Politics
NIMASA’s floating dock to generate N1bn monthly – DG

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) on Thursday in Lagos said the agency’s floating dock would generate N1 billion monthly for the country.
It’s Director-General, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, Made This Known While Presenting His Achievements In His First 100 Days In Office.
According to him, the agency is also expecting huge influx of employment opportunities from the utilisation of the floating dock.
“Presently, the floating dock is at the Naval Dockyard and we are making everything possible to get it to the Continental Shipyard, when the Nigerian Ports Authority would have wound down its operation at the yard.
“Apart from the N1 billion naira monthly the floating dock will generate, we are expecting up to 350 staff engagement and these are the main workers.
“We have five segments comprising cadets in electrical, mechanical and each segment will provide employment for 75 persons.
“Additionally, the floating dock will be used for the sea time. For those who have the expertise in electrical and mechanical; they will be placed there to have their own time,” he said.
Jamoh noted that the agency would be signing a Memorandum of Understanding with all operators of oil and gas, to take their ship to the floating dock and would also be engaging with managing partner, to help manage the dock.
He pointed out that as at now, they are filing with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), to confirm and approve the Public-Private Partnership arrangement they want to embark upon.
“This is something that is like a cash cow and we are looking forward to full operations soon,” Jamoh said.
He noted that as regards piracy, the synergy they had with the Nigerian Navy and the Nigeria Police Force had led to the arrest of 27 alleged criminals, who were now awaiting trial.
Jamoh highlighted lack of coordination and interfacing as the biggest challenge in maritime security, adding that the agency would be harmonising its security platform with that of the NPA and the Navy, to bridge this problem.
He noted that a review of the Cabotage guidelines had been concluded and would be endorsed for onward transmission to the Ministry of Transportation, for onward transmission to the Presidency.
“We are targeting that before October, there will be fast disbursement of the Cabotage Financing Fund,” he said.
Jamoh said the agency had achieved 85 per cent in its Deep Blue Project, saying that the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic had stalled the deployment of the assets.
“We now have two special mission vessels; 14 out of the 17 fast-intervention vessels have been received. Also, 14 out of the 17 special armoured vehicles have been received.
“The C4i has been operational for over one and a half years and 24 hours in seven days.
“Two special mission aircraft are being expected in August and three special mission helicopters are being expected in January 2021,” he said.
Jamoh noted that as regards seafarers, the problem with the policy governing it was that it had structural defects which would be perfected, to avoid pitfalls and move forward.
He pointed out that presently, those who had left the maritime academy with good grades were given automatic employment.
Politics
Breaking: UAE lifts visa ban on Nigerians

In a significant development, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has officially lifted the visa restrictions that were previously imposed on Nigerian travelers. This announcement came from the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, following a Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu.
“I can tell you that the agreement has been reached and effective from today, Nigerian passport holders intending to travel to the UAE are able to do so,” Idris confirmed.
The lifting of these restrictions marks the end of a prolonged diplomatic dispute between the two nations. The UAE initially imposed the visa ban due to several unresolved issues, including financial disputes. Notably, Dubai’s Emirates airline had suspended flight operations to Nigeria over the Central Bank of Nigeria’s inability to remit an estimated $85 million in revenue to the UAE.
In June, after extensive negotiations, the Nigerian government reassured its citizens that the visa ban would soon be lifted. The government also announced that it had paid 98% of the $850 million owed to the UAE, paving the way for this positive outcome.
Further details on the agreement will be provided later today, as mentioned by Minister Idris. This development is expected to strengthen bilateral relations and promote travel and trade between Nigeria and the UAE.
Stay tuned for more updates as the full details of the agreement are released. For now, Nigerian travelers can start planning their trips to the UAE, free from previous travel restrictions.
Politics
I’m leaving PDP for APC – Gov Umahi of Ebonyi State

The Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, told the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party in Abuja on Tuesday that he was leaving the party.
He said he would join the ruling All Progressives Congress which he claimed would protect the interest of the South-East in the 2023 elections.
Our correspondent gathered that Umahi told the members of the National Working Committee of the PDP that his decision to join the APC was irrevocable.
The members of the PDP NWC, who were led to the meeting by its National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, were said to have tried in vain to convince the governor not to abandon the party.
Apart from Secondus, among those that were at the meeting at the Ebonyi Governor’s Lodge in Abuja were Deputy National Secretary, Agbo Emmanuel; National Organising Secretary, Austin Akobondu; Financial Secretary, Abdullahi Maibasira; National Women Leader, Mariya Waziri and Senator Sulieman Nazif.
The governor was said to be friendly when he received the PDP delegation, but stuck to his decision to leave the PDP when the issue came up.
It was gathered that the PDP delegation impressed it upon the governor that there was no need leaving the PDP for the APC, which they argued had become unpopular.
Sources at the meeting, however, said the governor was not convinced, insisting that the APC was planning to zone the 2023 Presidency to the South-East.
He was said to have promised to stay in the PDP if the party could make a pronouncement that it would zone the Presidency to the same zone.
One of the sources said, “I think his (governor’s) mind was made up. We told him there was no need for him to abandon the party that had made him a deputy governor, state chairman of the party, two-time governor and all that. But he refused.
“He wanted us to unilaterally zone the office of the Presidency to his area. We cannot do that. Parties are not run that way. He told us he was leaving. That is what we got from him.’’
When contacted, Secondus confirmed that the party’s leadership met with Umahi.
He, however, refused to declared the details of the meeting, insisting that the meeting was on ‘‘national issues.’’
Crime
We Spent ₦2.2 Billion On Prayers Against Boko Haram – Adariko

An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission investigating officer, Adariko Michael, on Tuesday, alleged that N2.2 billion was spent on prayers in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia to win the war against Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria.
Mr. Michael was giving evidence as the first prosecution witness (PW1) in the trial of Sambo Dasuki, former National Security Adviser (ONSA) to President Goodluck Jonathan, in the alleged two billion dollars arms deal fraud.
Others charged with Mr. Dasuki, a retired colonel, are a former General Manager with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Aminu Baba-kusa, Acacia Holdings Limited, and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited.
The EFCC charged them with 32 counts bordering on misappropriation, criminal breach of trust, dishonest release and receiving various sums of money before Husseini Baba-Yusuf.
Led in evidence by the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, Mr Micheal said N750 million was allegedly transferred from the ONSA special account to Reliance Referral Hospital Limited’s account with First Bank.
He added that N650 million was also transferred to Acacia Holding Limited’s account with EcoBank, while another N600 million and N200 million were transferred to the company’s account with UBA.
“Between September 27, 2013, and April 16, 2015, N50 million was credited to Reliance Referral Hospital’s account.
“Based on responses from the banks involved, as investigating officer, we found out that money was transferred to several individuals and companies.
“When we went through the account statement, we asked the second defendant (Aminu Babakusa) the reason for this.
“He informed us that the money was used to hire clerics to pray for the nation as regards Boko Haram crisis.
“When we asked him to provide the names, contacts and phone numbers of the clerics he hired to pray for the nation, he mentioned only two,” he said.
Mr Dasuki spent four years in detention, following his arrest in 2015 over alleged misappropriation of N2.2 billion meant for arms purchase during his time as National Security Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan
After the Federal Government had consistently failed to honor court orders granting him bail, including an ECOWAS court judgment in 2016, he was finally released on December 24, 2019
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