Based on the NPA Boss, the N807 million was totally different from other money to be spent on the replacement of 27 vehicles set ablaze by hoodlums and the three stolen in the course of the violence.
“These vehicles, being operational ones, need to be replaced as soon as insurance companies come up with the aspect of losses to be shouldered.
“Aside burnt building and vehicles, other working tools like 317 computers were looted as well as photocopiers.
” Cost of replacement will be above a billion naira when added to the N807million already estimated for rehabilitation of the burnt building,” she stated.
Bala-Usman assured the committee that the agency, based on ongoing arrangement with the Lagos State Government and the Nigeria Inland Waterway Authority (NIWA) was evolving an everlasting solution to the gridlock on roads resulting in the ports in Lagos.
She stated that an electronic call up system had been put in place for trucks accessing the ports for evacuation of products.
“Trucks Park has been established in Orile, Lagos, which is to serve as call up center for any truck waiting to evacuate goods at the ports.
”Besides this arrangement, ultra modern rail line leading to Apapa port and water transportation being offered by NIWA are also helping out,” she stated.
The Managing Director of NIWA , Dr George Moghalu, on his part, informed the committee that the N3.9 billion budget proposed for the company in 2021 would primarily be used towards upscaling the development of inland water transportation within the country.
Out of the N3.9 billion, he stated that N1.3 billion was for recurrent expenditure, N1.4 billion for capital expenditure and N1.1 billion projected as remittance to the Consolidated Revenue Fund(CRF).
In his remarks after the budget defense session, the Chairman of the committee, Sen. Danjuma Goje, informed the agencies to scale up their projected revenue drive in 2021 for easy implementation of the whole budget.
“Be rest assured that this committee shall through its oversight functions monitor your revenue drive in 2021 as well as remittance into the CRF,” he stated .
