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Comrade Kayode Opeifa Lauds Police, FRSC And LASTMA Operating In Apapa And Tin Can Port Corridors

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3 years ago

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The objective of its establishment is to return normalcy to Apapa because of the incessant gridlock that is crippling the area, enforce discipline, introduce a workable manual call up system pending the introduction of  electronic call-up system by NPA, Dvelip and deoy a working traffic management system, coordinate and control  trucks and tanker drivers who are designated to access the seaport to stay off the roads leading to the port.
The presidential task force team comprises of Nigeria Police, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the combined team has been working to ensure the objectives of the establishment of PTT achieved.
While identified some stakeholders behaviour as being  responsible for the current unnecessary artificial traffic gridlock at the Tin Can Port, as against the reports that accused officials of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Security Department, Police and the Presidential Task Team on Apapa gridlock who were  deployed to manage traffic in the area, of extortion.
Backlog of vessels at seaports, congestion caused by noticeable potholes in both sides of Lagos-Badagry expressway and the current state of rehabilitation and reconstruction of roads project presently on-going can be seen as the cause for the congestion noticed recently around the Mile 2 area.
Also exporters and truckers who are desperate to move their containers into the Port directly  instead of through the torqnsit truck parks at Lilly Pond and Tin Can truck parks even while they are aware that they are not to approach the Ports directly.
Various social medium had reported that accusing officials of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Security Department, Police and the Presidential Task Team on Apapa gridlock, who were deployed to manage traffic in the area, where allegedly Involved in massive extortion of truck and tanker drivers, collecting from them unaccounted sum of between 80,000 to 170, 000 naira before they can access the seaports.
During a chat with the Executive Vice Chairman of the Presidential Task Force, Comrade Kayode Opeifa, he denied the allegations as baseless, with no iota of truth and a Corruption Fight Back strategy.
He explained thar there are challenges and said the hardship will soon be a thing of the past even as he backs recent moves by NPA to regulate barging operations and Stripping at the Ports.
He added that enforcement agencies have a new responsibilities to go after the organizers of stripping at other locations such as Warehouse road in Apapa, Marine Bridge, among others now.
Opeifa reveals that Freight Agents and truck owners have persistently lamented over the worsening traffic situation along the port access roads which the  Presidential Task Team who were deployed to manage Apapa gridlock has no control over.  On extortion by the taskforce, he denied knowledge of such qnd urge any body with information should directly qpproqch him or NPA with proof as moqst have been found to be false or by Middlemen and scammers oeperating as Movers and mostly affecting those who are alway working to subvert due process.
He also commented on the activities of the members of the  Community Security who has been supportive and assisting the government in checking the crime rate during traffic trigging along and around Mile 2. Noting that their efforts as long as is peaceful and productive is commendable.
He said; “While cargo stripping isn’t the norm in port business globally, and particularly hazardous as it clogs the port access roads, some stakeholders have turned this practice to the norm while the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has now risen to control it qnd must be supported as its creating prorblem along the port access roads. .”
“Most importers have resorted to stripping at Tin Can to evade possible seizures by Customs and enable them to easily evacuate the goods and the high demand for stripping at the port environment has made the service more expensive than conveying the goods outside the ports.”
“Consequently, other cleared imports were unable to leave the port while exports couldn’t also access the port.”
Opeifa urged that terminal operators and others involved in sharp barge operations and causing additional hindrances on the port corridors should be sanctioned while genuine, terminals qnd manufactures who desired barging for their direct operations should be protected in the interest of inter and multimodal transport.
He commends that Freightreight agents and their truckers who have obtained TDOs should be free from storage charges and demurrages arising from the clogged port access.
According to a top NPA source, this logistics quagmire was what led the Authority to suspend stripping within the Tin Can Island Port premises.
Agents, on the other hand, argued that the stripping fares ranging between N600,000 to N700,000 was sufficient to move the cargoes outside the port environment.
The amount for stripping in the Tin Can Island port area is exorbitant but it is simply a factor determined by market forces. The demand for stripping in this area is so high and there is no space for such activity.
Therefore, those with the facility hiked the prices but importers don’t care because it saves them from the possible dangers with the multiple Customs units on the highways,” an NPA official at Tin Can Island Port said.
Noting that stripping isn’t the ideal practice around the world, the NPA source said, “Stripping became a necessity at Tin Can because of the nature of the cargoes received at the port.
In fact, terminals operating in the Tin Can Island Port environment have been systematically fuelling the chaos in the area as they also ignored NPA’s proposal to only receive trucks that have Terminal Deliver Order (TDO), so that the trucks bringing empties can leave with consignments as some bad eggs in the division have given the group a bad name.
There are more challenges aside issue of stripping and port stakeholders flooding environs of the seaports to cause artificial gridlock as middlemen operating at the seaports given bad names to the PTT
Some truck and tanker motorists who spoke to our correspondent, blamed that most of the challenges being faced at the seaport is as a result of the state of the roads and middlemen operators.
A truck owner, Friday Marvelous said some middlemen claim to be truck owners and desperately acting like middlemen mostly causing artificial traffic and demanding money  expected to settle Nigeria police, Lastma, NPA, FRSC before the truck owners and tanker drivers have access to the seaports.
This criminal behavior and impersonation of PTT recently revealed as untrue and Task force team urges all the truck owners and tanker drivers move their trucks direct to port without paying anything to any middlemen,  Marvelous said
He also revealed that PTT didn’t send any middlemen to exhort or  collect money from any truck owners before being passed.
As a result of this, PTT have been blackmailing on various social medias, sponsor articles to dent the image of the task force and causing problems most times at the seaports as these are major challenges the team experiencing over time
 Marvelous noted that since few days ease of traffic, tankers and trucks better and access to the port ease without unnecessary and trigging of traffic at the moment.
He however said trucks are steady moving towards the seaports aside massive reconstruction of access road causing additional deny to the port and urges the construction companies to fast the projects on time.
A truck Driver, Usman Alli said; “most challenges being experienced is as a result of our bad roads. Most of the roads are in deplorable state and and some of them are currently on-going reconstruction.”
He also laments on the activities of middlemen operators particularly with most of them causing artificial trigging of gridlock at the seaports.
David Emmanuel, a motorists said; “all shareholders need to be blamed. He said those middlemen causing problems at the seaports should be arrested because they can’t continue adding problems to the already bad roads and also blocking those in authority do their jobs.”
He noted that any truck that gails to produce its Terminal Delivery Order, TDO, at the seaports should be sanctioned and also added that the construction company handling projects withing the area should work fast to ease the traffic and frustration people are passing through on daily basis around the axis.
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Sahara weekly online is published by First Sahara weekly international. contact saharaweekly@yahoo.com

