By Steve Agbota
Investigations have shown that the Ministry of Transportation (MoT) will expend over N1.8 billion on removal of water hyacinth, floating debris, as well as construction of office accommodation for the Ministry, among others in 2023.
This is according to the details of the 2023 budget appropriation bill cited and downloaded by Daily Sun yesterday.
In the appropriate bill, it was gathered that the ministry would be spending N1.2 billion on the construction of office accommodation for the ministry, while the sum of N270 million has been earmarked for ships spare parts and maintenance.
However, investigations by Daily Sun revealed that the ministry also budgeted N35 million for clearing of floating debris, water hyacinth wastes at the Oworonshonki, Ijegun, Port Novo creeks, Oyingbo, Ebute Ipakodo creeks to Ikorodu and Epe waters.
The MoT 2023 budget also included procurement of firefighting equipment that would cost N95 million, this is even as the ministry also budgeted the total sum of N150 million for implementation and sustainability plan of the enterprise content management system.
Some other budget include implementation of the Coastal and Inland Shipping (CABOTAGE Act) 2003 and the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) – N40 million, Monitoring and Evaluation of capital projects by the ministry – N100 million, Purchase of office furniture and equipment – N85 million, Ports Management Of West & Central Africa (PMAWCA) – N150 million, Special Intervention Programmes and Initiatives in the sector- N200 million among others.
Meanwhile a transport expert, Joseph Adelugba has faulted the budgeted for the various agencies under the transport ministry.
Adelugba speaking in Lagos on the sideline of the recently held Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport 2022 conference, described the budgeted for automation in various agencies as poorly designed and would amount to a failure since they are automating individually and not seeing what others are doing.
He urged the Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, to coordinate a single automation process for all the agencies under him for national security, efficiency and cost-saving benefits.
According to him, the real benefit of automation is when all agencies and stakeholders in the ports are integrated into a single window platform.
Adelugba also advised Sambo to emulate and integrate into the Lekki Deep Seaport automation, being promoted by Tolaram Group, saying this is the best the country is having presently.
He lauded the rapidly spreading technological advancement emplaced in the Lekki Deep Seaport, which has spread into the Lagos Free Zone as a feat worthy of emulation and integration nationwide.