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Customs In Oyo, Osun Generate N4.8bn In Jan 

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The Nigerian Custom Service (NCS), Oyo/Osun Command, says it generated the sum of N4.8 billion in revenue from excise within the month of January 2021.
The service also said its gallant officers arrested two suspected smugglers during its operations.
The Command said it made some seizures with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N393,420,494 between November 2020 and January 2021.
This was contained in a statement by the Command Public Relations Officer, Kayode Wey.
The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Ahmed Abdulkadir, said the items seized  include kegs of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), cannabis sativa, foreign parboiled rice, used clothes, used tyres, imported vehicles, among others.
“January is a slow month but with the expertise, meticulousness and sense of observation of the excise officers, the Command was able to collect N4,895,772,769.90 (Four Billion, Eight Hundred and Ninety Five Million, Seven Hundred and Seventy Two Thousand, Seven Hundred and Sixty Nine Naira, ninety kobo) for the month of January 2021.
“Between 19th November 2020 and 31st January 2021, the Command has made a series of detentions and seizures amounting to a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N393,420,494 (Three Hundred and Ninety Three Million, Four Hundred and Twenty Thousand, Four Hundred and Ninety Four Naira) only.
“Within the period under review, the command made seizures of Two Hundred and Twenty (220 x 25ltrs each) kegs of Premium Motor Spirit (otherwise known as Petrol). Upon approval from the headquarters, they would be auctioned and proceeds would be remitted accordingly and accounted for.
“The Command, through its eagle eyes, has also been able to sniff 20kg of Cannabis Sativa packed in a 20kg bag with Duty Paid Value of  ¦ 4,526,063.00 (Four Million, Five Hundred and Twenty-Six Thousand,  Sixty-Three Naira). This would be subsequently handed over to the  National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further action”, he said.
Other seizures by the command  include 3,052 bags of foreign parboiled rice with DPV of ¦ 124,477,488.00; 8 x 25 litres each of vegetable oil with DPV of ¦ 217,251.00; 60 bales of second hand clothings (Okrika) with DPV of  ¦ 15,030,143.00; and 246 pieces of used tyres with DPV of ¦ 2,698,866.00.
The command stated it also made a seizure of eight units of Toyota Camry (2020 Models) with DPV of ¦ 211,541,320.00; one used Toyota Highlander (2019 Model) with DPV of ¦ 33,710,363.00, and 10 units of motorcycles used as means of conveyance for smuggling of rice with DPV of ¦ 1,219,000.00.
“Within this period, one (1) used Mercedes Benz ML350 (2014 Model) has been apprehended and placed under detention pending provision of customs document”, the Command added.

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Maritime

Weak Shipping Line Regulation Undermines Customs Reforms —-Says SEREC

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The Sea Empowerment and Research Centre (SEREC) says poor regulation of shipping lines could undermine the credibility of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) reforms.
Head of Research SEREC, Dr Eugene Nweke  made this Known to Newsmen in Abuja
Nweke said that customs efficiency was linked to the performance of the Nigeria’s maritime and trade ecosystem.
Hr described the NCS as central to the success of the National Single Window (NSW) risk-based clearance and trade facilitation reforms.
“However, Customs efficiency gains are systematically eroded when upstream shipping practices introduce artificial delays, speculative charges, remote cargo release approvals and opaque cost structures”.
“In effect, weak regulation of shipping line conduct externalises inefficiencies into the Customs clearance process, inflates transaction costs, distorts compliance behavior and undermines the credibility of customs-led trade reforms,”
Nweke said that SEREC had submitted a white paper to the government advocating that shipping line governance, port economic regulation, and customs trade administration should be treated as inseparable policy domains.
SEREC said Nigeria’s Port challenges were not only infrastructure-driven but governance-related, warning that weak regulation, missing oversight reports and unchecked discretion in systems like the NSW could undermine reform efforts.
SEREC recommended reforms for Nigeria’s shipping sector, including public release of committee findings, statutory refund timelines with penalties, banning speculative demurrage billing, mandatory local cargo release and alignment of shipping practices with the NSW among others.
Nweke said that the aim of the white paper was to draw attention to sharp practices and regulatory weaknesses that had evolved beyond operational inconveniences into macroeconomic and governance risks.
“For NCS trade reforms to deliver their full impact in 2026 and beyond, shipping practices must align with the same principles guiding Customs modernisation: transparency, predictability, automation, accountability and local control.
Nweke said that by 2026, stakeholders in Nigeria’s maritime industry hope to transition from opaque and arbitrary port operations to a transparent, rules-based system managed through digital technology.
He stressed that the shift should align with ongoing reforms and international best practices, facilitated by the government through providing enabling environment and enforcing regulations
“These include predictable costs, enforceable service standards, transparent billing, time-bound cargo release, and institutional accountability particularly as Nigeria advances the National Single Window (NSW), port economic regulation, and revenue optimisation objectives.
“The expectation is not the creation of new laws, but disciplined enforcement of existing instruments, public disclosure of regulatory outcomes, and insulation of regulators from political and commercial capture,” Nweke said.
By: CHINEDU WOSU
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Tinubu Approve Take Off Of Olokola Deep Seaport In Ogun State

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Nigeria President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the immediate take-off of the Olokola Deep Seaport project in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area
The approval brings  to an end years of delay surrounding the multi billion dollar Port.
Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun made this Known to Journalists during an interactive session
 Governor Abiodun said the Seaport would help decongest Lagos ports, while oil drilling at Tongeji Island would boost economic activities and inclusion in coastal communities.
“The Olokola deep seaport project, which has been on the drawing board for several years, has been revived following a series of meetings with the President”.
“I want to sincerely thank Mr President because this is solely his initiative. In the last two weeks alone, we have held several meetings on Olokola, and he has clearly expressed his desire to see the port become a reality,” he said.
The Governor said the seaport would be known as the Blue Marine Economic Zone, would leverage the coastal road as an alternative logistics corridor and further ease pressure on the Lagos ports.
He commended the Nigerian Navy for establishing a Forward Operations Base at Tongeji Island, saying the move would enhance security and prevent infiltration from neighbouring Benin Republic.
The Governor said that the state government was working to provide basic amenities for residents of the island to improve living conditions and support emerging economic activities.
Abiodun thanked the Navy for its contribution to security in the state, attributing the relative peace in Ogun to collaboration among security agencies.
By: CHINEDU WOSU
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Gov Eno Vows To Actualise Ibom Deep Seaport Project 

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 Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno says his administration is  commitment to deliver the Ibom Deep Seaport project as a critical infrastructure to boost the state’s economy and transform the region.
The Governor said this during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the state government and the Interaf Group Consortium at the Government House, Uyo.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Enobong Uwah, Eno emphasized on the project’s significance.
“The project is a necessity for the people of the state as my administration is fully committed to putting the necessary requirements in place to get it on course,” Eno said.
The Governor urged the consortium to work closely with the Akwa Ibom Investment Corporation, AKICORP, and the government’s representatives to ensure its timely execution.
He commended the organisation for its interest in ensuring the actualisation of the project
The Governor thanked the former Petroleum Minister, Mr Don Etiebet, for being a part of the team, and for working toward the actualisation of the facility.
Earlier,Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Interaf Group Consortium, Mr Ezinwa Ibekwe commended the government for the confidence reposed in the company.
Ibekwe assured the government of the consortium’s readiness to deliver on its mandate, promising a collaborative approach to ensure the project’s success.
By: CHINEDU WOSU
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