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FEC Approves N221.9bn For New Lekki Seaport

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12 years ago

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The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday in Abuja approved the signing of an agreement for the development of the Lekki deep sea port in Lagos State.
The Minister of Transport, Alhaji Idris Umar, stated this while briefing State House correspondents on the outcome of the weekly FEC meeting presided over by Vice-President Namadi Sambo.
He said the seaport project would be executed at the cost of $1.345 billion (about N221.9 billion).
Umar said it would be executed through the Private-Public-Partnership arrangement, and has been concessioned to Messrs Lekki Ports LFTZ Enterprise for 45 years.
He said 20 per cent is for the Federal Government in terms of the project’s equity shares, with 18.5 for the Lagos State Government and 61.5 for the private investors.
The minister said 800 million dollars out of the project cost would be funded through debt financing, while the balance would be contributed by equity.
He said the seaport when completed would give Nigeria its first deep sea port since independence and end congestion at the Apapa port.
“The economic benefits of this port to this country and to the economy of the country in particular need not to be over-emphasised.
“Not less than 9.3 billion dollars will be accrued to the (Nigeria Ports Authority) NPA, made up of 2.6 billion dollars from marine services and royalties and then 6.7 billion dollars’ share of profits from the investments.
“Other benefits that will accrue will be the ripple effects of operation of the port from Customs charges and other economic benefits which will not be less than 379 billion dollars over the period of 45 years.
“The ports will create jobs of not less than 162,000. It is therefore of immense benefit to the economy of this country. Therefore, that underscores the need for us to have this deep sea port.”
The minister further stated that the port would automatically revert to the Federal Government at the end of the concession period.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Works, Alhaji Bashir Yuguda, said FEC further approved about N30 billion for the construction/rehabilitation of some roads across the country.
He said the road projects were meant to fast track the development of infrastructure and boost socio-economic and agricultural activities.
“The projects include the construction of Kankara-Gurbi road in Katsina State at the cost of N1.4 billion and theconstruction /rehabilitation of Yashi-Duguri-Yalo Road in Bauchi State at the cost of N1.75 billion.
“Also, there is the construction of Isoko Ring Road in Delta at the cost of N2.1 billion and the Jarmai-Bashar Road in Plateau State at the cost of N1.38 billion.
Others include the rehabilitation of Wukari/Akwana Road in Taraba at the cost of N3.97 billion, and the construction of Ajase/Offa/Erin-Ike/Osun State Boundary Road in Kwara at the cost of N1.24 billion.
“There is also the Takum-Dongawa Road and Katsina-Ala at the cost of N1 billion, and the rehabilitation of Amanwaozuzu-Uzoagba-Eziama-Orie-Amaohia road in Imo which will gulp N1.275 billion.
“The rest will see N1.48 billion being spent on the construction of River Ebba Bridge at Cheche, Katcha Local Government Area in Niger, and the construction of Bida-Sacci-Nupeko Road in Niger which will gulp N8.673 billion,” Yuguda said.
In his contribution, the Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, told State House correspondents that the National Good Governance Tour would resume with a visit to Kaduna state on Saturday.
He also stated that the Minister of Sports, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi briefed the council on the forthcoming National Youth Games (NYG) billed to start this weekend in Abuja.

Representative of the wife of Rivers State Governor, and Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Joeba West (left) cutting the tape with the assistance of her Commerce and Industry counterpart, Barr Chuma Chinye, at the opening of the 3rd Port Harcourt Xmas Discount Market in Port Harcourt , yesterday. Photo: Chris Monyanaga

Representative of the wife of Rivers State Governor, and Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Joeba West (left) cutting the tape with the assistance of her Commerce and Industry counterpart, Barr Chuma Chinye, at the opening of the 3rd Port Harcourt Xmas Discount Market in Port Harcourt , yesterday.
Photo: Chris Monyanaga

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Boat Mishap Kills Pastor, Wife And Church Members  In Brass Water

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6 days ago

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May 18, 2026

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A boat accident in Bayelsa state has killed a serving Pastor, Wife and other church members along Brass waterways
The sad incident happened at Odioama in Brass local government area of Bayelsa State when the Pastor, wife and  members of his church were in a programme.
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?Tide confirmed that the lifeless body of the Pastor’s wife has been found and deposited in a mortuary while the remains of her husband ,the Pastor is yet  to be recovered
as search party are still ongoing.
Although the real cause of the boat Mishap is not yet known as at the time of this report,  our Correspondent gathered  that the identities of the Pastor, wife and church members were not disclosed to the public.
The mishap, Tide gathered occurred on Friday morning when the church members were on a boat transit
The Bayelsa State government and the state police command are yet to issue official statement’s  on the sad accident
By: CHINEDU WOSU
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Rivers Workers Seek Scrapping Of Contributory Pension Scheme

