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SERAP Tells Senate Reject Proposed N15bn VP Residence

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VP residence

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked the Senate to reject the planned N15 billion for the construction of the vice president’s residence new building contained in the FCT 2023 supplementary budget.

The call was contained in a letter addressed to the Senate President, Mr Godswill Akpabio.

In the letter, dated December 2 and signed by SERAP’s deputy director, Mr Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation urged Mr Akpabio to use his leadership position “to promptly reject the plan by the Minister of the FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike to spend N15 billion for the construction of a befitting residence” for the vice president.

Mr Wike, while appearing before the House of Representatives Committee on FCT, announced the plan to build a new house for the VP at the cost of N15 billion.

The 2023 supplementary budget contains N5 billion as the initial allocation to commence the project.

Aside from the VP’s house, Mr Wike also plans to spend N2.8 billion on media and publicity for the FCT.

The House already approved the budget as presented by the executive while the Senate is yet to concur.

SERAP condemned the “proposed wasteful and unnecessary spending that may be contained in the FCT 2023 supplementary budget,” noting that the country cannot afford wasteful spending at a time when it is facing a debt crisis.

“The Senate has the constitutional duties to ensure that Mr Wike’s proposed spending is entirely consistent and compatible with constitutional provisions including his oath of office. All public officials remain subject to the rule of law,” SERAP stated.

The organisation asked the Senate to act in the best interest of Nigeria by removing the planned building of the new residence and the N2.8 billion publicity budget.

“The National Assembly cannot continue to fail to fulfil its oversight function. The Senate must assert and demonstrate its independence by checking and rejecting all wasteful and unnecessary spending by the executive.

“It would be a grave violation of the public trust and constitutional oath of office for the Senate to approve the plan to spend N15 billion on ‘a befitting residence’ for the vice president at a time when the Federal Government is set to spend 30% (that is, N8.25 trillion) of the country’s 2024 budget of N27.5 trillion on debt service costs,” SERAP said.

SERAP described the planned spending as a “travesty,” adding that it is a fundamental breach of the lawmakers’ fiduciary duties.

“It is a travesty and a fundamental breach of the lawmakers’ fiduciary duties for the National Assembly to allow the executive to use the national budget as a tool to satisfy the comfort and lifestyle of public officials.

“Nigerians have a right to honest and faithful performance by their public officials including lawmakers, as public officials owe a fiduciary duty to the general citizenry.

“Cutting the N15 billion on ‘a befitting residence’ from the FTCA budget would be entirely consistent with your constitutional oath of office, and the letter and spirit of the Nigerian Constitution, as it would promote efficient, honest, and legal spending of public money,” it stated.

SERAP also urged the senate president to ask the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the initial allocation for the project.

Adedapo Adesanya is a journalist, polymath, and connoisseur of everything art. When he is not writing, he has his nose buried in one of the many books or articles he has bookmarked or simply listening to good music with a bottle of beer or wine. He supports the greatest club in the world, Manchester United F.C.

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Globy Platform: B2B Marketplace and Its Logistics Calculator

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Globy Platform

Wholesale marketplaces were created so that business owners could find profitable offers and make deals on B2B platforms worldwide. In addition to buyers and sellers, there are traders, distributors, logisticians, and other professionals on such platforms. Let’s take a closer look at these professions. Traders purchase goods in order to resell them at a higher price; speculation is allowed on B2B marketplaces and is a legal instrument. Distributors are the official representatives of the manufacturer, meaning you can purchase original products at the lowest price. Most often, goods are purchased in China and then transported by sea to European countries or North America. We suggest you try the Globy Platform, where the most reputable Asian distributors are registered. Logisticians can also register on Globy. They provide services for the transportation of goods by sea. The following are the advantages of Globy, which are mentioned most often:

  • quick registration on the portal;
  • website with simple navigation and management;
  • excellent choice of reliable suppliers;
  • most relevant products in the catalog;
  • free registration;
  • no commission.

Some B2B platforms process payments, but Globy allows participants to make money payments outside the platform using one of the secure methods. In addition, Globy does not charge a commission when concluding a purchase deal. To start working on the platform, you need to register in accelerated mode or fill out a form with your company’s details. You can be sure that your banking details, personal, and contact information are protected. Third parties can only see the information that you leave open. When registering, do not forget to enter your company’s contact information (messenger, phone, email) so that new partners can contact you. You can pay attention to the fact that the Globy catalog contains items without specifying a price, but the product profile contains the vendor’s contacts. You can contact the seller to discuss the deal details, determining the price of the product.

Logistics Tool on Globy

There is often a situation when the supplier does not provide transportation services and the buyer has to search for a carrier on their own. In fact, this problem is solved simply. Globy has a special tool that helps you quickly find a charterer. You would open the freight calculator and fill in all the fields in the suggested form. You would specify the sending and destination port, and don’t forget to specify the dates and choose the container size. If you want to place containers in an optimal way, then use the load calculator, which is also available for free on the official website. You can use these tools only after registration. You can log in quickly if you have a Google account or a LinkedIn profile. After entering the data, the freight calculator will process your request and provide a list of prices. You can select a suitable line and contact the charterer to discuss the details of the contract. It is recommended to choose a sea delivery with a minimum number of intermediate stops, in which case the cargo will arrive at the destination port faster.

