Minister of Transportation, Muazu Jaji Sambo has directed all agencies under the ministry including the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to stop expending funds for removal of water hyacinth.
Speaking at the end of 2022 World Maritime Day celebration in Lagos, Sambo said government is in need of funds and urged agencies under him to block areas of revenue leakage and waste.
While he urged them to work harder to raise funds for government, the minister said it’s time to shun avoidable spending.
Sambo said water hyacinth should be left to private sector operators who are interested in removing them for other productive uses at no cost to the government.
The minister who sought the cooperation of all chief executive officers under his ministry harped on teamwork as a way to achieving more for the country.
His words:“I can stand before anybody and justify this position, and I want the Chief Executive, under the Minister of Transportation, to please support me on this matter. Together, we will resist any challenges.
“I want all the agencies under the Ministry of Transportation to take note that I am a team player; I don’t believe that one man can do it alone. No matter how intelligent or endowed you are, you will not succeed if you want to go it alone. My success as General Manager in Lagos was because we played as a team, and I will dwell more on this tomorrow when I officially visit the NPA and NIMASA.
The minister maintained, “I will provide the right kind of leadership, and all I ask is for your support, so that our achievements will be seen as a group effort and not an individual one.
“I am very passionate about CVFF and will say it publicly. The DG of NIMASA has no choice but to support me on this matter; the Permanent Secretary is already on board, and I am saying this publicly so that the public can give us the right support.
“The funds should not lie with CBN; they are meant to empower more people, and the more people we empower, the stronger we are. We are creating wealth.
“One of the issues that I will engage NIMASA on tomorrow is that of CVFF, and direct them to give me a rundown within two weeks, and no more. The law is clear on who has the power to disburse, and I know who has the power to recommend”
“Finally, our floating dock has generated so much controversy, and I think I ought to talk about it, because we operate a transparent government; that is what the Buhari administration is known for, and if we want to help him succeed, we have to do things transparently.
“This floating dock was purchased before the Buhari administration, but we are nevertheless saddled with the responsibility of putting it to use. When it finally arrived in the country, it was supposed to be deployed to the South-South region, Warri to be precise.
Unfortunately, due to insecurity, it was decided to be left in Lagos, since this is the maritime capital of Nigeria, and a great number of ports are here.
“The floating dock controversy will be put to rest when I visit NIMASA tomorrow, because it ought to be put to use so that jobs can be created, as well as wealth, and we will know that we are doing the right thing all the time”the minister concluded.