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Tag: Yemi Osinbajo

  • We have capacity to overcome challenges – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Sunday declared that Nigeria has the capacity to overcome the many challenges it is facing.

    He said this while addressing State House Correspondents after a special service to observe the country’s Children’s Day held at the Aso Villa chapel, Abuja.

    “The truth of the matter is that there are always challenges everywhere in every nation of the world.

    “But I am convinced that we have the capacity to surmount all of the challenges as there are.

    “And the key feature for me, one of the key features of government and governance is the human development index, education, healthcare and the welfare of our citizens,’’ he said.

    According to Osinbajo, for the first time the federal government is doing a programme that none has ever done so far, that is the social investment programme.

    “The focus of that is on the human development index, home grown school feeding.

    “For the first time we are feeding 8.2 million children every day in 24 states.

    “And that is because we are concerned about the nutrition of the children, we are concerned about the fact that children if they are not well fed, become stunted, even mentally,’’ the Vice President noted.

    Osinbajo added that those were the kind of things that the administration thought ought to be done “”and we are doing them and we have to keep expanding, keep working, keep building, spending more and more”.

    He described the Nigerian children as special“ because the future of our nation belongs to them and they have all that it takes to give the country a great future.

    “They are very bright, they are very energetic, and they are very innovative and very creative.’’

    Osinbajo noted that by watching the drama and listening to the music rendered by the children at the service one could tell that there was so much innovation and so much energy in them.

    “And so I am completely convinced that our nation’s future is extremely bright because of all of the children that God has given us, the talent he has given us.”

    Osinbajo observed that the event was also a moment “to reflect on the responsibility both government and adults have to ensure that “we give to these children the very best that we can.

    “And that is why the commitment of our government is to that bottom of the pyramid: those who cannot afford education and cannot afford healthcare.

    “Our focus is on trying to get the very best for them; and we are going to even do more of that.’’

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, (Senate), Sen. Ita Enang, also urged Nigerian children to have faith in Nigeria as the government was preparing so much for them and their future.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari, and the Vice President and all the administration work so hard to preserve the future of Nigerian children.

    “Everything we are doing today we have them in mind because we know that we have finished living for today we are living to prepare for them tomorrow,’’ Enang stated.

    Pastor Seyi Malomo, the Pastor in charge of Aso Villa Chapel, told correspondents that he had seen a great hope for the children.

    “A day like this, as we celebrate the Nigerian child, it helps us to reassure the children that there is hope and future for them and particularly under this administration.

    “I am always enthused and happy when I see pictures of the President; he is always surrounded by his children and grandchildren.

    “And like the children mentioned in the service they presented a gift to Mr. President and Vice President acknowledging that their labour and service is not just for them but for the children coming.

    “So I believe there is hope for the children; they should be rest assured that the future will be brighter and they will enjoy it.”

    Malomo had at the service advised Nigerians to imbibe the lessons which Christ used the children to teach.

    In his sermon titled “Lessons from Children’’, Malomo said children easily made friends and were always themselves because they always said what they meant.

    He advised Nigerians to become like children by being humble to assure their greatness adding that the way they received children determined how they would be accepted by God.

    The Executive of the Nigerian Christian Corpers (Corps members) Fellowship attended the service while children of the African International College, Abuja, and those of the School for the Blind, Jabi, Abuja rendered songs.

    Other children staged a drama to discourage early exposure to the internet and social media to children by their wealthy parents.

    A representative of the children, Gbemisola Owoeye, a JS 1 student, thanked the President and Vice President for their relentless service to the nation adding that the children would continue to pray for them not to relent.

     

  • Mass burial: Osinbajo gives Catholic protesters assurance

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has assured Catholic faithful and the people of Benue that the killers of the two Catholic priests; Rev Frs. Felix Tyolaha and Joseph Gor and 17 other parishioners killed by gunmen during a church service at Saint Ignatius Parish, Mbalom, will not go unpunished.

    Osinbajo gave the assurance on Tuesday at Ayati, a small hilltop village situated on the outskirts of Ikpayongo, in Gwer East Local Government Council, during the burial of the victims of the April 24 church attack.

    The Vice President, who was accompanied on the trip by Ministers, top ranking politicians of different political shades, expressed the Federal Government’s commitment to end the attacks.

