From Adeko Ukpa, Abuja

The Rotary Club of Abuja Jabi Lakeside, on Sunday, organised a one day Business Expo in Abuja to showcase the businesses and products of its members.

The event took place at the Grand Cubana Hotel Hall and was declared opened by the District Governor of Rotary International District 9127, Rotarian Mike Nwanoshiri, represented by Assistant District Governor, Rotarian Emeka Iroegbunam.

On display at the exhibition were clothing materials, confectioneries, power  inverters, security gadgets, food and beverages, insurance, jewelries and fashion.

In his remarks before declaring the business expo opened, the Assistant Governor of Rotary District 9127, Rotarian Iroegbunam, commended the Club, popularly known as the Lakers, for their innovativeness and zeal to ensure progress for the business of their members while giving back to the society.

He said: “I can see that we have an array of things from beauty, fast moving goods, aesthetics, electronics, travel, logistics to home food, environmentally safe electricity and so on.

“I mean, such an array of merchandise and services here today and I think we are so proud of what we are doing.

“Let me express my personal pride to be associated with the Lakers. This is really so wonderful.

“All I want is for us to be able to do what is important. The exhibitors have come here today waiting for us to patronise them, and we need to do that.”

In his welcome remarks, the President of the Rotary Club of Abuja Jabi Lakeside, Rotarian Amobi Ogum, said the event was organised to showcase the businesses and services being rendered by its members as part of the club’s membership retention and new club development month.

Ogum said: “Part of what we want to achieve is to ensure that Rotary is not just about giving to the community, but we also want to showcase what our members do so people can patronise them. You can’t give what you don’t have.”

He said the success of the business expo, which is the club’s maiden edition, would  determine how often such events would be held going forward.

He said: “Our hope is that by the time we are done with this, we will see whether it’s something we can be doing once every month or once every quarter. But we must find a way of making sure that people sell their businesses and that’s why we are here.”

He said the exhibitors were 80 per cent Rotarians and a few businesses “who want to identify with our causes who decided to come and also exhibit.”

He said Club has put in place mechanisms to ensure that the products on display which were worth over N100million were offered to members of the public at discounted rates as a way of giving back to the society.

He said: “We are looking to ensure that people get discounts for what they buy. If you get in, there are some properties that are going for sale and they’ve offered as much as 30 per cent discount. It’s our own way of giving back to the society, the buying public and the selling public.”

He called on Nigerians to always make sure that those around them are happy by doing whatever little they can to ameliorate their hardships.

“Always give back to the community. Whenever you think things are getting hard for you, there are lots of people you are better off than.

“So by sharing a meal, sharing a drink, sharing whatever you can, always make sure the community around you are happy,” Ogum said.

… Handover new staff clinic, five other completed projects to successor

By Adeko Ukpa

African Telescope reports that the immediate past Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr. Mohammed Bello Koko, on Monday, said the agency generated ₦541billion in the first half of 2024.

He said the agency also remitted ₦255billion to the Consolidated Revenue Funds (CRF) of the federation between January and June this year.

He said the performance of the agency in the first half of 2024 surpassed its year-on-year total revenue generation and remittances in any year.

He said the  cumulative  revenue of the NPA between 2022 and the first half of 2024 was N1.423trillion.

He said his administration put in place sustainable reforms, especially a drastic improvement in the Turn-Around-Times of vessels and trucks in Apapa and TinCan ports.

He, however, said he is handing over a new staff clinic and five other completed projects to his successor for commissioning.

He confirmed that NPA increased staff salary during his tenure.

He pleaded with the staff to cooperate with and redouble their commitment to his successor.

Koko made the assertions in his valedictory remarks at the handover to the new Managing Director of NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho at the agency’s headquarters in Lagos.

He said he felt fulfilled for improving NPA better than he met it.

He said: “We recorded an unprecedented growth in revenue generation and remittances to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) from Revenue of ₦381 billion in 2022 and ₦501 billion in 2023 to ₦541 billion in the first half of 2024 and remittances to CRF increasing from ₦93.4 billion in 2022 to ₦206 billion in 2023 and to ₦255 billion in the first half of 2024 – surpassing our year-on-year total revenue generation and remittances in any year.

“Unprecedented tax remittances to the Federal Government ranging up to N60 billion in the period of my stewardship.

“We raised the bar higher. Our hope and prayers are for the new management to continue on this trajectory and surpass it. But we were also deliberate on dialogue and driving reforms.”

He listed some of his achievements in office, which included all-round port efficiency.