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Dr. Enitan Dolapo Badru’s Account Of Stewardship : The Landmark Achievements

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8 hours ago

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April 28, 2024

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Dr. Enitan Dolapo Badru’s Account Of Stewardship : The Landmark Achievements

 

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Over the years, As Honourable Member Of The Federal House Of Representatives and Chairman, House Committee On Industry,
Dr. Enitan Dolapo Badru has offered Distinctive and Qualitative Representation.

The Silent Achiever also embarked on Human Capital Development Programme, Community Development Projects and Social Intervention Initiative with direct and positive impacts on the Constituents.

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According to Dr. Badru, there is Economic hardship in Town, therefore the members of the Legislative Arm of Government should complement the Executive.

“I do not want to see the People of Lagos Island Constituency 1 and its environment to suffer”, The Federal Lawmaker said.

“As a Grassroot Man, I always ensure that residents are empowered and supported to nurture their dreams, aspirations and potentials for Self-Development and Actualisation”, He continued.

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“Though, oftentimes, some People tend to cause distraction but I am not bothered about it”,

“I will Continue to Execute Community Development Project and lift the People”.

“The fact is, when I do my best, some People will appreciate while others may not”.

‘Indeed, I am convinced between Man and God that I have done my best; but I will do more”.

“For the Record, there are many People who truly appreciates My Empowerment Programmes, Community Development Projects and Social Intervention Activities”

“I am not in competition with anybody but I am doing what I know is the best for the good People of Lagos Island Constituency 1 and that is my source of Inspiration”.

Since Dr. Badru was elected as a Federal Lawmaker, he has spent over Four Hundred Million Naira (N400 Million) on Human Capital Development, Community Development Projects And Social Intervention Programmes.

All the People-oriented Programmes were specifically designed to alleviate Poverty, Support and Boost Local Trade, Small and Medium Scale Businesses and bring Prosperity To All.

To Promote Learning and Knowledge Acquisition among indigent pupils, Dr. Badru facilitated the construction of Twelve (12) Blocks of Classrooms and with Watercloset Toilet at Dr. Teslim Elias Primary School Isale-Eko, Lagos Island.

He also facilitated the Construction of Road Networks in Olowogbo area, Lagos Island Local Government Area.

To ensure access to a Clean Water in Lagos Island Constituency 1 and its environment, He constructed 10 Borehole Water Systems in all the Political wards.

To improve the Well-being of the Constituents,He provided Health Insurance Scheme for 350 Residents.