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6 days ago

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May 18, 2026

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The Rivers State Council of  Nigeria Civil Service Union has called on the State Government to urgently scrap the contributory pension scheme, describing it as unfavourable to long-serving civil servants in the state.
Chairman of the union, Chukwuka Osuma, said this in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt,  recently.
Osuma said the current pension structure has continued to worsen post-retirement hardship for workers.
He noted that  the contributory pension scheme had failed to provide adequate retirement security for workers who had spent many years in service, especially those approaching retirement age.
According to him, civil servants who had served for more than 20 years were among the worst affected under the scheme, insisting that many retirees could no longer cope with prevailing economic realities.
He also  informed that the Union has made moves to showcase their concerns, pleading with Governor Siminalayi Fubara to abolish the pension policy and introduce a more favourable arrangement for affected workers.
“The union was not opposed to pension reforms, the contributory scheme should only apply to newly employed workers or those with fewer years in service”, he said.
Osuma explained that workers who had already spent decades in the civil service ought to remain under a more secure pension structure capable of guaranteeing stability after retirement.
The labour leader further noted that inflation and the rising cost of living had continued to erode the value of retirement savings, thereby increasing the suffering of pensioners across the country.
He also appealed to the state government to consider extending the years of service in the civil service from 35 to 40 years and the retirement age from 60 to 65 years.
Osuma argued that such adjustment had become necessary in view of present-day economic realities and changing conditions in the workplace.
The unionist also reviewed that similar policies had already been adopted in some sectors and jurisdictions, expressing optimism that the State could also implement the reforms for the benefit of workers.
He however, commended Governor Fubara for approving an N85,000 minimum wage for workers in the state, noting that the amount was above the national benchmark of N70,000.
Osuma also acknowledged the government’s efforts in the area of workers’ promotions and bonuses, but insisted that pension reforms and extension of years of service remained critical to the long-term welfare and stability of civil servants in Rivers State.
By: King Onunwor
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FG Begins South-West Tour To Promote New Cooperative Bank

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2 weeks ago

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May 13, 2026

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The Federal Government has launched the South-West zonal engagement and ministerial advocacy tour on the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria share capital mobilisation, sensitisation and cooperative sector digitalisation.
 Reports say the initiative was launched through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
According to reports, the advocacy tour, organised by the ministry’s Federal Department of Cooperatives, began on Monday in Lagos.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security and Supervising Minister of Cooperative Affairs, Dr Aliyu Abdullahi, said the initiative was part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Abdullahi described the exercise as a strategic effort to reposition the cooperative sector as a key driver of inclusive economic growth, financial inclusion, enterprise development, food security and national prosperity.
“Today represents a defining moment in our collective determination to reposition the cooperative sector as a major driver of inclusive economic growth, financial inclusion, enterprise development, food security and national prosperity,” he said.
The minister noted  the modern cooperative movement in Nigeria originated in the South-West following the 1934 Strickland Report, which led to the enactment of the Cooperative Societies Ordinance of 1935.
According to him, the decision to commence the sensitisation and share capital mobilisation tour in the region is symbolic, as it marks a return to the roots of cooperative development in the country.
Abdullahi said the advocacy tour was a direct outcome of resolutions reached at the 8th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Cooperative Affairs held in Abuja in March 2026.
He said the council approved the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme, a comprehensive framework designed to strengthen the cooperative sector and align it with the administration’s goal of building a one-trillion-dollar economy.
“The reform programme focuses on seven strategic pillars, including governance reforms, cooperative financing and the establishment of the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria, digitalisation, capacity building, value chain development, inclusion of youths, women and persons with disabilities, and strategic partnerships,” he said.
He said the establishment of the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria and the digitalisation of the cooperative sector were the two major transformational initiatives under the programme.
“The Cooperative Bank of Nigeria is aimed at rebuilding a strong cooperative financial system capable of supporting cooperators, farmers, artisans, traders, SMEs, youths, women and persons with disabilities with accessible and affordable financial services,” he said.
Abdullahi emphasised that the proposed bank would be government-enabled but not government-funded.
“Government is not establishing the bank as an owner, nor will it rely on Treasury Single Account funds.
“The role of government through the FMAFS is to provide policy support, stakeholder coordination, regulatory facilitation and an enabling environment under the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme,” he said.
Also speaking, the Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to cooperative sector transformation.
She described cooperatives as critical tools for promoting inclusive growth, grassroots productivity, food security, financial inclusion and community wealth creation.
Ambrose-Medebem said Lagos State would continue to support reforms and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme (2025–2030).
“Together, let us build a cooperative ecosystem that is modern, transparent, digitally enabled, financially inclusive and globally competitive.
“Let us build cooperatives that not only mobilise savings, but also mobilise prosperity,” she said.
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