He said: “We hit the ground running with the necessary approvals to get the Lekki Deep Seaport fully operational to retake the lost transit and transshipment cargo.

“Promoted the non-oil export drive of the President by setting up ten (10) Export Processing Terminals (EPTs), mainstreaming it to the NXP and e-call up system to facilitate exports, and the result is evident in the attainment of a foreign trade surplus, as highlighted in the NBS report for Q1 2024.

“Upgraded Data Center, Servers, Storage, and Business Continuity.

“Established a data recovery and protection unit with an up-to-date data protection audit certification.

“Digitized staff attendance for accountability and improved productivity.

“Ensured the sustainability and free flow of cargo by clearing the decade-long traffic gridlock menacing the Apapa and Tincan Island port complexes, and its environs.

“Provided aids to navigation such as buoys, fenders, and bollards across all the ports, and also enhanced seaside operations by providing marine crafts, pilot cutters, tugboats, mooring boats, etc to improve port efficiency.

“These led to a reduction in both vessel and truck turn-around times. The vessel TAT went down from an average of 6.5 days to an average of 5 days, while truck TAT went from an average of 10 days to a few hours.”

The outgoing Managing Director also said he was happy to have attained 100% Ease-of-Doing-Business rating by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).

He said: “We restored service boat management  contract with its attendant boost in revenue.

“Concluded the consultancy for the deployment of a Vessel Tracking System in conjunction with NLNG Shipping.

“Secured FEC approval for the expansion of the Snake Island Port and a willing private investment to the tune of $300m on this project.

“Secured FEC approvals for the development of new ports such as ports of Ondo, Badagry, Burutu, and Snake Island expansion project, amongst other proposals that have reached advanced stages of review and approval.

“Consultancy for the development of the 25-Year National Ports Masterplan to guide investment and port expansion plans.

“Attained a 100% ease-of-doing-business rating by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), despite having the most number of reforms.

“In addition to the aforementioned, we were also able to conclude with the FMMBE/BPP on the deployment of the Port Community System (awaiting a few processes before seeking FEC approval), and its corollary, the National Single Window, as well as propel the subject matter of port modernization to conclusive stages with the signing of the mandate letters for the reconstruction of TinCan Island and the comprehensive rehabilitation of Apapa, Rivers, Onne, Warri, and Calabar Port complexes, respectively.”

He said his administration was handing over six completed projects to his successor for commissioning.

He said: “We have also completed some key projects that are ready for commissioning. These projects are crucial to staff development and improved efficiency.

“Some of them include; the Staff Clinic at Lagos Port Complex; inter-agency building at TinCan Island Port to accommodate agencies in the port in one place to enhance operational efficiency; security mobile scanners at the Lagos Port Complex; administrative buildings of the Tincan, Warri, and Rivers Ports; Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria’s Headquarters; upgraded Revenue Invoicing Management System (RIMS 2.0); and employees e-medical records management.

Koko said he felt fulfilled for improving NPA better than he met it.

He added: “Let me begin by appreciating all of you for the life-applicable experience of the last eight years of my sojourn in the Nigerian Ports Authority.

“Looking back, I would like to summarize this tremendous phase of my life as a learning curve and an abiding history or experience.

“As I bow out today, I feel fulfilled for two reasons. Firstly, by working with all of you here, we have repositioned the Authority for greater operational efficiency and unprecedented revenue generation and remittance to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Secondly, my sense of fulfillment derives from the fact that we have achieved a lot and have made the Authority far better than we met it, and now handing over to a management team of distinguished professionals with the requisite character, competence, and capacity to sustain and indeed surpass the current performance trajectory.

“As most of us are aware, the Authority under the management team I was privileged to lead was able to position the Authority for improved efficiency, revenue generation, accountability, and adherence to international best practices in port management and operations.”

He thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former President Muhammadu Buhari  for the “incredible opportunity to serve as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority.”

In his inaugural address, the new Managing Director of NPA, Dantsoho unveiled plans for port rehabilitation and modernization.

He also said priority will be given to total automation of NPA processes.

He assured staff of adequate welfare.

He said: “We will continue the digital transformation of the Authority and reinforce the current efforts at deploying the Port Community System (PCS) which we believe is key to our dream of total automation of our processes, thereby eliminating leakages and corruption.

“The current efforts towards infrastructural renewal and development will be enhanced.