Dr. Enitan Dolapo Badru distributed five (5) Vehicles to the Political wards in Lagos Island Constituency 1. These cars were gifted for Intracity Commercial Purpose; the incomes generated are to be shared Monthly among the Vulnerable.

In addition, over Twenty-five (25) Tricycles were presented to some Residents for Commercial Purpose.

Similarly, Dr. Badru gifted Equipment worth Millions of Naira to Artisans on Lagos Island Local Government Area; Work Tools such as Sewing Machines, Motorised Pepper Grinding Machines and Hair Dryers, totalling 750 Units.

Over Two Hundred (200) Electric Power Generator Set and Deep Freezers have been presented to Small and Medium Scale Enterpreneurs in Lagos Island Federal Constituency 1.

Dr. Enitan Dolapo Badru disbursed over N10 Million Capital to Start-ups across the Ten (10) Political wards.

LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES BY DR. ENITAN DOLAPO BADRU

He secured Federal and State Government’s Jobs for some Residents of Lagos Island Federal Constituency 1.

He also facilitated the Federal Government’s Continous Covid-19 Grants and Palliative measures for Constituents.

In Partnership with the Industrial Training Institute(ITF), He organised Skill Acquisition and Vocational Trainings for Unemployed Youths, ICT Training, Solar Panels Technology Training, Fish and Crayfish Farming, Mushrooms Cultivation and many more.

A N100,000 Grant was given to each of the Resident trained at the Programme.

Graduates and Undergraduates were trained in Information and Communications Technology.

A Total of Twenty Laptop Computers were presented to them.

Solar Panel Technologists were presented with Equipment Boxes.

To ensure a Safer and Secure Community, He funded the Installation of Solar Power Street Lightings at Eletu Iwashe Quarters.

Dr. Badru financed the Rehabilitation and Construction of new Toilets and provided Furniture, Learning Materials, Ceiling Fans, Electric bulbs fittings at King Ado High School on Ojo Giwa Street, Lagos Island.

He organised Periodic Coaching for Pupils and Secondary School Students and paid the Teachers and Instructors engaged.

The Federal Lawmaker also embarked on Annual Distribution of Free General Certificate Examinations (GCE) and Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms to Secondary school students across the Constituency.

There are numerous motions that Dr. Badru sponsored on the floor of the Federal House of Representatives.

One of such is the motion to expand and beautify the Muritala International Airport road, A gesture applauded by the Federal and Lagos State Governments. The Project has been executed and delivered. It reduces traffic hold-ups and travel time.

“In the past, the bad Roadnetwork did not dignify that corridor of the country”, He stated.

“Indeed, I am happy that I moved the motion”.

He also initiated a motion to eject fuel Tankers parking indiscriminately on Eko bridge.

The unabated parking weakened the bridge and lead to avoidable collapse. The Bridge is a major link between the Mainland and Lagos Island.

He sponsored the Mathematical Centre Act, Amendment Bill ( HB 355)

He Sponsored more than four bills. These include :

Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, Alteration Bill (HB 613)

Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act (Amendment Bill) Co- Sponsor, (HB 822)

Elderly and Vulnerable Persons Bill (HB 822)

Government Infrastructural Continuity (Establishment) Bill (HB-907)

He moved a Motion to resolve persistent Traffic gridlock at Apapa Port and its environment

He also moved a motion to compensate the victims of Abule Ado Bomb explosion.

Dr. Enitan Dolapo Badru reiterated his commitment to offering Responsive and Qualitative Representation to Constituents and facilitate Community Development Projects on Lagos Island Federal Constituency 1.

“I Will Continue To Take Good Care Of My People”, Dr. Enitan Dolapo Badru vowed.

• Uplifting The People
• Redefining Legislative Function
• Leadership With Sincerity Of Purpose
• Doing Good Always

© DOLBAD Media Hub

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PRESIDENT TINUBU APPOINTS NIGERIA’S RENOWNED BANKER, JIM OVIA AS CHAIRMAN OF THE NIGERIAN EDUCATION LOAN FUND

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19 hours ago

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April 27, 2024

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PRESIDENT TINUBU APPOINTS NIGERIA’S RENOWNED BANKER, JIM OVIA AS CHAIRMAN OF THE NIGERIAN EDUCATION LOAN FUND

PRESIDENT TINUBU APPOINTS NIGERIA’S RENOWNED BANKER, JIM OVIA AS CHAIRMAN OF THE NIGERIAN EDUCATION LOAN FUND

 

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Sahara Weekly Reports That President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of the Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia, CFR, as the Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). This was announced in a State House Press Release by the
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale on April 26,
2024.

