Maritime
Suspected Smugglers Kill Customs Officer
Some suspected smugglers
killed a Customs Officer at Ashipa Area of Seme Border in the Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State, last Thursday.
The suspected smugglers angrily clubbed the Customs officer to death over the death a motorist identified as Mr. Saturday who was believed to have been shot by a Customs Officer around operation two area while attempting to smuggle rice from Benin Republic into Nigeria.
The Tide gathere that the incident occurred at about 0950 hours at Ashipa along Seme -Badagry Express Road, as the Officer was heading for a meeting at the Seme Customs Command Headquarters, when the mob accosted his car and burnt him alive.
But another sources has it that the attack was a reprisal to the killing of Mr. Saturday by an unidentified Custom’s Officer at the Seme Border.
The Seme Custom Command spokesman, Mr. Ernest Ollotah, who confirmed the incident said the attack was as a result of the readiness of men and officers of the command to bring smuggling activities to an end.
Ollotah said that security personnel would trail the suspects and arrest them for prosecution.
According to him with heavy and sorrowful heart, the Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service announced the gruesome killing of one of our Senior Officers by some smugglers in the Ashipa Area of Seme on Thursday 29th August, 2013 at about 0950 hours.
“The deceased Customs officer while in his official uniform unarmed and driving to the Commands headquarters for a routine meeting was accosted by a mob who forced him out of his vehicle. Buoyed by an identified Chief of the community, the officer was murdered in cold blood and his vehicle set ablaze.
According to the spokesman, it is worth noting that the intensification of our anti-smuggling operation which has led to the making of over 686 seizures since January 2013 has placed us on the danger of attacks from criminals who are being prevented from using the border for the anti-
economic and other nefarious activities.
“Our operatives due to uncompromising stance against smuggling and
protecting the nation’s economy have come under series of attacks by
smugglers and some unpatriotic elements who see smuggling as their right.
“In some cases attempts made at disarming some of our operatives in the
recent past were rebuffed” he added.
He explained further, that the Area Comptroller of Seme border, Comptroller
Othman Saleh has in collaboration with sister government agencies
including the Police Force, commenced moves to bring the perpetrators of
the heinous crime to book, adding that the unfortunate incident will not deter
operatives of the command under the watch of Othman from carrying
out their lawful duties.
Maritime
Illegal Migration: NIS, NIWA Move To Strengthen Partnership
Following the spate of illegal migration into the country by migrants, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) have concluded plans to strengthen their partnership to curb illegal migration through the Lagos State waterways.
The plan to deepen partnership was discussed when the new Comptroller of Immigration Service in charge of Lagos Seaports and Marine Command, CIS Joseph Dada, visited the NIWA, Lagos Area Manager, Mrs Sarat Braimah in Lagos.
Speaking at the visit, Dada said the service would fare better in achieving its mandate with a strategic partnership with the waterways regulator.
“We have some challenges on the waterways, even though we do patrols. Collaborating with NIWA will guarantee stronger waterway operations.
“We are not saying people shouldn’t migrate or ‘japa’ from Nigeria. Migration is part of life and people have a right to seek greener pastures.
“However, they must do it the right way. They have to get their passports, visas and travel through the appropriate channels”, he said.
Dada lamented that several Nigerian ladies are victims of human trafficking for prostitution usually disguised as job offers for care workers abroad.
Also Speaking, Managing Director, NIWA, Mrs Sarat Braimah, welcomed the idea of strategic collaboration with the NIS, stressing that both agencies are working for the common good of Nigeria and its citizens.
“We expect this collaboration to prohibit illegal migration. Migration is part of life and as you observed earlier, it fosters tourism, culture and development.
“Nonetheless, we will assist the NIS in achieving their objective, which is that people shouldn’t migrate illegally.
“A lot of passengers board ferries from Marina jetty to Badagry and Port Novo. We don’t know their final destination or verify their identity; but we’re open to NIS partnership to carry out migration checks”, she said.
She noted that NIWA could train immigration officials on how to go onboard vessels safely, and also provide boats, lifejackets, among other equipment, when the Immigration make such requests.
Maritime
NPA To Generate N629bn Revenue In 2024 -MD
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) says the authority will generate N629.89 billion in 2024.
NPA is also seeking for N200 billion loan from Afrexim Bank for ports development.
Managing Director, NPA, Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, stated this while defending the 2024 budget before the House of Representatives Committee on Ports and Harbours in Abuja.
He said the United Kingdom Export Finance (UKEF) was also listed as one of the financial institutions from which to source the loan.
Koko said the total projected expenditure was N464.32 billion, while the operating expenses were projected at N212.03 billion and the capital expenditure stood at N252.29 billion.
“Part of the main trust of the 2024 budget is the urgent need to rehabilitate, reconstruct and moderate the dilapidated port infrastructure facilities”, he stated.
The Managing Director said defects in the facilities were hampering efficiency and productivity in the ports, saying that the defects include the quay walls and the replacement of old gravity walls.
According to him, another is need for rehabilitation of Escravos breakwaters.
“This is aimed at improving port efficiency and increasing cargo traffic through investment funding from the financiers, UKEF and Afrexim”, he said.
Earlier, Chairman of the committee, Nnolin Nnaji, said the agency is very dear to the country, hence the need for the committee to visit some of the facilities outside Lagos.
“We need to see those things you are telling us. The House of Representatives is very serious about budget defence, while they do screening on the other side, budget defence is here”, he said.
He commended the Managing Director for the budget presentation, saying that he believed in the subsequent budget
“We accept this budget, and we will move further with it”, he assured.
The lawmaker also said the drainage channels were full of wreckages and expressed concern over lack of information on wreckage removal.
Nnaji noted that as long as the NPA avoided the wreckage, it will keep occurring because of the abandoned ships facilities.
Maritime
COWA Distributes Food Items To Members In Abuja
In a bid to cushion the hardship and hunger faced by ordinary Nigerians, the Customs Officer’s’ Wives Association (COWA) has distributed food items to its members in Karu Customs Barracks, Abuja.
National President, COWA, Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi, who flagged off the exercise, said the distribution of the food items was part of COWA’s plans to ease life for its members.
“This is not the first time COWA is conducting this initiative of distributing food items to the members and non-members of the association, and we decided to distribute these items considering the season of Ramadan.
“Everything we are doing now is for you. Please register so we can make provision for all of you. This will help us keep proper data of everyone and we will continue doing this subsequently to alleviate the situation”, Adeniyi said.
She further said food items were also being distributed to COWA members across all Customs formations in the country.
Some of the food items distributed include rice, spaghetti, noodles and cooking oil.
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