Business

2023: I will tackle corruption, congestion, infrastructure decay at ports if elected President —Kwankwaso

Published

3 years ago

August 24, 2022

Advocate News Nigeria

Spread the love

• Decries non-disbursement of CVFF to indigenous shipping operators

The Presidential Candidate of the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, on Tuesday decried the tradition of corruption, congestion, infrastructure decay in the ports system and assured that he would tackle all these challenges if elected in 2023.

Kwakwanso also expressed concerns that Nigeria has remained without a national carrier decades after the liquidation of the Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL) by the federal government over debt related issues in 1995.

Speaking at a Town Hall Meeting organized by the Prime Maritime Project, the former Kano State Governor said he was aware of most of the challenges confronting the maritime industry and was ready to address them if elected.

He pointed at the issue of ports congestion and gridlock on the ports access road recalling that he once witnessed it during a visit to Lagos sometimes ago.

He said that the issue of congestion was because the ports were planned in the 1950s and designed for a population of 50 million people as against now with a population of 200 million people.

He assured that his administration if elected will address such issues as infrastructure which has remained static.

Kwankwaso also promised that when elected, he will ensure that the Customs Service and other regulatory agencies must be made to perform efficiently and effectively.

He gave his words that the observed high level corruption in the ports system will be tackled to improve productivity in the ports.

Kwankwaso said “My being here today is out of personal conviction that the maritime sector is a critical element to the growth, survival and prosperity of Nigeria. Again, anybody who forgets his root will never go far in life. The maritime industry gave birth to our great party, the NNPP; as such | cannot disregard any invitation for whatever reason, coming from the sector.

“So, my being here is largely to listen, appreciate and understand the expectations of maritime operators from me and our party should we eventually emerge winners of the 2023 general elections. Though | may not have been fully involved in maritime sector to understand its nitty-gritty but my experience over the years as a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, former Governor, former Minister of Defense and a former Senator has availed me with some basic understanding of the sector and especially some of its challenges.

“| have listened to this wonderful audience and have noted your expectations. | can tell you that |! am aware of most of the challenges facing the sector presently. One of such, for instance is congestion on port access roads in Apapa. It may interest you to know that in one of my visits to Lagos sometimes ago, | was in Apapa and was stunned at the spectacle of articulated trucks lining the ljora Bridge. To me, it was an unacceptable eyesore in a twenty-first century Nigeria. | was even made to understand that | came when things had improved. This is highly unacceptable!

“It goes to show that we rarely plan for the future. A port system originally designed for a population of less than 50 million people in the 1950s with less than 2.0 million cargo throughput has remained almost the same for more than 200 million population in 2022. When a country’s population is increasing at geometric progression and port infrastructure remains static, the resultant effect is chaos. To me, that is the cause of the ljora Bridge debacle and other issues.

“So many things have gone wrong with the industry | can still remember the days of the Nigerian National Shipping Line (NN L) with its beautiful ships flying Nigeria’s flag across the globe! Why did it die? Why do we not have a replacement as the giant of Africa? What has become of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF)? Why has it not been disbursed to beneficiaries? From my little knowledge of the sector, a lot of questions are begging for answers!

“It is also my desire to see that the Customs and other regulatory agencies must be made to perform efficiently and effectively. The observed high level corruption in the system has to be tackled to improve the productivity in the ports.

“Again, it is worthy here to make mention of effective border checks and control to stem the tide of smuggling and its related security implications. indeed, the entry points of Nigeria shall attract the desired attention of my administration if elected the President.

“In. summation, the desired assistance to all importers of goods, manufacturers including exporters and other ancillary stakeholders associated with port operations and management will be guaranteed under our party’s regime, by the special grace of God! “

The Chairman Board of Trustees of the NNPP, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, said it was time for Nigeria to change from the old order to the new order.

Aniebonam who is the founder of the NNPP and also founder of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) said this was because of the system collapse in the country, adding that with the situation, there has to be tactics to achieve the best.

Decrying the frustration in the country, he said it was not about blaming anybody but finding a lasting solution.

He said the NNPP has a child of God as a presidential candidate who has the capacity to fix Nigeria.

The BoT Chairman told freight forwarders and other stakeholders who were at the event that they will benefit from Kwankwaso presidency if he wins the election.

The Chief Operating Officer of the Prime Maritime Project, Elder Asu Beks in his welcome address described the Townhall meeting as the first of its kind and aimed at extracting a social contract from presidential candidates of political parties.