PRESIDENT TINUBU APPOINTS NIGERIA’S RENOWNED BANKER, JIM OVIA AS CHAIRMAN OF THE NIGERIAN EDUCATION LOAN FUND

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According to the statement, ‘‘the President believes Mr. Ovia will bring his immense
a wealth of experience and professional stature to this role to advance the all-important
the vision of ensuring that no Nigerian student suffers in the consistent end to their pursuit of
higher education over a lack of funds and ensuring that Nigerian youths, irrespective
of who they are, have access to higher education and skills that will make them
productive members of society and core contributors to the knowledge-based global
economy of this century.’’

 

Jim Ovia, CFR, is the Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, one of Africa’s largest
banks with over $21.4 billion in assets and shareholders’ funds of over US$2.4 billion as
of December 2023. Zenith Bank is a global brand listed on the London Stock Exchange
and the Nigerian Stock Exchange. In addition to major operations in Nigeria and other
West African countries, the Bank has sizeable operations in London and Dubai.
Jim Ovia is the Founder and Chancellor of James Hope University, Lekki, Lagos which
was recently approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC) to offer
postgraduate degrees in business courses. James Hope University commenced
activities in September 2023.

 

Through his philanthropy – the Jim Ovia Foundation – he has shown the importance of
accords good education. In support of the Nigerian youth, the Jim Ovia Foundation offers
scholarships to needy students through the Mankind United to Support Total Education
(MUSTE) initiative. Most of the beneficiaries of the Jim Ovia Foundation scholarship are now
accountants, business administrators, lawyers, engineers, doctors, etc.

 

He is the author of “Africa Rise and Shine”, published by ForbesBooks. The book which
encapsulates Zenith Bank’s meteoric rise, details the secrets of success in doing
business in Africa. He is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School (OPM), University
of Louisiana (MBA), and Southern University, Louisiana, (B.Sc. Business Administration).  Jim Ovia is a member of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Community
of Chairpersons and a champion of the Forum’s EDISON Alliance.

 

In recognition of Jim Ovia’s contributions to the economic development of Nigeria, in
2022, the Federal Government of Nigeria honored him with Commander of the Federal
Republic, CFR. Also, in May 2022, Jim Ovia was conferred with the National Productivity
Order of Merit (NPOM) Award by the Federal Government of Nigeria. Earlier, he has
been conferred with the national award of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic,
MFR, and Commander of the Order of the Niger, CON, in 2000 and 2011, respectively,
as a testament to his visionary leadership and contributions to Nigeria’s financial
services sector.

 

The National Student Loan Programme is a pivotal intervention that seeks to guarantee
sustainable higher education and functional skill development for all Nigerian students
and youths. The Nigerian Education Loan Fund, the implementing institution of this
innovation, demands excellence, and Nigerians of the finest professional ilk to guide and manage.

 

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Nigerians must support President Tinubu as he addresses Nigeria’s many challenges – Sola Adeyemo

Published

20 hours ago

on

April 27, 2024

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Nigerians must support President Tinubu as he addresses Nigeria’s many challenges - Sola Adeyemo

Nigerians must support President Tinubu as he addresses Nigeria’s many challenges – Sola Adeyemo

 

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A socio-commentator and public affairs analyst, Mr Sola Adeyemo has called on Nigerians to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his efforts and commitment to turn the country around.

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Nigerians must support President Tinubu as he addresses Nigeria’s many challenges - Sola Adeyemo

 

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Adeyemo made the call Saturday morning in Lagos fielding questions from jounalists who paid him a courtesy visit on the sideline of the GTCO Food And Drink Festival organised and hosted by one of Nigeria’s biggest banks, Guaranty Trust Bank in Lagos.

 

“We must continue to support Mr President and remain united behind his policies as he works to bring the country out of the woods.

The Publisher and Editor-In-Chief of CityNews Newspaper said Nigerians must also shun actions capable of breaching peace in our society.

 

He added, “As an opinion leader in the country, I’m in total support of Mr President in his determination to around Nigeria’s economy and other challenges bedevilling our country.

 

 

 

Adeyemo who is also the President of Special Committe On BAT(Bola Ahmed Tinubu) for online journalists called on Nigerians in all walks of life to support the present administration as Nigeria is occupying a very important position in the scheme of things globally at this particulat point in time…because of the ‘resoucefulness,ingenuity and positive energy of its people’.

 

 

 

GTCO Food & Drink Festival is an annual food exhibition and sales event that projects the diverse angles of the food industry by connecting various businesses involved in the production and sale of food-related items to a cosmopolitan audience of food enthusiasts.

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