Maritime Academy of Nigeria Oron: Working the new plan.
The new governing council of Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) Oron has set itself two simultaneous targets. The first is to become the best such school in Africa within two years while the second target is to become one of the leading maritime schools in the world in five year’s time. As if working on cue, things are looking up financially for the 30-year old institution. All told, N1.7 billion has recently come into its coffers and strengthened the hand of the governing council to determine to take the school to the next level, by force, if necessary. When DDH visited the Oron campus of MAN recently, the entire campus was like one huge construction site; almost every conceivable space was being taken up by construction projects…new roads, new offices, a four-storey new academic block that will have a large hall capable of seating 3000 persons. So many new things are happening now at MAN with more than 20 individual projects springing up simultaneously. . Read More.
On the Trail of Sand in Lagos Nigeria.
...Lagos said to favour 15 dredging companies
The situation of dredging and sand supply in Lagos is yet to clear up due to the secret involvement of state government officials in the business itself. As at mid-February the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development which has hijacked much of the administration of dredging in the state drew up a list of 15 dredging companies which were being touted as the only candidates that will be allowed to engage in sand winning from the rivers and water bodies in the state. This list was widely suspected to be largely fronts, except for the very big actors like Julius Berger. But no sooner had the meeting started holding than it was stopped again due to what some insiders informed DDH was a wave of indecision and uncertainty that continues to befuddle Lagos state’s attempt to wrest from the federal government an administrative schedule that the federal constitution put squarely in the exclusive preserve of the federal government . ...Read More
On The Trail of Sand in Abuja Nigeria
The market for sand in Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital, is as undeveloped as the rapid development is in overdrive. Few African capital cities can boast of the same quantum of physical infrastructure development as is taking place in Abuja. Nor can any boast of equivalent potential of civil works getting started on such rapid basis. Abuja with an estimated population of around 1,000,000 claims substantial portion of Nigeria’s federal budget annually since it was inhabited as the federal capital in 1990. . Read More
Nworie river dredging in Imo state Nigeria.
Hitherto, Imo people have been inundated by arguments on the urgency of dredging the Nworie River and why the project could not be delayed. Arguments proffered have ranged from abatement of pollution by medical waste, to security and inland freshwater transportation etc. But are these worth the whopping sum of N8billion allegedly spent on the project in the face of other pressing priorities? Also, now that the controversy generated seems to have gone down can business as usual in government continue? Telling lies such as those of recovering dead bodies from the sites is not necessary as insecurity to life is never solved by dredging of Rivers. . Read More
Nigerian Port and Maritime News Roundup
Norwegian ships set to fly Nigerian flag ...
A group of Norwegian ship owners have expressed desire to register their ships in Nigeria and fly the country's flag, under a bare boat charter arrangement, according to a press release from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
The Director General of, Mr Temisan Omatseye who broke this news while receiving members of the Nigerian Maritime Law Association in his office, restated the Agency's commitment to constantly dialogue with stakeholders in the development of the maritime sector. Read More.
NIGERIAN DREDGING AND TRANSPORTATION UPDATE
FG redirects aspects of River Niger Dredging
President Goodluck Jonathan
The Federal Government yesterday halted the dredging of the lower River Niger pending the total protection of shorelines through land reclamation of areas in the Niger Delta. This was the outcome of a meeting that Acting President Goodluck Jonathan had with the Steering Council of the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Consequently, Jonathan has directed the Ministry of Finance to transfer N19 billion intervention funds for the dredging of that part of the lower River Niger to the Ministry of the Niger Delta for shoreline protection and land reclamation. He also directed that the contract should be executed in four weeks’ time. Read More.
The making of Nigeria's newest international Airport at Akobo, Akwa Ibom State
Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State
The formerly sleepy town of Akobo in the local government with same name in Akwa Ibom State is now alive with activity and guests who pass through the newest international airport now being constructed by the state government. Akobo is an agrarian enclave and from the air the approach to land at the airport will present the first time visitor with idyllic marine fauna, mangrove swamps and curvy rivers snaking their way to the Atlantic, and, after the Arik jet banks to the right and left, positioning for the runway, the outlines of a very big airport-in-the-making came into view. Read More
ENERGY: NIGERIAN OIL AND GAS REPORT
NDDC gets Niger Delta Coastal Road Design
The engineering design of the proposed 700-kilometre East-West Coastal Road has now been submitted to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The multi-billion naira dual-carriageway forms one of the critical components of the much-talked- about Niger Delta Master Plan and would make accessible the formerly intractable swamps, mangroves, creeks and major rivers of the Niger Delta.
The alignment starts from Calabar, running across the Calabar River and Western channel, through Ibeno, Opobo, Andoni, Bonny, Brass, Ke, Kula, Brass, Oporoza, Mandagho, Awoye, Odonla, Aiyetoro and takes its stretch to Aiyeteju in Lagos. This alignment crosses almost 60 water bodies that would require bridges. Read More
AFRICAN PLANTS AND EQUIPMENT DIGEST:
Owode Scrap Market and the "Economy of Promise Land"
Have you ever wondered where companies dispose of their junk equipment? What about unused cars, trucks, generating sets, rods, iron bars and building materials? The place is Owode Scrap market near Mile 12 on the outskirts of Lagos. Please follow me as we explore activities going on here. This scrap market is home to all kinds of scraps you can ever think of. Basically you have a vehicle section and a section for other scraps. In the vehicle section, used cars, both secondhand and third-hand, are seen on display. Also, vehicles whose bodies have been disfigured as a result of accidents or fire find home here at the market. Read More.
INTERNATIONAL DREDGING BRIEFS
Eko Atlantic City Project: Chinese Dredgers Kicked out.
Reports reaching DDH say that the Chinese dredging contractors handling the reclamation of the Atlantic shoreline for the proposed Eko Atlantic City have been kicked off the project due to slow delivery. The owners of the job acting through a Nigerian bank sacked the Chinese and invited Dredging International (DI) to take over following concerns about their investment in the project. Reports say since the coming of DI the pace of the project has improved with much sand now covering the shoreline off NIOMR and NTA axes. A source who visited the site informed DDH that an observer cannot see the ocean from this area meaning that substantial progress is being made though the completion schedule for the planned city is still in the dark.
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