Niger Delta
10 Firms Indicate Interest In CRSG’s Shipping Airlines
Ahead of the planned floating of the Cross River State’s air and shipping lines, no fewer than 10 companies are said to have made presentations to the Cross River State Government for consideration, as transaction advisors for the procurement of aircraft and vessels for the proposed Cally Air and Shipping lines respectively.
The companies that participated in the presentation for Cally Air included Catalyst Gold Innovations, Glory Airlines, Travel Essentials, Manyata Engineering, Dana Airlines and Tropic Aviation.
Others who made presentations for the procurement of vessels and fishing trawlers included Lumberg Services Limited, Strickland Services, Travel Essentials, Obyke System Consults.
In his remarks before the presentation, Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Saviour Nyong, said, “over the years, the state, as a coastal state has not tapped into the benefits of being endowed with a coastal land but with the emergence of Governor Ayade, Cross River is now on track to correct that anomaly.”
He noted that, “within a short time the state will take its pride of place where it is supposed to be in terms of maritime transactions.”
In a presentation which lasted over five hours, Governor Ayade expressed optimism about the prospect the projects will bring to the state.
He said the state will conduct a referendum on the project to allow Cross Riverians take the final decision on which bidding company will handle the project.
In his words, “We are going to have a referendum on this project, we are going to throw it back to the people of Cross River to make the final decision.”
He also disclosed that “for proper clarification, the choice of this public presentation is to allay the fears and suspicion that we as a state, having made a public declaration that Cross River State was going to run an airline, the intention of running an airline was not only focused on making money, but the underlining philosophy was to drive traffic to Calabar, and to boost the economy and tourism potentials of the State.”
Governor Ayade, who expressed optimism at the viability of the projects as expressed by the companies in their presentations, adopted five out of the ten companies for a successful technical evaluation, and charged them to present their bidding for the project in two weeks’ time.
The companies which scaled through the technical evaluation stage are: Catalyst Gold Innovation, Glory Airline, Travel Essentials, Manyata Engineering and Tropic Aviation.
Our Correspondent reports that the final bids are expected on the 15th of August where the companies are expected to present their financial bids for the procurement exercise proper.
It is hoped that with over two hundred thousand passengers expected to fly the proposed airline, the State stands to generate $6.17m annually from the operation of Cally Air.
However, the fishing trawlers as well as the shipping line have the potential to broaden the State’s maritime status while also earning massive income for Cross River State.
Friday Nwagbara, Calabar
The Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RSBOPP), says efforts are being made to strengthen the existing procurement processes leading to the award of contracts and jobs execution in the state to enhance service delivery.
The Board chairman of the RSBOPP, Lawrence Oko-Jaja, disclosed this while speaking to journalists in his office in Port Harcourt, after a meeting with staff of the agency, last Friday.
Oko-Jaja who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) stated that procurement had become a global issue, stressing that without a proper procurement plan, it would be difficult for any state or nation to move forward in the attainment of its developmental strategies and goals.
The chairman said that the Board had observed some improprieties in the procurement processes and assured that they would take every measure to ensure full compliance with the state procurement laws.
“We will ensure that the laws are followed and we have value for money. We must ensure that money is used for contract execution and not to enrich people’s pockets. We’ll ensure that the money being quoted for any job or contract corresponds with the prevailing market price. We are going to strengthen the monitoring and evaluating team of the Board to perform their duties; going to markets, verify the prices quoted for and also ensure compliance.
“We are going to look into the procurement laws to see how we can close the existing gaps noticed that are not in line with global practices. These measures will also affect local government councils in the state to ensure there is value for money and save money for the state government. And in doing so, the government can spread its services across the state and not in one place.
“His Excellency, the governor of the state has a mantra, “Rivers first”. We are going to ensure we assist him and the state government achieve this policy by ensuring that the procurement laws are complied with and things are done rightly. That is why we are here,” he said.
Oko-Jaja assured that members of the Board would justify the confidence reposed in them by the state governor for the benefit of the state.
Earlier, in an interactive meeting between Board members and staff of the agency, the Board chairman of RSBOPP told the excited workforce that the Board had approved the merger of some departments, namely Legal, Ethics Human Resources and the Facility Management departments to ensure maximum output and efficiency in service delivery.
He said that the Legal and Ethics departments had been merged as one department, adding the Human Resources and Facility Management departments had also been merged.
He told them that going forward every department would also be accountable for its responsibility and announced that the Board had also approved that conditions of service should be put in place for the staff of the agency so that they would grow like their counterparts in the state mainstream civil service.
Akujobi Amadi
The Rivers State Government says it would continue to address the needs of Civil Servants in the State.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara stated this during the Rivers State Civil Service 2025 New Year Thanksgiving Service, at the State Secretariat Complex in Port Harcourt, last Friday.
Speaking through his Deputy, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, Governor Fubara said his Administration is willing and ready to do what will make Civil Servants happy, more hardworking, and more distinguished.
“I want to tell you that you have our ears, and you can tell because when the Head of Service gave his address, there were no demands because while you were yet asking, it was already executed. We want you to know that to whom much is given, much is expected. We do not take your love and support for granted.” Governor Fubara stressed.
The State Chief Executive urged Civil Servants to redouble and rekindle their energy to ensure that the Rivers State Civil Service becomes the envy of Civil Service in Nigeria, noting that the State Government is pleased to work as a family with Civil Servants.
He implored them to continue to uphold his Administration in prayers, which according to him has kept him thus far, adding that prayers would lead them for years to come while asking them to be proud of whom they are as Civil Servants.
In his address, the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nweke, expressed gratitude to Governor Fubara for the implementation of the enhanced minimum wage, payment of Christmas bonus, improved retirement benefits, and creation of employment opportunities amongst others, as well as issuance of SME loans facility to deserving Civil Servants in the State.
Dr Nweke who said the theme of this year’s thanksgiving “Peace Be Still” reminds us that even amid turmoil and uncertainties you can find peace and calm in God’s presence while urging them to pray for continuous peace and development in the State.
In his sermon, the Dean Church of God, Anglican Communion, the Most. Rev. Blessing Enyindah who spoke on the theme “Peace Be Still” drawn from Mark 4:35-41, said storms of life may manifest in different ways and forms, causing us anxiety and sleepless nights but with Jesus Christ by our side, there is hope.
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