General
Lawmakers Decry Poor Quality of Work at Baro Inland Port
By Adedapo Adesanya
The House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee on the Rehabilitation and Operationalisation of Baro Inland Port has decried the poor quality of work done at the facility.
Mr Idris Wase, a Plateau State lawmaker, expressed the displeasure of the lawmakers at a courtesy visit to Governor Umaru Bago of Niger after an overnight visit to Baro Inland Port in the state.
The lawmaker said that the port project was only “commissioned on paper” by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 despite the huge investments that have gone into the project.
“What we saw is a project that was merely commissioned on paper. It is unfortunate what has happened in the past, but as leaders we must take responsibility to change the narrative,” he said.
The lawmaker described port as a “gateway to Nigeria’s economy, saying that the neglect of the facility represented a wider national problem of infrastructure deficit.
He assured that the committee is determined to revive the port and to ensure its completion for equitable distribution of infrastructure across the country.
The lawmaker said the committee will work with the Nigerian Railway Corporation, and other relevant stakeholders to address outstanding challenges, including dredging and navigation corridors needed to make the port operational.
The Chairman of the committee, Mr Saidu Abdullahi, expressed deep concern over the deplorable state of roads leading to the multi-billion-naira project, describing it as a major impediment to the port’s functionality.
The lawmaker said that in spite of the enormous potential of port to boost trade, create jobs, and open up the economy, the absence of motorable access roads has left the facility largely idle years after its commissioning.
He said that a trip that should ordinarily take half an hour now stretches into four gruelling hours because of the failed portions of the road.
“We are committed to ensuring that this port does not remain a white elephant project. Our work here is to make sure that all the issues are laid bare.
“Government agencies responsible for roads, inland waterways, and transport rise to the challenge. We cannot afford to abandon such a strategic project,” he said.
Mr Bolawale Adetola, the General Manager of Business Development at the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA, ) expressed optimism that the port will soon become operational, provided critical challenges such as access roads and dredging are addressed.
He said the involvement of the National Assembly would help mobilise the needed funds, either through direct appropriation or private partnerships, to make the port fully functional.
“Everything that a port needs to work is on ground. The key challenges are the access road and the silted channel, which requires dredging. That is our own part in NIWA.
“Other stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Works and the Nigerian Railway Corporation, are also critical to the process. Once all these are in place, Baro Port will be of immense benefit to Nigerians,” he said.
Responding, the governor called for the urgent revival of the port, describing it as a national project that held the key to easing the heavy burden on Nigeria’s road infrastructure.
Mr Bago said that the inland port, conceived by Nigeria’s founding fathers was once central to the Northern Africa Trade Corridor.
According to him, it was strategically linked to the Lagos–Kano–Jibia rail line, which was originally designed to service Baro.
“Since I became governor, we have been working towards the realisation of the Baro Port project. This is not a Niger project, and not even a northern project. It is a Nigerian project,” he said.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A nationwide data verification exercise to review the factors and proxies used in the sharing of revenue among states and local governments has commenced.
The revenue allocation framework initiative is being conducted by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
The goal is to ensure that the distribution of national resources accurately reflects the current socio-economic realities across the federation, a statement signed by the organisation’s Head of Information and Public Relations Unit, Ms Maryam Umar Yusuf, stated.
In the statement issued on Thursday, the chairman of the commission, Mr Mohammed Bello Shehu, was said to have posited that the exercise would strengthen fiscal federalism and enhance national development planning across the country.
According to him, credible and verified data remains the foundation of a fair and sustainable revenue allocation system.
“The commission is committed to ensuring that Nigeria’s revenue allocation framework reflects the realities on the ground. Accurate data is the backbone of fairness, equity, and national cohesion.
“This nationwide exercise represents our determination to build a more transparent and responsive revenue distribution system that serves the interests of all Nigerians,” he noted.
Mr Shehu urged the state governments, local authorities, traditional institutions, civil society organisations, and community leaders to provide full cooperation to the agency’s verification teams, emphasising that the outcomes of the programme will have far-reaching implications for national planning, fiscal management, and balanced regional development across the federation.
As part of its nationwide rollout strategy, it has scheduled region-by-region data verification exercises across all states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The exercise will involve systematic collection, validation, and reconciliation of critical socio-economic and infrastructural data used in determining revenue allocation indices for horizontal revenue sharing.
It was disclosed that the focus would be on key indicators like education and health provision, internal revenue generation capacity, and infrastructure development across the states and local government areas.
Stakeholder engagement sessions will also be conducted in each state to ensure transparency, build trust, and promote collaborative participation among government agencies and local communities.
Nigeria’s revenue allocation framework relies on specific indices, including those of population, landmass, infrastructure, and socio-economic development indicators, all of which must be periodically reviewed to reflect changing realities.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Mr Orji Uzor Kalu, has been congratulated by President Bola Tinubu on his 65th birthday.
In a statement released by the State House, the former Governor of Abia State was praised for his multifaceted roles and his service to the nation.
Mr Tinubu said his longtime friend and political ally has worked for the growth of Nigeria, having served as the Senate Chief Whip and currently the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the South East Development Commission (SEDC).
The SEDC is one of the regional development commissions established by the administration of President Tinubu to accelerate infrastructure, economic growth, and overall development across the South East geopolitical zone.
The President highlighted the lawmaker’s significant contributions during his tenure as Governor of Abia State from 1999 to 2007, as well as his continued dedication to the progress of the state and the nation at large.
He also acknowledged Mr Kalu’s accomplishments in the private sector, describing him as a media mogul and Chairman of SLOK Holding, who continues to play a vital role in Nigeria’s economic development.
“Senator Orji Uzor Kalu’s vision, resilience, industry and service to the nation and commitment to the progress of Abia are noteworthy,” President Tinubu remarked.
“I wish him long life, greater strength and increased wisdom as he continues his service to the nation,” the President concluded.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has sealed Paradise Estate in Life Camp Extension, Abuja, following serious allegations of consumer rights violations.
The action was taken due to the estate’s alleged failure to deliver housing units to buyers despite receiving full payment.
The FCCPC also cited multiple public complaints and other offences as grounds for the enforcement.
According to the commission, numerous complaints had been lodged against Paradise Estate, but the management repeatedly failed to comply with regulatory directives.
The non-compliance prompted the FCCPC’s visitation and eventual sealing of the premises.
Speaking to reporters, the FCCPC’s Deputy Director of Surveillance, Marvin Nadah, noted that the developer was given a seven-day window to respond to an official summons but failed to comply.
In its defence, Paradise Homes’ Head of Legal, Mr Aloysius Ezenwa, argued that the transactions were protected under the existing “Contract of Sale.” The company expressed its dissatisfaction with the sealing, maintaining that the dispute is a contractual matter that should be settled before a tribunal.
However, the FCCPC maintained that its actions were lawful and that it had not been served with any court appeal to halt the process.
The commission reiterated its stance on prioritising the rights of Nigerian consumers and ensuring developers are held accountable.
It noted its commitment to protecting consumers from unfair business practices and warned other real estate developers to adhere strictly to contractual obligations and consumer protection laws.
The FCCPC’s involvement in a housing complaint comes after a Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that the organisation has the powers to investigate consumers’ complaints involving banks and other financial institutions.
The banks, the court ruled, are answerable to FCCPC. It dismissed a suit filed by the United Bank for Africa (UBA) and slammed N2 million on it.
The decision has been described as a big win for bank customers.
In a statement signed by its Corporate Affairs Director, Mr Ondaje Ijagwu, FCCPC’s chief executive, Mr Tunji Bello, said, “This is a big victory for bank customers.”
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