“In particular, we will drive: Port Rehabilitation and Modernization

“We will pay attention to the logistics that surround the arrival of cargoes along the port corridor, their receipt at the terminals and loading onboard ships in the most efficient way and also cargo evacuation from our ports.

He listed other targets as follows: “Deep sea Ports Development, in order to unlock the full potential of the Nigerian economy.

“Promotion of transparency, accountability and Ease of doing business in our ports.

“We shall enhance collaboration and communication between sister agencies and promote stakeholder engagement.”

By Adeko Ademo

A Civil Society Organisation (CSO), Alliance For Credible Legislative Conducts (ACLC), has called on the National Assembly to probe alleged disregard of President Bola Tinubu’s dissolution order by the National Steel Council board.

The Chairman of the ACLC, Comrade  Shola Afuye, made the call during a press conference in Abuja.

He alleged that the board is not only subsisting 10 months after the dissolution order, it has continued to engage in alleged wrongdoings.

Afuye condemned what he described as flagrant abuse of office and disobedience to the lawful orders of the President by the NSC board and called on the Secretary to the Governor of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, and the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Audu, to cause the board to respect the lawful directive of the President.

He vowed that the CSO would not hesitate to mobilize its members across the country to stage a massive protest to draw the President’s attention to the recalcitrance of the board which he dissolved about 10 months ago.

Responding to a question, Shola said: “By this statement we are calling on the National Assembly with oversight function on the Ministry of Steel Development to urgently commence probe into this flagrant disobedience to the lawful order of the President and ensure that the right thing is done.

“But should they fail to heed our call, we shall mobilize our members across the Federal Republic of Nigeria and stage a massive protest against to draw the President’s attention to the illegality being perpetuated by the NSC board.”

Earlier while responding the text of the Press Conference, Shola said: “The attention of the Alliance for Credible Legislative Conducts (ACLC) has been drawn to a case of monumental disobedience of the Presidential order on dissolution of boards, by the Ministry of Steel Development, which flagrantly disregarded the directive of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, as it pertains to the dissolution of boards of parastatals.

“Specifically, on the 16th of June, 2023, in a circular signed by Willie Bassey, director of Information, on behalf of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, President Bola Tinubu approved the dissolution of all Boards of Federal Government Parastatals, Agencies, Institutions and Government-owned Companies, except those listed in the Third Schedule, Part I, Section 153 (i) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Recent findings showed that the National Steel Council (NSC) was among the bodies dissolved by the above extraordinary Presidential order as it is clearly not among those Commissions and Councils listed in the constitution and therefore not exempted from that sweeping directive by Mr. President.

“We have equally discovered that the National Steel Council (NSC) is not only a parastatal under the definition of the Public Service Rules, but a policy making body, that sets operational and administrative policies in accordance with government’s policies, and supervise the implementation of such policies.

“We are abundantly constrained to inform Nigerians today, about the utter disrespect for the orders of President Tinubu, high level of indiscipline, sheer irresponsibility and administrative rascality being extremely exhibited by the leadership of the Council, albeit with the acquiescence of Prince Shuaibu Audu, in the periphery of the National Steel Council (NSC).

“We hereby condemn in the strongest terms the deliberate cultivated muscling of statutory laws against established provisions or rules guiding the National Steel Council, and using this medium to call on the SGF, Senator George Akume, to enforce the presidential order on boards’ dissolution without exception beyond the illogical posture of the Minister of Steel Development.

“The abuse of office at the National Steel Council and the refusal of the youthful Minister, to nip the embarrassing issue in the bud is a clear indication of incompetence, which simply means that Prince Shuaibu Audu whose Ministry just concluded an otherwise laudable Ministerial retreat with visible objectives is unwisely tolerant of what now makes him a real clog in the wheel of President Tinubu’s dream for steel development in Nigeria.

“Pertinently, the duo of Senator George Akume and Prince Shuaibu Audu should without delay put to rest the evident impunity and stark disobedience of Presidential order on boards; retrace their steps to curb the taboo going on at the National Steel Council and allow due process and transparency to prevail by calling the Board to order.

“Finally, we call on the Ministry, especially its Resident Anti-Corruption Units to exercise their statutory duties, without undue sensationalism, on allegations of financial infractions, to the tune of N1billion, which almost equals the budget for the NSC in 2023.

“While the Ministry musters the courage to do the necessary, the National Assembly which is saddled with oversight functions, should perhaps immediately look into this abnormal situation at the National Steel Council and handle it accordingly.

“This unbelievable, unfortunate and reckless abuse of power at the Council, has unduly embarrassed the government enough!”