Senator Theodore Orji, a member of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, on Friday urged maritime agencies to generate more revenue to enable the Federal Government to fulfil its obligation.
Orji, a former Governor of Abia State, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria after the committee’s visit to government agencies in Lagos.
He said the committee laid emphasis on the agencies as organisations that could generate a lot of revenue for the development of the nation.
He said: “We were there to tell them the new policy thrust of this government in terms of corruption and then on how to generate more revenue for the government.
“Also, how to synergise with their colleagues in the other agencies to move forward.
“To find out their problems, to try to sort those problems that you can sort out.
“Advice them on how to cooperate, encourage them to raise more revenue for government and then to block all loopholes that make revenue to leak.
“The general economy is not buoyant, so every government is trying as much as it can to make sure that you boost their economy and that is what Nigeria is doing.
“And that is why we have gone to NIMASA, we have gone to NPA, we have gone to Shippers’ Council because these are areas that can generate a lot of revenue for the development of this country.
“That is why we have laid emphasis on those agencies.”
Orji said the committee had also made moves in ensuring quick completion of the truck holding bay being constructed at the Tin-Can Island area to reduce gridlock on roads leading to Lagos ports.
He said: “The last time we came, they complained of money.
“They said is money that is holding them to complete the project.
“And eventually our committee made moves to meet the ministry in charge so that money could be released for them.
“You know we are handling the budget now and I am sure everything must have to wait until the budget is finalised.
“If the money has not come, the money eventually will come after budget.
“The promise we made, we would fulfil the promise by meeting the ministry in charge.
“We told the ministry to release money for the contractor.
“Whether the money has been released, is what I do not know.
“If the money has not been released, then it is because of budgetary constraints.
“Eventually, the money will be released if it has not been released.”
NAN.
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