Receiving Cargo at the Destination Port

Buyers should remember that you can check the cargo when it arrives at the port. If the rules of transportation were violated, there was a long delay, or the goods were damaged, you can refuse the cargo, explaining the reason. You can discuss a price reduction with the supplier if the product has lost its proper appearance or the packaging is damaged. You can evaluate the cargo yourself or with the help of third-party experts. It is best to carefully check the documentation when receiving the goods at the port. All documents must be executed in accordance with international law. You can register on Globy today, find the goods you need, and use the logistics tools for free. More than fifty-five thousand users have already been registered on the platform, which indicates the high authority of Globy. If you have any questions, you can ask them in the Help Center on Globy website.

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MSC, Nigerdock Seal 45-Year Port Concession Deal for Snake Island Terminal

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Snake Island Terminal

By Adedapo Adesanya

Shipping giant, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), has signed a 45-year concession agreement with ​Nigerian maritime company, Nigerdock, to develop, operate ‌and maintain a new container terminal at Snake Island Port in Lagos.

A statement by MSC on Thursday noted that the new container terminal would be completed by 2028 with a 910-meter quay, six Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes, two ship berths, three barge berths, and up to 18 meters of draft.

The ​dedicated MSC terminal would be part of ​the company’s announced $1 billion investment in infrastructure ⁠and logistics in Nigeria.

“We are thrilled to take this step forward in our partnership with MSC to develop a world-class container terminal within Snake Island Port.

“This gives the world’s leading shipping line a home in Nigeria and brings significant foreign direct investment into the country to accelerate growth in the maritime and logistics industry,” it said.

Global shipping companies ​are pushing to secure long-term footholds in emerging ​markets as supply chains are reconfigured worldwide.

MSC said the terminal, to be built ​by ITB Nigeria and DEME Group, is expected to be ‌ready ⁠by 2028.

It will occupy 30 hectares (74 acres) and feature a 910-metre (3,000 ft) quay capable of handling ship‑to‑shore cranes and mobile harbour ​cranes, serving both ​deep-sea vessels ⁠and barges.

MSC President, Mr Diego Aponte, said: “Completing this key phase in the development of Snake Island Container Terminal with Nigerdock and our trusted partners demonstrates MSC Group’s commitment to providing excellent service to our customers in Nigeria and throughout Africa.

“The new terminal will open up opportunities, enhance efficiency, and elevate Snake Island Port as a major global shipping centre.

“Together with our Group’s other long-term investments in Nigeria, it will generate many local jobs and significantly increase economic revenue and resilience.”

Snake Island Port is an 85-hectare facility operated ⁠by ​Nigerdock, a maritime and ​logistics company, and comprises three terminals serving the Lagos port ​complex.

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Indorama, Nigerian Breweries, Genesis Energy to Build Recycled PET Factory

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Indorama Nigerian Breweries Genesis Energy

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

In the quest to strengthen circular economy infrastructure and sustainable packaging value chain, the trio of Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited, Nigerian Breweries Plc and Genesis Power and Energy Solutions Limited has partnered to establish a state-of-the-art recycled PET (rPET) plant in Nigeria.

The facility will convert post‑consumer PET bottles into high‑quality recycled material for packaging applications.

The plant, located in Lagos, should be ready in the first half of 2027. It will produce up to 45,000 tons of food‑grade rPET resin annually.

“This compelling initiative demonstrates Genesis’s commitment to deploying capital to climate-resilient investments by leveraging clean energy as a strategic nexus to advancing viable economic opportunities.

“The investment is also a testament to how cross-sector partnerships can enable sustainable industrial development.

“By combining circular economy principles with resilient infrastructure and energy solutions, the initiative supports long-term environmental impact and local value creation,” the chief executive of Genesis Energy, Mr Akinwole II Omoboriowo, said.

Also commenting, the chairman of ESG Council at Indorama Ventures, Yash Lohia, said, “This partnership marks a defining milestone in our global recycling journey. By establishing our largest recycling facility to date and one of the largest rPET sites in Africa, we are bringing Indorama Ventures’ global expertise, proven technologies, and long-term vision for circularity to a region with immense growth potential.

“This investment reflects our belief that scaling sustainability solutions locally is essential to building resilient, sustainable packaging systems that deliver lasting environmental and economic value.”

Business Post reports that the initiative aims to meet fast‑rising demand for recycled content, reduce plastic waste, and create local value through improved collection systems, job creation, and increased participation across the recycling value chain.

The partnership brings together complementary strengths across the PET value chain. Indorama Ventures, the world’s largest recycler of PET for beverages, contributes expertise in sustainable materials development.

Nigerian Breweries, a Heineken operating company, provides strong local market insight and engagement across Nigeria’s beverage ecosystem, while Genesis Energy supports the initiative with sustainable infrastructure and energy expertise.

The project is expected to support recycling capacity in Nigeria, subject to regulatory approvals, technical validation, and operational implementation. Together, the partners aim to establish commercially viable rPET operations that enable responsible growth and long-term environmental impact, as it aligns with Nigeria’s National Policy on Plastic Waste Management, introduced in 2020 to strengthen collection, recycling, and circular economy solutions, with the goal that all plastic packaging be recyclable, biodegradable, compostable, or reusable by 2030.

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