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Cargo evacuation by rail will help decongest port —- NSC Director

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Chiazo Ogbolu
Nigerian Shippers’ Council(NSC) on Monday said it would be supervising the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of cargo evacuation between the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and the APM Terminal.

Mrs Ifeoma Ezedinma, Director, Regulatory Services, NSC made this known at the resumed evacuation of cargoes by rail in Lagos.

She said that to ensure that things move smoothly, the NRC and the APM Terminal would have to adhere to the SOP.

“There are many challenges in the port right now due to the shutdown which has resulted to congestion, but with this reintroduction of evacuation by rail, we believe it will go a long way in the port decongestion.

“The rail evacuation will reduce cost, the economy of demand and supply will also come to play as it will give room for our exports which are languishing on the road to gain access to the port,” she said.

Mr Jerry Oche, Railway District Manager, NRC, Lagos said that the new agreement for the evacuation of cargoes would work because of the SOP was binding on everyone and shippers council was standing as the supervisor.

“We have been on this for quite sometime, but the difference today is that we are starting with an SOP; in the past, all we were doing was that everyone was doing his or her own thing.

“Now we have an SOP binding on everyone and we have a shippers council as a supervisor; yes, we have done it in the past and I tell you this will work because this is different,” he said.

The district manager said that a train was made up of 19 wagons and each of the wagons could take 40ft or 20ft containers.

According to him, if they are doing 40ft it means 19 trucks off the road and if it is 20ft, that would take 38 trucks off the road.

Oche said that APMT had urged them to do four trips but they were starting with two.

”We want to start small and increase, but we believe we can do more than four trips,” he said.

Oche said that adopting the standard gauge would improve their operation, and when the standard gauge comes, the SOP would be on auto pilot, a seamless operation driving itself.

The External Affairs Manager, APM terminals, Daniel Odibe, said the new SOP would help bridge communication gap that they had experienced with NRC in the past.

“This is an important milestone being achieved here, and it is something we have always asked for, an SOP for receiving trains into the terminal and servicing them.

“It will definitely help in planning, bridge communication gap that we have experienced with NRC in the past and lead to more efficient operation with more cargo being handled through the rail tracks,” he said.

Odibe commended the Shippers’ Council for bringing together the NRC and APM terminals to bridge that communication gap.

“Right now, we have an SOP that will enable us receive the right containers coming to APMT without any hindrance and also enable us service the trains within the agreed timelines.

“We do not envisage more challenges with the commencement of the SOP and it will also create a platform for us to meet, review the past and seek ways to improve.

“What we proposed was for four trains in a day within every 12 hours but NRC advised we start with two and scale up as we go, assuring us that the process would be sustained,” he said.

Odiba said that their intention when they constructed the rail line in 2013 and connected it to the national line was to provide alternate mode of evacuation of cargoes to customers.

He said that the day’s event would increase the number of containers evacuated through the rail line, as it was coming at the best time, when the bridge was closed for repairs.

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CBN expresses commitment to FX Code

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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reaffirmed its commitment to the Nigerian Foreign Exchange (FX) Code, stating that its operations align with the principles of the code.

 

In a statement signed by Governor Olayemi Cardoso, Deputy Governor of Economic Policy Mohammad Abdullahi, and Director of the Financial Markets Department Dr. Omolara Duke, the apex bank emphasized that its decision follows a review of the FX Global Code and recognition that the code represents a set of principles widely acknowledged as good practice in the foreign exchange market.

 

The statement confirmed that the CBN acts as a regulator to market participants as defined by the code and is committed to overseeing FX market activities in a manner consistent with its principles.

 

“To this end, the Bank has taken appropriate steps, based on the size and complexity of the FX Market, and therefore aligns its roles with the principles of the Code,” the statement added.

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FG launches electronic asset register to boost investment

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The Federal Government has launched a national electronic assets register to provide real-time access to information on government-owned assets, aiming to enhance transparency and attract more investments into the country.

The digital registry was introduced by the Accountant General of the Federation, Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein, during an event that also featured the unveiling of a compendium of FAAC allocations to federal, state, and local governments from 2020 to 2023.

Madein described the initiative as a major milestone in improving public resource management, emphasizing that it is essential for financial sustainability and integrity. She stated that the project aligns with the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability in handling public funds and assets.

She noted that giving citizens access to information about public asset management would increase government accountability. “Whether it is infrastructure, equipment, or other public property, every asset must be accounted for,” she said.

The real-time access provided by the digital register is expected to support policy formulation, budgeting, and planning. Madein explained that by having a clear understanding of the government’s assets and their conditions, policymakers can make more informed decisions on resource allocation, investment management, and potential privatisation or public-private partnerships (PPPs) for underutilized assets.

She added that the initiative also aligns with international best practices, supporting Nigeria’s adoption of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS). These standards will help strengthen the credibility and integrity of the country’s financial statements.

On the compendium of FAAC allocations, Madein stated that it provides a detailed breakdown of revenue distribution to the three tiers of government and serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, researchers, and the general public.

Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Aniete, who officially unveiled the compendium, praised the Accountant General’s efforts in promoting transparency and accountability. She described the electronic asset register as an important tool that will help determine the real value of Nigeria’s assets and create opportunities for local and foreign investment.

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Tariff increase will push available power generation to 7,000MW — Minister

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Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has stated that the proposed electricity tariff increase will help boost Nigeria’s available power generation capacity to 7,000 megawatts (MW). This comes after the country recorded its highest-ever available power generation of 6,003MW and a peak evacuation of 5,801.84MW last week.

 

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Strategic Communication, Bolaji Tunji, Adelabu emphasized that tariff regularization is crucial for unlocking the sector’s full potential and sustaining ongoing improvements in power generation and distribution.

 

“To sustain these improvements, the government would have to pay down the tariff shortfalls of N1.94 trillion for 2024 and address legacy debts of N2 trillion to the GENCOs,” the minister said. He added that continued tariff reforms are necessary to ensure that consumers start paying for the energy they consume.

 

Adelabu reiterated the government’s intention to raise electricity tariffs for customers in Bands B, C, and D as part of efforts to enhance the sector’s liquidity and reduce subsidy obligations. The planned tariff hike is expected to narrow the gap between Band A customers—who currently pay higher rates—and those in lower bands.

 

The minister noted that Nigeria recently set another milestone with a daily maximum energy output of 128,370.75 megawatt-hours (MWh), attributing these achievements to ongoing reforms and infrastructural upgrades in the sector.

 

“We are thrilled to announce these historic milestones in Nigeria’s power sector,” Adelabu stated. “These achievements represent a brighter future where businesses can thrive, households can enjoy uninterrupted power supply, and the economy can grow sustainably.”

 

According to the minister, recent improvements result from collaborative efforts by the Federal Ministry of Power and key stakeholders to address longstanding challenges in the sector. These include the rehabilitation and upgrading of transmission and distribution networks, implementation of innovative technologies to enhance efficiency, and policy reforms aimed at improving accountability and sustainability.

 

While celebrating these milestones, Adelabu called for continued support from state governments, private sector stakeholders, and the general public. He stressed the need for collective action to sustain the momentum and build upon the progress made.

 

With power generation at a record high and tariff reforms on the horizon, stakeholders are hopeful that Nigeria’s electricity supply will see lasting improvements, ensuring stable and reliable power for businesses and households nationwide.

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