The Federal Government on Monday approved N286bn for the procurement of pollution control, pilot-transfer and firefighting vessels for Nigeria’s ports.
The approval followed the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja.
Speaking after the meeting, on behalf of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, said the council approved four separate memos for the procurement of specialised maritime vessels totalling N286bn.
He said two anti-pollution boats for Port Harcourt were approved at a cost of N59.052bn to address the growing problem of plastic and industrial pollution in Nigeria’s waterways.
“One of the biggest issues confronting the globe is the issue of plastic pollution in oceans, lakes, rivers, and many other places. These boats are intended to address the issue of pollution in the water bodies of Nigeria, particularly in the ocean, because one of the biggest problems being confronted by shippers globally is the fact that the oceans are getting more and more polluted with plastics and many other pollutants that hinder shipping navigation,” he said.
Six cataboats for pilot-transfer operations across the port system were approved at N80.029bn.
The minister said, “These boats are supposed to do three main things: quick and safe pairing of pilot to ships for navigation, providing assistance to ships in navigating through channels, and also serving as a liaison between ships and the port authority.”
Two firefighting boats were also approved at a dollar-denominated cost of $16,000,462, equivalent to approximately N34.059bn, for deployment on fire patrol within port jurisdictions and jetties handling flammable cargoes, oil terminals and waterfront buildings.
The fourth approval, according to the Environment Minister, was a N112.85bn contract for a collaborative channelling and dredging arrangement for the Escravos-Warri waterway between the Nigerian Ports Authority and MESSRS China Harbour Engineering Company Limited, Dudley Engineering and Register Global Construction.
“The main task of this channel is to minimise approaches to the ports and covers hydraulic surveys, capital and maintenance dredging, removal of obstruction, pollution monitoring, surveillance and maintenance of navigational aids in line with International Maritime Organisation standards,” Lawal said.