    He said the perpetrators of such dastardly and heinous crimes do not deserve to live amongst decent people but prayed for the conversion of their souls.

    Also in a speech, Gov. Samuel Ortom, condemned the incessant attacks on communities in the state but commended the Federal Government for is efforts to stop the killings.

    He disclosed that 492 people had died from herdsmen attacks since the beginning of the year.

    The governor regretted the attacks on the church and wondered the reason for the attack saying, ” these people were in the church and not on their farms; by this act, they gave moved their narrative to include other motives”.

    He called on the Federal Government to arrest the killer-herdsmen, saying ” we know our killers but they are not arrested or invited for interrogation; they gave stated at several fora that they would reclaim their land.”

    The governor said the Anti-Open Grazing law passed by the state assembly and accented by him, was the best way in curbing incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the country.

    On his part the Tor Tiv, His Royal Magesty, Prof James Ayatse, placed on curse in the perpetrators of such dastardly acts, saying ” they will not see good times”.

    He, however, warned against reprisals urging them not to lose faith in their God who would fight for them.

    The paramount ruler commended the Catholic Church for restraining their members against reprisals and said the style was of the Lord.

    A cross section of the bishops that spoke at the burial, called in the government to ensure the killers were brought to book.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Bishops that 50 Bishops were expected at the burial.

    Those sighted were those of Sokoto, Bauchi, Enugu, Nsukka, Gboko, Kaduna, Lafia, Jos, Shengdan, Otukpo, Katsina-Ala.

    NAN also reports a team representing the Catholic Church in West Africa were also at the burial.

    The corpses of the Mbalom church attack were laid to rest at about 2:45 p.m.

     

  • Osinbajo reaffirms Buhari’s stance to support young Nigerians

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo today reaffirmed the President Muhammadu Buhari administration will continue to support young Nigerians.

    He commended young Nigerians for making great strides and playing leadership roles in many organizations and in different areas of the economy, and stressed young Nigerians should be allowed to run for elective positions in the country, especially as they have demonstrated capacity and competence in the fields of technology, education and other sectors of the economy.

    The Vice President said this when he received a courtesy visit from #NotTooYoungToRun group, Yiaga, today at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He stated that the age of running for public office in Nigeria should not be a major issue for discourse as much as the competence of that individual.

    He noted that while it was important for young people to be able to run for public office in the country, it was equally important for them to gain required skills set to be prepared for public service.

    “I think that whatever age a person chooses to run for office shouldn’t matter at all; that for me is a fundamental principle, it really doesn’t matter, even if you’re much younger or older in age, the more important issue, my worry always is so much the preparedness of young people, the preparedness of anyone, young or old.

    “It is the same way that if you’re going to be a pilot or medical doctor, you need to get some training, by devoting your time and resources to a call. Even football requires skills.

    “Practically in any field, you are required to show competence. And in our developing economy, there is need for us to set the bar much higher, not in terms of age, but in terms of competence. We need to set the bar because we are a developing economy, because we don’t have the time to waste on mediocrity,” he said.

    While commending young Nigerians for making great strides and playing leadership roles in many organisations and in different areas of the economy, Prof Osinbajo also commended the group for its incredible advocacy aimed at lowering the age of entry into elective positions in Nigeria.

    “I must congratulate you for ensuring that you saw it (the push for the bill) to the point that it is now where all that is required is Presidential assent. If you’re old enough to vote, then you should be old enough to run for office,” he said.

    He added that the Buhari administration remains committed to supporting young Nigerians in different areas, including in politics.

    Prof. Osinbajo further said the leadership provided by young Nigerians was evident in areas like technology, among others, noting that “many organisations have been led by young people, so that’s not entirely new.”

    The Vice President urged young Nigerians to thus develop their capacities and skills in different areas so as to contribute to issues of leadership, governance, national development and the economy.

    He further urged the group and young Nigerian to lend their voices to campaigns on issues related to anti-corruption and national development as they get required education and build their capacities for public service.

    The Vice President said, “I have many young people working with me in this office in different departments, and all of them are highly competent. I also had the opportunity of serving in government when I was 30 years old, I was adviser to the then Attorney General of the Federation and I was teaching at the University then. When I became Attorney General about 12 years later in Lagos State, I was a trained Attorney General; So, I also had working knowledge. We need competence in the same way that we take on issues in our different professions.

