Headlines
Transport ministry to catalyse government’s 21 million jobs creation by 2025 — Sambo

The Honourable Minister Of Transportation, Muazu Jaji Sambo had said that the federal government is set to generate 21 million full-time jobs and lift 35 million people out of poverty by 2025.
The Honourable Minister in a speech delivered at the 2022 Ministerial Retreat at Ibom Icon Hotel, Akwa-Ibom State said the Transportation Sector was setting the stage for achieving the government’s commitment of lifting 100 Million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.
Sambo said infrastructural gaps that exist in the Sector necessitated the development of the National Development Plans; Medium-Term Development Plans 2021-2025 and a Long-Term Plan called the Nigeria Agenda 2050.
“This is to invest massively in infrastructure, ensure macroeconomic stability, enhance the investment environment, improve living conditions and implement climate change mitigation.
“This will generate 21 Million full-time jobs and lift 35 Million people out of poverty by 2025, thus setting the stage for achieving the government’s commitment of lifting 100 Million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.
“The plans are aimed at accelerating the growth of the transportation sector in the country with a strategic Medium-Term Vision Statement, which is to have an effective, intermodal, safe, reliable, affordable and sustainable Transportation system contributing positively to the growth of the Nigerian economy,” he said.
He added that the Policy thrusts to drive the vision included; improving safety and transportation security, collaboration and synergy amongst transportation stakeholders.
Others are Professionalism and Human Capacity Building, Strengthening institutional governance and regulation and Multi-modal infrastructural development.
He added that five high-level strategic goals were selected to achieve these policy thrusts of; Safe and Secure Transportation, Drive Economic Development, Facilitate Connectivity (Intermodal and Multimodal), Develop Local Capacity (Professionalism) and Ensure Sustainability.
“I am well aware that you are all conversant with these high-level goals, as they have become a blueprint for tracking performance towards the delivery of our mandates, addressing the bottlenecks militating against the growth of the Transportation Sector and stimulating domestic growth.
“The key Policy Initiatives and Reform Programmes for the Sector are; Implementation of the 25-year Railway Modernization Programme, the Ports Master Plan and Inland Waterways Transportation Development.
“Others are; The Nigerian Transportation Master plan (NTM), Tariffs and costs, Creation of Private Sector led National fleet and Manpower capacity development,” he said.
Muazu Jaji Sambo acknowledged that the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration have been concentrated on the expansion and modernization of the Nation’s Transportation System which has resulted in numerous achievements in the Rail, Maritime and Road Sub-sectors.
He reiterated that the provision of transportation infrastructure is and will always be a work in progress for any nation that desires rapid development.
“This is what informed my call to you to identify and implement low-hanging fruits as was stated at the briefing Sessions held from 14th July – 1st August 2022 on my assumption of duty in the Ministry.
“With the recent presentations on the investment opportunities that exist in the Transportation Sector at various fora, I am optimistic that there will be an influx of international private investors’ patronage in the Sector soon.
“I, therefore, implore us all to leverage this retreat to galvanize the Transportation Sector to become more competitive, efficient and productive,” he added
He further commended Prince Ademola Adegoroye, Dr Magdalene Ajani and all members of staff of the Ministry for their support and diligence.
Headlines
Traffic gridlock returns to Apapa port as Federal government closes Total bridge for maintainance works

“Given the impact the closure will have on Port users, the Authority in partnership with LASTMA, Police, FRSC, and the Nigerian Navy have worked out alternative routes and are on the ground to manage the traffic situation in the affected areas.
“The Authority wishes to solicit the understanding and cooperation of all stakeholders as we continue to support measures to mitigate the temporary disruptions, the NPA pleaded.
Headlines
NIMASA collaborates with NCC to regulate submarine cable operation for enhanced navigational safety on Nigerian waters

The eyewitness reporter
Apparently alarmed by the indiscriminate laying of communication cables and pipelines underneath the Nigerian waters by telecommunications operators and other allied professionals which has the potential of harming the safe navigation of ships, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA) has engaged the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in a strategic discussion to forge a formidable synergy with other relevant stakeholders with a view to developing a regulatory framework to provide operational guidelines for submarine Cable and Pipeline Operators in Nigeria.
Officials of both organs of Government in Lagos reached this agreement at a pre Audit meeting on submarine cable regulation.
The Director General of NIMASA Dr. Bashir Jamoh, who chaired the meeting, which also had the Director General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) Mr. Dasuki Arabi in attendance, noted that the Agency is committed to the Ease of Doing Business while implementing International Conventions which Nigeria has ratified and domesticated.
He noted that with Nigeria now a destination for global communication players, the time has come to prevent unregulated underwater cable laying, which might become hazardous to shipping.
According to him, “It is worthy to note that marine cable laying has been ongoing for over two decades in Nigerian waters.
“Our focus is to ensure the safety of navigation of shipping in Nigerian waters with all these underwater cables being laid.
“NIMASA is actually developing the guidelines to regulate submarine cable operators in line with the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, UNCLOS; which we have ratified and NIMASA is the Agency of Government in Nigeria responsible for its implementation.
“Collaboration is a key component of ease of doing business in the best interest of the country and we will work closely with the NCC to achieve this”.
On his part, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, who was represented by the Director, Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement, Efosa Idehen, noted that the stakeholders’ dialogue strategy adopted by NIMASA in developing the guidelines would ensure a win-win situation, urging NIMASA management to include the Ministry of Justice, a request NIMASA DG immediately granted.
Also speaking at the meeting was the Director General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms Mr. Dasuki Arabi, who commended NIMASA and NCC for adopting effective Inter-Agency collaboration to avert a potential challenge for the country in the future.
NIMASA had notified submarine and cable operators in Nigeria of a soon-to-be-implemented regulatory guideline for submarine cables and pipelines in Nigeria, in line with the provisions of UNCLOS.
NIMASA and the NCC agreed to identify and resolve areas of likely regulatory overlaps, ensuring a regulatory framework based on consultation to engender the attainment of Nigeria’s digital economy transformation.
Officials of the Federal Ministry of Environment and representatives of Submarine Cable operators in Nigeria were also at the meeting.
Customs
Comptroller Nnadi mourns death of retired customs officer, DCG Sanusi

“He passed on about an hour ago at a private hospital in Abuja. The Janaza prayers hold after the Zuhr prayers (1 pm) at the National Mosque, Abuja In Shaa Allah,”
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