BIG STORY

Federal Government To Renovate Ports With $1.1bn, Begin Badagry Deep Seaport Construction Next Year

Published

2 years ago

November 8, 2023

The Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) has announced that it will commence a restoration plan for all Nigerian ports in the first quarter (Q1) of 2024.

Mohammed Bello-Koko, managing director of NPA, spoke at the 43rd annual council meeting of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) in Lagos on Tuesday.

He stated that practically all of Nigeria’s ports require restoration and that “NPA is initiating a substantial overhaul worth $1.1 billion,” beginning with Tincan Island and Apapa Ports in Lagos.

“The objective of the authority is to enhance the physical infrastructure of these ports to accommodate vessels of all sizes and increase the draft at the quayside,” the NPA boss said.

“Increasing the draft is intended to achieve draft depths of up to 14 meters and this initiative will render Nigerian ports more competitive on a global scale.”

Bello-Koko also said the NPA was also strengthening collaborations with the private sector to establish new seaports.

He said the Lekki deep seaport had already commenced operations, and the Badagry deep seaport recently signed an agreement with a Middle Eastern party, with construction scheduled to commence early next year.

The NPA boss said these endeavours exemplify the authority’s determination to create a multimodal transportation system connecting all ports seamlessly.

Speaking on the challenges of cargo evacuation by road, Bello-Koko said the agency is actively working on alternative initiatives like barges and also expanding rail infrastructure.

“The survey for deploying cargo rail and tracks to Onne port has been completed, setting the stage for the project to kick off next year,” he said.

“The authority has automated its collection system and is collaborating with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to introduce a state-of-the-art port community system, poised to optimise cargo clearance processes.

“The authority is working on clarifying the responsibilities of government agencies within the ports with the newly developed port process manual aimed to reduce overlaps and eliminate duplication of duties.”

Bello-Koko said security challenges on waterways would require the deployment of the deep blue sea project, equipped with air and sea assets.

This, he said, would enhance security in the Gulf of Guinea and contribute to significantly reducing piracy incidents within Nigerian waters.

The port authority chief also said the agency is collaborating closely with the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) in reducing bottlenecks and cutting the cost of doing business within the ports.

He said the development of a 25-year port master plan would guide the location, sizes, and activities of ports, terminals, and jetties in Nigeria.

“The master plan will serve as a national working document, uniting all stakeholders towards marine and logistics development,” Bello-Koko said.

On his part, speaking, Martin Boguikouma, president of PMAWCA, urged African countries to address challenges facing the region to be able to receive the new volume of traffic that would emerge due to the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

Boguikouma also called for efficient transport infrastructure, and maritime safety through enhanced interstate cooperation.

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BIG STORY

Stop Giving Money To Miscreants, Lagos Tells Celebrities, Influencers — Says It Fuels Insecurity, Environmental Problems

Published

5 hours ago

September 2, 2025

PorscheClassy News

The Lagos State Government has cautioned celebrities, social media influencers, and residents against giving money to street miscreants, warning that such actions worsen insecurity and environmental issues.

Tokunbo Wahab, the commissioner for environment and water resources, issued the warning in a statement posted on X on Tuesday.

“Celebrities, influencers, and even well-meaning Lagosians must stop giving money to these miscreants. Each time you hand them cash, you are not solving their problem; you are encouraging them to stay on the streets, emboldening them to multiply, and reinforcing a cycle of lawlessness,” Wahab wrote.

He added that what many regard as an act of kindness complicates enforcement and creates broader security challenges.

His remarks followed a complaint by a resident, Olukayode Ajenifuja, who reported harassment along the Lekki-Epe Expressway. Ajenifuja urged the state to deploy the Lagos State Neighborhood Watch to curb extortion, assault, and intimidation by homeless boys and teenagers in the area.

The warning also came after a viral video showed touts and luxury car content creators chasing a convoy believed to be carrying Afrobeats star Burna Boy, attempting to solicit money while recording content. The singer’s security team prevented them from reaching his car.

Wahab said the state government is committed to tackling the menace but urged residents to support the efforts by refusing to encourage the miscreants.

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BIG STORY

Leave Before Visa Expires Or We’ll Remove You — UK Warns Foreign Students

Published

5 hours ago

September 2, 2025

PorscheClassy News

The United Kingdom has warned international students whose visas have expired to leave the country or risk deportation.

The Home Office, in a new enforcement campaign, said it has begun sending direct text and email messages to students, marking the first time such a measure is being applied.

According to the BBC, about 10,000 students whose visas are due to expire have already received the messages, while tens of thousands more will be contacted in the coming months.

The message from the Home Office reads: “If you have no legal right to remain in the UK, you must leave. If you don’t, we will remove you.”

The agency also warned that asylum claims considered “lacking merit” would be swiftly rejected.

Data released by the Home Office showed that between July 2024 and June 2025, a total of 41,100 asylum claims were lodged by people who had entered the UK legally on visas, with students making up the largest share.

Figures indicated that international students filed 16,000 asylum claims in 2024, almost six times the number recorded in 2020. Although the number has since dropped by about 10 percent, the British government said it expects a further reduction.

The department noted that asylum claims by skilled worker visa holders have decreased within the same period.

Earlier this year, the UK government reduced the period foreign graduates can remain in the country after completing their studies, cutting it from two years to 18 months.

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BIG STORY

Police Arrest Seven Cultists With Human Skull In Akwa Ibom

Published

7 hours ago

September 2, 2025

PorscheClassy News

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested seven suspected cultists linked to the proscribed Ku Klux Klan confraternity after they allegedly attacked a student and were found in possession of a fresh human skull.

Victim Ambushed

According to Police PRO DSP Timfon John, the arrests followed a report on August 25, 2025, when a student of the Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, was ambushed by the gang after renouncing his membership of the cult.