    “I visited tech hubs in Lagos during the week; incredible work is going on being done by young, people who have devoted their time and resources. So, I would say that if you’re interested in public service, that same kind of commitment can be devoted so when we are discussing very critical issues of economy, governance, we would be able to say this is the work plan. It is incredible what can be achieved but we need to have people who are articulating strong positions on issues.

    In his remarks, the Executive Director, Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA) Africa, who led the delegation, Mr. Samson Itodo, thanked the Vice President for the opportunity and for being a strong advocate of young people in the country.

    Itodo noted that Prof. Osinbajo has continued to demonstrate his belief in the potential and talents of young Nigerians in different areas of the economy.

    “We are quite excited to see a significant number of young people working in the Office of the Vice President. Your Excellency, it shows to a great extent that there is commitment on your part to engage young people,” Itodo said.

    In the same vein, a member of the delegation, Ms Bella Ndubuisi, said, “It is exciting to see many young people working with the Vice President’s office,” noting that this development shows the belief of the Buhari administration in the inclusion of young people in the process of governance.

    The Not-Too-Young-To-Run campaign is based on a bill before the National Assembly that seeks to alter sections of the 1999 constitution to reduce the age limit for running for elected office in Nigeria.

     

  • Breaking: #NotTooYoungToRun movement storms Presidential Villa

    Presently ongoing at the federal capital territory, #NotTooYoungToRun movement being powered by the Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA), has stormed the Presidential Villa in Abuja to engage Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    TheNewsGuru reports the #NotTooYoungToRun movement is engaging VP Osinbajo on the need for President Muhammadu Buhari to assent the Age Reduction Bill currently with the presidency.

    Details shortly…

     

  • Q/A: FG mulls new national technology council

    Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has said plans are underway by the federal government to set up a national technology and innovation council to cater for technological advancement in the country.

    Vice President Osinbajo stated this in an interview with journalists at Co-Creation Hub during his visit to ICT/Innovation hubs/companies in Lagos on Tuesday.

    “One of the things we are trying to do is to set up a council of sorts. Already, we have an industrial and competitiveness council. We want to look at doing one for technology and for innovation as well,” he said.

    Osinbajo said technology will massively dictate the future of the country, while also stressing that the future is here already.

    “There is so much going on, so many young people, and so many creative ideas. It’s just incredible. And that tells you what the future is going to look like. Already, as we always say, the future is here.

    “I have seen for myself the sheer creativity. Practically every type of enterprise has been disrupted by the technologies that we see. And a lot of the payment systems that we have been seeing, a lot of the technology companies that we see are doing incredible things.

    “A lot of the technologies and innovators we’ve seen got the attention and to where they are by being innovative and being creative. So, the only way to keep ahead of the curve, the way to keep ahead of anyone else is by increasingly innovative and by finding newer ways of doing things better.

    “My advice is that the only way to keep ahead is by ensuring that you are ahead in terms of innovations and technology,” the Vice President stated.

    Question: What’s your impression of the seven Technology & Innovation hubs you visited?

    Vice President: It has been an exciting day. We’ve been, as you said, to a number of technology enterprises and hubs. We’ve been to Paystack, Andela, Flutterwave, Workstation, FarmCrowdy, African Fintech Foundry, and here we are at Co-Creation Hub.

    What strikes one immediately is the sheer amount of innovation that is available and is going on. And I must confess that it is unbelievable that so much is going on.

    I have been talking for a few months now about some of the businesses and the hubs that I visited today. I had a chance to chat and talk about various things. What strikes you is that there is so much going on, so many young people; so many creative ideas. It’s just incredible. And that tells you what the future is going to look like. Already, as we always say, the future is here. I have seen for myself the sheer creativity. Practically every type of enterprise has been disrupted by the technologies that we see. And a lot of the payment systems that we have been seeing, a lot of the technology companies that we see are doing incredible things.

    Question: How can the Federal Government harness these tech talents?

    Vice President: As you know, I chair the Economic Management Team of the Federal Government. I’m also chair of the National Economic Council. Technology is obviously the future; the future of our economy, the future of commerce and the future of industry. We recognize this in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan and that’s one the reasons why I am here in the company of the Honourable Minister of Science and Technology, the DG of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and, of course, the Lagos State Commissioner for Science and Technology, and Commerce. We recognize that this is the way commerce is going to develop and that is why we are taking, first of all, such an active interest in their personal engagement.

