the control of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
The implementation of SWE is expected to simplify the administrative process, reduce costs, and enhance the availability and handling of information, making trading easier for both government and private sector stakeholders.
By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic
-
Niger Delta3 days ago
Delta Begins Issele-Azagba-Otulu Road Construction
-
Rivers3 days ago
‘UPTH Has Capacity To Treat Ovarian Cancer’
-
Featured3 days ago
New Structure Owned By Rivers People’ll Emerge Oct 5 -Fubara …Assures Level Playing Field For All Parties …Urges Full Participation Of Electorate
-
Featured3 days ago
They Didn’t Believe We’ll Get To This Point – Fubara ….Says Rivers Is Nobody’s Enterprise
-
Featured3 days ago
New Structure Owned By Rivers People’ll Emerge Oct 5 Fubara …Assures Level Playing Field For All Parties …Urges Full Participation Of Electorate
-
News3 days ago
Rivers Exco Approves 2025-2027 Medium Term Expenditure Framework …Ups Payments To Pensioners By N1bn …Gives Nod To Five-Yr Extension Of Service For Teachers
-
News3 days ago
Court Orders RSIEC To Use 2023 Voters’ Register For LG Polls In Rivers …Mandates Police, Others To Provide Adequate Security During, After LG Polls
-
News3 days ago
Let’s Make Rivers More Attractive For Tourism Investors, Fubara Tells FTAN, Others