**Concessions Lekki Deep Seaport, Dangote Jetty to Messrs Arcuff
By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
In a bid to nip in the bud security threats in Nigeria’s railway stations, the federal government has approved the sum of N495 million for the provision of scanners at all railway stations all over the country.
Minister of State for Transportation Mr. Ademola Adegoroye made this disclosure on Wednesday while briefing State House Correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo at Presidential Villa, Abuja.
According to the minister, the approval was for the procurement of eight colour imaging X-ray scanners, eight body scanners/ metal detectors and 50 hand-held scanners for railway stations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kaduna and Kano states in the first instance.
Adegoroye gave N495 million as the cost of the scanners already approved for installation at the aforementioned railway stations in two states and FCT.
The Minister also told journalists that FEC has also agreed with the ministry and has given a 10 year concession period to Messrs Arcuff to carry out two-way services at Lekki Deep Seaport and Dangote Jetty.
Said he: “the Federal Ministry of Transportation had two memos today, which I presented on behalf of the ministry and it had to do with one, the provision of scanners at all railway stations all over the country.
“You’ll all agree with me that in view of the process of security of lives and property, such equipment has to be installed at our railway stations, since we’re starting railway revolution, we are trying to put in place a lot of things with the railways, we don’t want people to come and damage all that the government has been trying to put in place in that sector.
“So today there was a memo before Council for the provision of baggage scanners at railway stations and I’m happy to inform you that the Council agreed with us and has approved that contract for scanners to be installed at railway stations so that when people get there and have goods, then they can pass through the scanners and they can be sure that there’s nothing that can destroy, that can cause violence or inflict danger or bring lives and property at stake.
“The second one had to do with the provision of towing services. You will recall that the Lekki Deep Seaport was commissioned by the President a couple of months back and so because one of the statutory responsibilities of the NPA is the provision of marine services, being the regulatory agency in that sector and so because of the new Lekki Deep Support and the Dangote Jetty, the need has arisen for a company that can carry out towing services so that it will make a lot of things easier in the ports, like ship berthing will be easier, discharge of goods and will be a lot easier.
“Of course, there was this argument that why would the companies that provide such services at the Apapa and Tin-Can ports not just go and do it. One, we think it may overstretch that company, they may not have the capacity to cope and secondly, we want Lekki Deep Seaport and Dangote Jetty to be able to perform maximally.
“So the Federal Executive Council also agreed with us and has given a 10 year concession to that company, Messrs Arcuff to carry out two-way services at Lekki Deep Seaport and Dangote Jetty”.