    We are also trying to see how we can collaborate, how we can partner with all of these enterprises and, in some cases, with membership organizations they have in order to be able to create the kind of environment that makes it possible for this to happen seamlessly and in a way that we actually can have a multiplication or replication of all we are seeing today.

    So, we are collaborating already with a number of hubs and also with some that we are starting. For example, we are doing some work in partnership with Civic Hub in Abuja. We are doing some with the Humanitarian Hub in the North East, where we are focusing on the humanitarian challenges in the North East of Nigeria, and creating technology and innovation that could be helpful in solving some of their problems. We also have a Climate Change Hub in collaboration with the Lagos Business School. And, of course, we intend to collaborate and partner with Co-Creation Hub and several other hubs.

    The point is that we are anxious not to get in the way. Government can sometimes get in the way of enterprise. What we really need to do is to partner and to work hand in hand with them so that we help in whatever way, in whatever difficulty that they have. In some case, it might be credit; in some others, it may just be in creating and ensuring the right policy.

    So, one of the things that we are trying to do is to set up a council of sorts. Already, we have an industrial and competitiveness council. We want to look at doing one for technology and for innovation as well so that we bring in some of the key players and thinkers around technology working with government and government officials to develop policy and various ways we can help them to do what they are doing better.

    Question: Advice to existing and potential tech developers in the country?

    Vice President: I’m going to borrow from the wise Minister of Science and Technology, who, earlier in the day in our discussion, said something. It is that a lot of those who are doing these enterprises, a lot of the technologies and innovators we’ve seen got the attention and got to where they are by being increasingly innovative and creative.

    So, the only way to keep ahead of the curve, the way to keep ahead of anyone else is by increasingly innovative and by finding newer ways of doing things better. My advice is that the only way to keep ahead is by ensuring that you are ahead in terms of innovations and technology. From what I’ve seen here today, it is obvious that these guys do not have any plans to rest on their oars, as they say. They certainly intend to keep ahead. I’m excited to say that the advice they need is the advice they’ve already taken. I hope that when we come back to see them, what we see here would be much more advanced than what we are seeing here today.

     

  • Washington DC show: Osinbajo commends Nigeria’s robotics team

    The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has praised the effort of Team Nigeria to the First Global Robotic Olympics in Washington DC, U.S., in 2017 for its outstanding performance at the challenge.

    He made the commendation while receiving the six-member team, their project Director, Mentor and sponsors to the July 14 to July 19, 2017 event on Monday in Abuja.

    Osinbajo said that Nigeria had so many young talents who could do the nation proud in any international competition.

    “We very strongly believe that this country has the talent and these young people demonstrated it eloquently.

    “They have the talent and the creativity and all that it takes to make the kind of difference that could be done in technology,’’ he said.

    He said that he was glad that they youth were working as a team, which was the best way to go, adding that it was an indication that personalised achievement was no longer viable.

    He said that having seen a team of dedicated young people, the government would have to support and encourage them.

    Osinbajo said he looked forward to a better outing of Team Nigeria in the next Olympic challenge to hold in Mexico in August this year.

    He said that the next challenge would be interesting to the country as it focused on energy impact.

    He said it would support the country’s work on green energy for which it set up the first green bond as part of efforts to create green environment and looking at how to mitigate the effects of climate change.

    “We do have some resources that we can commit to that and it will be very useful if we work with you on this coming challenge.

    “It is important that this team stays together and that they are able to grow their ideas,’’ he said.

    Osinbajo said it was important to institutionalise a scientific challenge in the country by involving young scientists even if it occurred during the long holidays.

    He said that an endowment could be created to fill the technology gap.

    The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, pledged the support of the Ministry of Education and that of Science and Technology toward the August Olympiad.

    The leader of the delegation, Mrs Remi Willouby, a retired robotics teacher, said that the Team Nigeria came first in one category and second in another out of the 10 categories of awards.

    She said out of 163 teams from 157 countries in the competition, the country placed 25th globally and emerged third of the 41 African countries in attendance.

    “What is important is that we are building a group of children that can change this country using innovation,’’ she said.

    Willouby stressed the need for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education being a critical component in the development of the country.