Beks said, “WHY A TOWN HALL MEETING? While it is a truism that this sector is the most resourceful after Oil and Gas and given its immense contributions to our national economy, regrettably, successive administrations have continued to undermine the vast potentials of the maritime industry and have failed to articulate an enduring maritime strategy that will enable us harness its vast potentials. We have continued to make ourselves a laughing stock in the comity of maritime nations. With over 42 thriving sub Sectors which cut across ship building, freight forwarding, haulage, dry docking, seafaring, a promising blue economy, etc, it is the view of PRIME MARITIME PROJECT, that this sector holds the ace as the most beautiful bride of the 18 presidential candidates in the February, 2023 presidential election.

“That is why we want stakeholders present here, to take this unique opportunity to make an appraisal of those issues which have remained unresolved over the years. For instance, why can’t we have a separate M nistry of Maritime Affairs? What is holding back the proposed National Transport Commission Bill? Why are our ports not linked by rail including the Lekki deep sea port that will be commissioned next month? Why do our ports suffer such a huge infrastructural deficit and we paying giving lipservice to talks about the ease of doing business when in actual fact Nigerian ports remain the most expensive tn the West and Central African subregion?

“What do we gain as a nation by recycling politicians to head key parastatals in a sector that is highly professional? | can go on and on with these tales of woes.

“Based on this premise, industry stakeholders are seeking to drive home a process of advocacy that will salvage Nigeria s Maritime Industry to a matter of “National Priority *. Therefore, as Nigerians prepare to € ect another President to steer the affairs of this nation, industry stakeholders are unanimous in their Quest to extract a MARITIME AGENDA from the in-coming administration”.

The Moderator of the event, Mr Ray Ugochukwu, who is a member of the PMP said the Townhall meeting was mainly to hold the presidential parties accountable if any of them wins the presidency.

Ugochukwu said the maritime sector was among the ‘hens that lay the golden eggs’ as far as the nation’s economy is concerned.

According to him, everything must be made to ensure that political office holders pay attention to the development of the sector because of its economic relevance.

Business

Again, Dangote refinery cuts petrol price to N815/litre

Published

1 week ago

March 14, 2025

Advocate News Nigeria

Spread the love

The price competition within the downstream oil sector persisted on Thursday as the Dangote Refinery discreetly implemented a price reduction at its loading gantry, lowering the cost of petrol loading from N825 to N815 per litre.

This marks the third time in 2025 that the Dangote Refinery has reduced the loading cost of petrol, following previous adjustments on February 1 and February 26.

The new pricing structure introduced on Thursday was reportedly met with enthusiasm by oil marketers, who consequently chose to bypass private depot owners and began sourcing their products directly from the refinery.

This N10 reduction in price is also expected to elicit a competitive response from private fuel depots, which may lower their prices to retain their market share.

On Tuesday, the landing cost of imported petrol in Nigeria decreased to N774.72 per litre, with industry analysts suggesting that the ongoing decline in prices could result in a reduction of pump prices to approximately N800 per litre.

The overall cost, which encompasses various expenses such as shipping, import duties, and exchange rate fluctuations, has led retail marketers to favour importation over sourcing products from the Dangote Refinery.

It was speculated that the landing cost could potentially reduce the pump price to N800 per litre, a factor that may have influenced the refinery’s decision to implement a recent price reduction.

In response to this development, depots in Lagos have begun adjusting their prices, with selling rates now ranging between N820 and N839 per litre to align with the refinery’s revised pricing.

Business

MTN apologises to customers over 200% data price hike

Published

1 month ago

February 13, 2025

Advocate News Nigeria

MTN

Spread the love

Nigeria’s largest telecom operator, MTN, has issued a public apology to its customers following widespread complaints about a sudden 200% increase in the price of its popular 15GB data bundle.

The price hike where internet subscribers will have to pay N6,000 for a 15GB weekly data plan which is a 200% increase from the previous N2,000, took many customers by surprise, and led to an outrage from customers on social media on Wednesday.

In message shared on social media on Thursday, MTN in an informal, conversational tone acknowledged the frustration of its customers, and sought to address the growing discontent among users who had grown accustomed to the affordable rates previously offered.

The message read, “To our 15G digital bundle lovers. You dey vex. We know. We know how upsetting it must have been to suddenly wake up to a 200% increase on your favourite digital bundle.

“We could share several reasons, and provide explanations, but omo, all that one na story. We don cast. We get it and admit it. Let’s just say na mistake.”

MTN continued the apology by urging customers not to stay angry saying, “In this love season, don’t stay angry with us. Please forgive and forget. You matter die and we will never stop showing you how much. Let’s continue our relationship. Thank you for your understanding.”

