MARITIME THIS WEEK: Recap of News & Events

Abiodun OBA

MONDAY DECEMBER 30, 2019

FG, States, Others Abandon 6500 Containers at Seaports

States and federal governments and other importers using the seaports have abandoned cargoes worth several billions of Naira at various terminals across the nation’s seaports.

Investigations over the weekend had shown that about 6,500 cargo laden containers were abandoned at the Lagos and Porthacourt ports that are mainly owned by the government and partly by private companies.

It was gathered that why about 5,000 overtime cargoes were abandoned at the Lagos port complex, about 1,500 containers are abandoned at the Onne seaports, Port Harcourt, Rivers state.

While some of the containers in the Lagos ports are for power, agriculture and other federal and state government intervention projects, few are for private operators.

Completed, Apapa-Ojota road to last for 40 years– Fashola

Pic.15. A section of Apapa-Oshodi Road being reconstructed during inspection by Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola and President of Dangote Group of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, in Lagos

The Apapa-Oshodi-Oworonsoki-Ojota highway network when completed will last for 40 years.

The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, announced this when inspecting the rehabilitation of the highway on Sunday.

Fashola, who inspected the project alongside the President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, said the Federal Government was committed to “speedy completion of the highway to provide a lasting solution to the problems of bad roads and gridlock’’.

The minister assured that the N72.9 billion project would be completed by the end of 2020.

TUESDAY DECEMBER 31, 2019

Buhari allows 8 foreign trips a year for ministers

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, placed ceiling on foreign trips every minister can make in a year.

According to the Minister of Information, Culture & Tourism Minister Lai Mohammed, the ministers can only travel out of the country eight times in a year.

African swine fever: China bans pig imports from Indonesia

China’s customs have banned imports of pigs, wild boars, and other related products from Indonesia as a result of African swine fever,

The deadly disease has swept across China since being first detected in the country in August last year, slashing the world’s top pig herd by more than 40%.

Beijing has issued a series of measures to boost pig production while maintaining strict prevention and control measures to prevent new outbreaks of the disease.

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 1, 2020

Road Repairs: Sanwo-Olu to commence infrastructural renewal

The Lagos State Government is set to commence infrastructural renewal in the state.

The assurance was given by the State Governor Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu while receiving in audience members of Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) led by its, President/Chairman Dr Uche Olowu on Tuesday.

Sanwo-Olu said the repairs and upgrading of roads in the state, including Victoria Island and its environs, would commence from first quarter of 2020.

2019: Very busy, prosperous year for Petroleum Resources Ministry – Sylva

The year 2019 has been described as a very busy and prosperous year for the Petroleum Resources ministry and its agencies.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Chief Timipre Sylva, made the remark on Wednesday, in a statement to mark the new year.

Reviewing the performance of the ministry Sylva says the review of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) is at an advanced stage and full passage of the bill is expected mid-2020.

THURSDAY JANUARY 2, 2020

Border reopening will be based on Government satisfaction – Buhari

The country’s President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) has said the partially closed borders will be reopened based on government satisfaction.

He made this known during his New Year broadcast to the nation and stated the reopening be based on the safety and compliance measures expected from the on-going joint security exercise.

Buhari noted that Nigeria has always been a good neighbour to proximate countries and wouldn’t allow its good economic plans to be foiled under the guise of an open border system.

The President reiterated owing the citizens the duty of providing adequate security all times.

FRIDAY JANUARY 3, 2020

NRC debunks report of gunmen attack on Abuja-Kaduna train

Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), on Thursday debunked the report by some national dailies that Abuja-Kaduna train conveying passengers to Abuja was attacked by suspected gunmen.

The Managing Director, Mr. Fidet Okhiria said that the news was false adding that the policemen on the train reported that only stones were thrown on the coach which broke the window glass.

“This news is not correct. What happened according to the Police escorts on the train is that a stone was thrown at the train by some boys, which affected only the window glass of coach SP4.

“Nigerians should not panic as the news of the suspected attack is false and NRC is doing everything possible to ensure safety of passengers,” Okhiria said.

Crab Boat Sinks in Gulf of Alaska, Five Missing

Fishing boat sailing out at rough sea

The U.S. Coast Guard has launched a search for five fishermen in the water after their boat sank near Sutwik Island, Alaska on Tuesday night.

The Scandies Rose, a 1978-built crab fishing vessel based in Dutch Harbor, sank at about 2200 hours on Tuesday with seven crew members aboard. The vessel’s last known position was about 170 miles southwest of Air Station Kodiak, near Chignik.

Watch standers at Air Station Kodiak received a mayday call from the Scandies Rose over high frequency radio at about 2200 hours Tuesday and relayed the distress call to the command center for search and rescue coordination.

Indonesia floods: 30 dead, several missing, 31,000 been evacuated

Indonesia’s disaster agency warned Thursday of more deaths after torrential rains pounded the Jakarta region, triggering floods and landslides that killed at least 29 and left vast swaths of the megalopolis underwater.

Authorities said Thursday that some 31,000 people had been evacuated, but that figure did not include residents in Jakarta’s satellite cities.

Tens of thousands fled to temporary shelters across the capital region — home to some 30 million — with scores of houses damaged in the deadliest flooding in years, after torrential rains on New Year’s Eve.