    She called for Federal Government support in the 2018 challenge.

    Mr Faisal Jarmakani, the Managing Director of Aramex and Mr Omar Jarmakani of Doculand, who sponsored the team Nigeria, said the company’s mission was to give the young ones the international exposure in science and technology.

    They expressed the hope to build on the platform to enable it excel and achieve something bigger.

    Team Nigeria built and demonstrated a robot used in the purification of water for consumption at the U.S. challenge.

     

  • Maritime University take-off fulfilment of Buhari’s promise – Presidency

    The Presidency has said commencement of academic activities at the Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State is part of fulfilment campaign promises made by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, who made this known in a statement yesterday, said the Buhari’s administration is committed to develop the Niger Delta in line with its new vision for the region.

    The presidential aide said the Maritime University commenced lectures for the 2017/2018 academic year yesterday and that a total of 196 students have so far been accepted into the University to commence their academic programmes.

    TheNewsGuru reports the Maritime University was granted approval in January by the National Universities Commission (NUC) to commence undergraduate degree programmes effective from the 2017/2018 academic session.

    According to Akande, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) had also listed the University in its Central Admissions Processing System in January 24, 2018, while interviews for academic staff positions were conducted between 1st and 2nd of March, 2018.

    “The NUC had approved that academic activities commence in three faculties namely; Transport, Engineering and Environmental Management, with a combined total of 13 departments with various specializations – from Marine Engineering, Marine Economics to Climate Change, Fisheries and Aquaculture,” he said.

    It would be recalled that President Buhari had approved an increase in the take-off grant allocated to the University from the N2 billion earlier announced to N5 billion.

    “This sum was included in the 2018 budget presented to the National Assembly in November 2017.

    “Similarly, an additional N1 billion was approved by the President to support essential infrastructure works and staff recruitment in the University in November 2017,” Akande said.

    Following the commencement of operations in 2017, the University had, in November 2017, invited job applications for academic staff with advert placement in major national dailies.

    Also, the Delta State government had donated two 500KVA generators to the University.

    “Following President Muhammadu Buhari’s meeting with leaders of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) in November 2016, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, was delegated to undertake a tour of the oil producing communities in 2017; and the take-off of the Maritime University was one of the major requests tabled before the Federal Government,” Akande quoted.

     

  • FEC approves dredging of Warri-Escravos seaport for N13bn

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday approved the dredging of the Warri- Escravos seaport for N13 billion.

    The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, announced this while briefing State House Correspondents at the end of the FEC meeting.

    The approval followed the presentation of the proposal early in the meeting by the Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority, Hajia Hadiza Bala Usman.

    “We got an approval for the dredging of the Escravos-Warri Seaport and the replacement of the bad navigational aids. The total cost of the project was N13 billion,’’ Amaechi said.

    The Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, also said that the ministry got approval for three memoranda submitted to FEC highlighting the problems in the water and sanitation sector.

    “Ours was policy memo highlighting the crisis facing the water and sanitation sector in the country and the need for government to take action.

    “We highlighted the fact that urban water supply is regressing, access to improved sanitation has decreased over time that we will not be able to meet the SDGs.

    “WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) service in the rural areas are unsustainable, our share of the spending on WASH sector has declined from 0.7 per cent to 0.27 per cent of the GDP in 2010.

    “These are just very far lower than the regional value.

    “We submitted a memo to council asking them to approve an action plan that we have been working on for the past few months on how to redress these issues.

    “And we had three prayers for the council to approve the action plan and for Council to approve that the country should declare a state of emergency on the water and sanitation sector,’’ he said.

    The Minister also said the ministry prayed for the establishment of a WASH fund for the country where the federal and state governments and international donors could put in money for addressing the crisis in the water and sanitation sector.

    He also requested that henceforth the budget for water and sanitation be significantly increased so that the challenges could be effectively tackled.

    “We are grateful that council accepted our prayers and we move on with the action plan going forward,’’ he stated.

     

  • Herdsmen menace: FG begins process to rebuild ravaged communities

    Herdsmen menace: FG begins process to rebuild ravaged communities

    President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to commence an assessment of the extent of damage in communities affected by violence caused by herdsmen-farmers clashes in some parts of the country.