For now, only MTN has increased prices, but Airtel and Globacom are expected to follow after the Nigerian Communications Commission approved a 50 percent tariff increase in January.

The Nigeria Labour Congress has, however, condemned the implementation of a 50 per cent tariff hike by telecommunication companies, demanding an immediate reversal.

Business

Pi network sets date for open Mainnet launch

Published

1 month ago

February 13, 2025

Advocate News Nigeria

Spread the love

Pi Network is set to officially transition to its Open Network period of Mainnet at 8:00 AM UTC on February 20, 2025.

The launch is coming after years of anticipation and delays even as participants kept hope alive and continued with mining activities on the network.

The launch marks a significant milestone in the platform’s development, a testament to the dedication of the entire Pi community. After six years of hard work, the Pi community is now one step closer to realizing its vision of creating the world’s most inclusive peer-to-peer ecosystem.

The platform’s native token, Pi, is now ready to power a real-world utility-driven ecosystem where millions of identity-verified Pioneers can engage with the cryptocurrency in meaningful ways.

Pi Network has exceeded expectations, reaching 10.14 million Mainnet migrations, surpassing the original goal of 10 million. This milestone demonstrates the commitment of the community and sets the stage for the next phase of the network, with over 19 million verified Pioneers. As Pi prepares to open its utilities-driven ecosystem, the network will allow these Pioneers to utilize Pi in real-world applications, enhancing the platform’s utility and global reach.

On the launch day, the Pi Network team will provide further details about the Open Network. For now, the community is encouraged to reflect on the progress Pi has made over the years. The journey to the Open Network has been marked by important phases, with each one building on the previous to ensure the network’s growth and sustainability.

The Mainnet Phase 3, which began in December 2021, started with the launch of the Enclosed Network period. During this time, Pi was live, but a firewall prevented external connectivity. This phase provided essential time for Pioneers to complete their Know Your Customer (KYC) process, developers to build apps, and the Core Team to release updates and improve network features.

A crucial milestone came in March 2022, when a new mining rewards issuance formula was introduced. This formula employed a declining exponential model designed to ensure a balance between network growth, scarcity, and rewarding Pioneers for their contributions. In July 2024, the Grace Period was enacted, offering more time for Pioneers to complete their KYC while maintaining urgency for migration. During this period, verified Pioneers who obtained Pi on Mainnet were able to engage in transactions within the network, which was further showcased during PiFest 2024. The event saw more than 27,000 sellers and 28,000 test merchants from 160 countries, with over 950,000 Pioneers participating.

The Open Network launch will introduce external connectivity, enabling Pi to interact with other compliant systems and networks. This will open up new opportunities for Pioneers and businesses. As part of this transition, Pioneers will be able to engage in transactions beyond the Pi ecosystem, further increasing Pi’s reach. Initially, only select Pioneers with strong historical contributions and high reliability scores will be invited to migrate their nodes from Testnet to Mainnet. Node rank data will be made public in due course.

To maintain a secure ecosystem, participation in the Mainnet blockchain will require KYC verification for individuals and KYB (Know Your Business) verification for businesses. Pi Network aims to be a safe Web3 space where verified individuals and businesses can interact seamlessly. Businesses will be able to apply for KYB verification, and once the Open Network launches, Pioneers can view a list of verified businesses on the Pi website.

As Pi Network enters the Open Network period, several conditions must be met. These include the completion of all necessary tech, product, business, and legal work. The network has successfully met all the required conditions, including surpassing the goal of 15 million identity-verified Pioneers, with 19 million Pioneers now verified. Additionally, over 10.14 million Pioneers have already migrated to Mainnet, and more than 100 Mainnet-ready apps are now available, exceeding the 100-app goal set for the launch.

Pi Network has officially reached all the conditions needed for the Open Network launch, and there will be no further delays due to external factors. Pioneers are encouraged to complete the KYC and Mainnet migration processes and to engage with Pi apps through the Pi Browser to help foster the development and utility of the ecosystem. Community developers are also urged to create new apps and refine existing ones to meet the network’s standards and contribute to Pi’s long-term success.

The Open Network period will bring new opportunities for both Pioneers and developers. Pioneers are urged to continue mining and making contributions to the network. They should also engage with Pi apps and support local commerce by using Pi for peer-to-peer transactions. Developers are encouraged to improve their existing Mainnet apps and develop new solutions that address the needs of the Pi community. As Pi Network enters this exciting new phase, all members are invited to collaborate to drive innovation and ensure the platform’s sustainability and growth.