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FG breaks ground on the construction of inland dry port in Ogun

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola has said the Gateway Inland Dry Port in Ogun port would be built to international standards, equipped with the latest digital systems for tracking, clearance and cargo movement to ensure efficiency and global competitiveness.

He spoke on Friday while performing the ceremonial ground-breaking of the Gateway Inland Dry Port in Ogun.

The event was held at Kajola, in Itori in the state’s Ewekoro local government area (LGA).

In his address, Oyetola said the port would be a model for other inland dry ports in the country.

The Minister said the port would be built to international standards, equipped with the latest digital systems for tracking, clearance and cargo movement to ensure efficiency and global competitiveness.

“This project is about laying the foundation for a key logistics hub that would facilitate the movement of goods across Nigeria,” he said.

Oyetola added that it would create over 5,000 direct jobs, 15,000 indirect jobs and stimulate local businesses.

“Moreover, it will attract investments that will spur regional development, benefiting Ogun and beyond.

“No doubt, this project aligns seamlessly with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, as we are committed to creating an enabling environment that fosters innovation and economic growth.

“This initiative will undoubtedly help Ogun to become a more attractive destination for businesses and investors, reinforcing our collective aspiration for a prosperous Nigeria.

“Inland dry ports provide faster and more efficient alternatives for moving goods, ultimately benefiting our economy and reducing the burden on our coastal seaports,” he said.

Oyetola expressed the hope that the dry port would enhance the efficiency of the logistics network and contribute to the decongestion of Apapa and Tin Can Ports.

He added that this should thus improve Nigeria’s trade competitiveness on the global stage.

The Minister directed the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to ensure that the port was developed as a state-of-the-art facility.

He said this should be by integrating advanced technology and leveraging information and communication technology (ICT) that supports modern port processes.

“This inland dry port is expected to enhance the efficiency of our logistics network, reduce green house gas emissions associated with road transportation and promote environmentally -sustainable practices,” Oyetola said.

In his speech, Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun said the port would help in opening up and engendering more development in the state.

He pointed out that this would be by serving as a transport and logistics hub for the nation.

Abiodun noted that the ground-breaking event was not merely the foundation of a dry port, but the beginning of a new era of economic growth, job-creation and increased prosperity.

He added that the project was a testament to the shared vision of prosperity and industrialisation.

“This will transform the state into a leading logistics and commercial centre, both in Nigeria and across West Africa.

“Having identified the ideal location convenient for our Gateway Dry Port Inland Container Terminal, this facility is a key enabler of industrial activity and manufacturing in Ogun.

“It will, on completion, increase the ranking of our state on the ease-of-doing-business index,” the governor said.

Earlier, the Olu of Ilaro and Chairman of Ogun’s Council of Obas, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, appealed to the Federal Government for the reconstruction of the Sagamu interchange-Papalanto-Ilaro road.

Olugbenle noted that the construction of the road would compliment and enhance the full benefits of the port project.(NAN)

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Oyebanji appoints Justice Ogunmoye as Acting Ekiti Chief Judge

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has appointed Hon. Justice Lekan Adekanye Ogunmoye as Acting Chief Judge of the State.

This is in furtherance of the powers conferred on the Governor by Section 271 (4) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

The appointment of Hon Justice Ogunmoye takes effect from November 5, 2024.

He replaces the former Chief Judge, Hon Justice John Oyewole Adeyeye, who passed on November 4, 2024.

Born on November 6, 1963, Hon. Justice Ogunmoye was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1987, and was appointed a judge on April 1, 2010.

Governor Oyebanji wishes the new Acting Chief Judge a successful tenure.

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International

US Presidential election: Trump At 266 Votes, Harris At 195: US Media

Republican former president Donald Trump closed in on a new term in the White House early Wednesday, just needing a handful of electoral votes to defeat Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.

US media have thus far projected that Trump has won in more than half of the 50 US states, including three key battlegrounds Georgia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, two of which voted Democratic in the last election.

That gives him 266 electoral votes, just shy of the 270 needed to win the presidency. Fox News has already called the race in Trump’s favor.

Harris has so far captured 195 electoral votes, including big prizes California and New York — as well as the US capital Washington.

The magic number to win the presidency is 270. Observers expect the hotly contested race for the White House to come down to a handful of key battleground states.

The following is a list of the states won by each candidate and the corresponding number of electoral votes, based on the projections of US media including CNN, Fox News, MSNBC/NBC News, ABC and CBS.

TRUMP (266) –

Alabama (9)

Arkansas (6)

Florida (30)

Georgia (16)

Idaho (4)

Indiana (11)

Iowa (6)

Kansas (6)

Kentucky (8)

Louisiana (8)

Mississippi (6)

Missouri (10)

Montana (4)

Nebraska (4 – split)

North Carolina (16)

North Dakota (3)

Ohio (17)

Oklahoma (7)

Pennsylvania (19)

South Carolina (9)

South Dakota (3)

Tennessee (11)

Texas (40)

Utah (6)

West Virginia (4)

Wyoming (3)

– HARRIS (195) –

California (54)

Colorado (10)

Connecticut (7)

Delaware (3)

District of Columbia (3)

Hawaii (4)

Illinois (19)

Maryland (10)

Massachusetts (11)

Nebraska (1 – split)

New Mexico (5)

New York (28)

Oregon (8)

Rhode Island (4)

Vermont (3)

Virginia (13)

Washington (12)
(AFP)

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APC hails arrest of Ex-Delta Gov, Okowa by EFCC

The Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has welcomed the recent arrest of former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, describing it as a step in the right direction in the fight against corruption in the country.

The APC, in a statement issued shortly after the news broke, emphasized that Okowa’s arrest signals a strong commitment by the current administration to address long-standing issues of financial mismanagement and corruption at both the state and national levels.

Okowa, who served as the Governor of Delta State from 2015 to 2023, was apprehended by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds during his tenure.

The charges reportedly relate to a series of financial dealings involving state funds and other questionable contracts awarded during his administration.

In the statement signed by the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Valentine Onojeghuo Esq., and made available to newsmen in the state capital, Asaba, the Delta APC commended the Federal Government for its decisive action and urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to continue its thorough investigation into the financial activities of other past state governors and public officials.

The party emphasized that this move reflects a larger national agenda to clamp down on corruption, promote transparency, and ensure that public funds are used for the benefit of ordinary citizens rather than for personal enrichment.

“We in the APC wholeheartedly welcome the news of the arrest of the former governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, who presided over one of the worst cases of financial recklessness and mismanagement on a monumental scale during his eight-year administration.

“His corrupt practices saw the diversion of humongous state funds for personal enrichment, establishing a bank, and financing his doomed presidential ambition, as well as the manipulative imposition of his puppet godson as governor against the wishes of the people of Delta State who desperately wanted change.”

The APC noted that the arrest serves as a warning to all public office holders, stressing that the era of impunity is over. “No one, regardless of their position or political affiliation, is above the law,” the statement read.

“The fight against corruption must be unwavering and thorough, and we are glad to see the administration taking bold steps in this direction.”

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