    This was stated by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo today during the inaugural meeting of the recently composed Governing Council of NEMA at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    “Mr. President has directed that we do a survey and assessment on the damage done to towns cities, communities that have been affected by violence in some parts of the country, including the farmers-herders clashes. NEMA will play a leading role in this and the Presidency will also provide direct support.

    “We will involve the people in the affected communities, and not just bring people from outside these communities, in the rebuilding efforts. We will involve people in these villages, artisans and other people in the communities, with required skills so that they can also benefit economically as we rebuild these communities,” Prof. Osinbajo said.

    TheNewsGuru recalls that at the monthly meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) on February 15, Prof. Osinbajo informed the Council that President Buhari had approved the formation of a national Committee to look into the rebuilding of communities affected by the violence in the affected states.

    This is in line with the Buhari administration’s commitment towards finding permanent solutions to the herdsmen-farmers clashes in some parts of the country, and ensuring the peace.

    During today’s inaugural meeting, the Vice President, who is the chairman of the Governing Council, congratulated the new members and expressed the hope that the board would continue to be committed to the task ahead, adding that NEMA has been very visible in its role.

    “NEMA has been taking on assignments even beyond its mandate. This is a responsibility that we must take seriously,” he said.

    TheNewsGuru reports the Vice President further urged the agency to devote more to public sensitization regarding matters of emergency in the country and what the public needs to do in such circumstances.

    Prof. Osinbajo added that NEMA should engage stakeholders more to participate in addressing its responsibilities, including the private sector and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

    Members of the board include the Director-General, NEMA; the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF; representatives of the Ministry of Transport and Aviation; Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Health; Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Water Resources. Other members include representatives of the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Nigeria Police Force.

    At the meeting, the Director-General, NEMA, Engr. Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja, made a presentation on the work, role and challenges of the agency.

    Meanwhile, the Vice President also today received a delegation from Oxford Business Network for Africa from the Oxford Business School, London, United Kingdom, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Led by Mr. Bayo Owolabi, the delegation thanked the Vice President for his role in Nigeria’s improved ranking in the World Bank Doing Business report, while also commending the Federal Government for its efforts in improving the country’s economy generally, supporting the establishment of technology hubs in the country, among other socio-economic development initiatives.

     

  • JUST IN: Pres. Buhari meets Lekki Deep Sea Port developers

    President Muhammadu Buhari early on Friday met with the developers of Lekki Deep Sea Port flagged off by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday in events marking the president official two days visit to Lagos state.

    Flagging off the Deep Sea Port project on behalf President Buhari yesterday, Osinbajo said, the port is expected to ease congestion at the Apapa port.

    He said the Federal Government was informed the port will target about 1.5 million 20-foot equivalent unit container capacity annually, and an expected increase to as high as about 4.7 million when the project operations commence.

    The Vice President revealed that once the project is completed, government expects to influence generation of up to 170,000 direct and indirect jobs, and that the port would become one of the largest deep-water ports in West Africa and serve as a hub for port operations in the whole of the sub-region.

    Osinbajo stressed further that the promoters of the project also plan to dredge the port channel to about 16 metres draft, one that is not currently obtainable in any seaport or any port in the country.

    According to him, this is an indication that ships of larger sizes and very large crude carriers will be able to visit the port while greater efficiency and economy of scale will generate significant revenues for the Nigerian economy, with government earning a significant portion of it.

    The Vice President believes the construction of the port would also enhance the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), and its emphasis on supporting game-changing infrastructural projects directed at making major impacts in trade and commerce sector.

    He revealed that the Federal Government has provided an aggregate of about N90bn for the development of special economic zones in its last two budgets.

    “We are developing the Lekki special economic zone as a model special economic zone specifically targeting exports. The development of this deep seaport is mission critical to the achievement of the important objectives of creating a special economic zone,” he said.

    While noting that project is essentially private sector driven, Professor Osinbajo said the government remains committed to its economic philosophy of private sector leadership in its economic development effort.

    He commended the state government and other promoters of the project, as well as the Minister of Transportation, Mr Chibuike Amaechi, whom he said his zeal has continued to drive the project.

    He also assured the stakeholders that the Federal and state governments would be ready to provide necessary support to ensure the completion of the project.

    The event was also attended by the deputy governor of Lagos State, Dr Idiat Adebule; and the Ministers of Trade and Investment, Dr Okechukwu Enelamah, among others.