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Transporters Hike Fares By 100 Per Cent

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Transporters operating from Port Harcourt to other states  and local government areas in Rivers State have hiked fares by 100 per cent, blaming it on the removal of oil subsidy by the Federal Government and urged the Presidency to have a rethink of the action in the interest of the masses.

Some commercial drivers who spoke with The Tide correspondent at some motor parks in Port Harcourt yesterday  said they had no alternative than to hike the transport fares  inorder  to meet up with the high cost of fuel, as the  dealers  have currently  adjusted their pump prices astronomically.

A driver, Baba Kekere Adiogun, who plies Port Harcourt to Bayelsa State said it was unbelievable  that the people of this country would wake-up on a New Year  day and have a shocker that the Federal Government had removed the oil subsidy, which they said would take place in April this year, and appealed to the government to ensure that price of fuel is  reduced  as passengers are suffering as well as affecting the drivers in their daily account.

Adiogun  however said passengers were paying N800.00 to Bayelsa, but now it is N1,500.00.

Mr. Michael Okon, a driver plying Port Harcourt to Calabar, Cross Rivers State had this to say, “government should look into the removal of oil subsidy which had made the price of fuel to increase because it has made transportation of goods and services to be high, increase in market prices, house rent, and everything. “So many people will be affected and I  called on the Federal Government to   help  the poor  masses  who are at the receiving end.”

He disclosed that the transport fare to Calabar was N1,300 before but it had been increased to  N2,000, while Samuel Okon of Ukanafun  line said they charged N700 before now, but due to  pump price increase, they have increased the fares to N1,300, appealing to the government  to dialogue with stakeholders and bring down the price so that they could  also reduce  the fare.

In his view, Mr. Gideon Okafor, a driver of Umuahia route said before passengers were paying  N600 but they had decided to increase it to N1,000 because of the increase in fuel and called on the Federal Government to consider the suffering masses. He said he was feeling for some passengers because  as some who were about to travel could not, because of the increase in fare and hinted that there are some who travelled to their countryside (Umuahia) could not come back as the fare is now N2,000.

Within  Rivers State, a driver with Sam Jaja Foundation plying Port Harcourt to Bori, Khana Local Government Area, Lawrence Duru said it is annoying that the federal government would at this time take such a decision that could jeopardise the country once again and urged that things should be normalise because  passengers now pay N500 instead of N250, and that he felt for them as most of them are now complaining bitterly.

Ezekiel Peter, a driver to Asarama, Andoni Local Government Area said the transport fare was N500 before it was increased to N700 as fuel prize increases, saying  it is a terrible  thing and the highest increase governments in the past have made. “It is painful to pay N2,900 for a 20 litre of fuel and fill my motor  tank with  over N5,000.  What account can I give to the owner after  commission, Police on the road and other expenses, he lamented, adding that “I have not heard from any country that sells fuel N140.00 per litre in the world. It is unfortunate as prices of goods and services had already increased.

Also commenting, Mr. Eze Henry of Omoku line in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA  said they are the only drivers in Boro Park fly-over that charges the lowest  fare of N800 as against  N600 while to Ahoada was N600 but now N700, and if the price of fuel is reduced, they are ready to bring down their f are.

Meanwhile, some individuals have also added their  voice on the removal of oil subsidy by the federal government.

Mr. Brownson  Beesor expressed dismay and said if organised labour could not take a bold step on the matter, then it would bring a very big problem in the country as civil servants  and some poor masses who before  now could not afford three square meals a day would badly be affected,  and called  on the government to consider the plight of the people and also repair the refineries.

A man of God,  Pastor Chinedu Ndubuisi of Presence of God Ministry said, “we pray God to use him but we are surprised for his new year  package, which  is alarming. People  are feeling very   bad and after few weeks when civil  servants are broke, it will be terrible. As people regard him as God sent, he should do everything to bring normalcy in the country as the spirit of God is on him  and  all eyes on him to revert the fuel pump price to N65.00 per litre.

In his contribution,  the vice chairman, secretary of Mobile Ministers Association (MMA), Rev, Ubong Anietie has this to say, “Actually, the vision  of President  Goodluck Jonathan  was to bring new development to the country but his action now has affected the masses, so he should do a little adjustment to favour the people.

Due to the removal of fuel subsidy, school fees will be  increased as well as House rent, foodstuffs, building materials transportation and so on, let Government do some adjustment on the price  and also ensure money realised  from the subsidy is well utilised. Let the Boko Haram not use this to divide  the country or intimitdate the southerners, as we pray for President Jonathan for  God to give him wisdom, understanding, courage  and guidance.

 

Collins Barasimeye

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Maritime

Fall Off Container Crushes Woman To Death

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Tragedy struck on Friday, when a fully loaded 40ft container fell from a Mack truck and crushed a woman to death along Lagos, Ibadan Expressway.
The Tide gathered  that the Mack truck was on high speed when the incident occurred around NNPC inward Alapere, Ogudu, along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
A statement made available to our correspondent in Lagos by the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightment Department of Lagos State traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr. Adebayo Taofiq, said a fully loaded 40ft Mack articulated truck fell on a Nissan car with registration number ABJ 692BG and instantly killed a woman at the rear of the car, while the car driver survived unhurt with the support of LASTMA officials.
Taofiq confirmed that the driver of the Mack articulated truck with his motor-boy ran away immediately the fatal accident occurred.
He said, according to preliminary investigation, the truck while on a high speed lost control as a result of a brake failure and rammed into a moving Nissan car on motion by N.N.P.C inward Alapere, Ogudu, along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Lagos.
The rescue agencies at the scene of the crash were the LASEMA, Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and the Police.
Also at the accident scene were the LASTMA General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, LASTMA Director of Traffic Incidents, Event Monitoring, Enforcement and Compliance, Mr. Hakeem Adeosun, and the LASTMA rescue team.
General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare Oki, however, warned motoring public, particularly truck drivers, to stop over speeding and ensure their vehicles are properly checked, including the braking system, before embarking on any journey within or outside the State.
The incident attracted passers-by, who thronged the scene lamenting the unfortunate incident, accusing men of the ports task force of negligence.

 

By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos

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Maritime

PTML Customs Posts N66.92bn Revenue In First Quarter 2024

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The Port Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has presented an impressive revenue record collection for the first quarter of 2024.
According to the Command, it collected the sum of N66,920,181,586.30 as total revenue for the quarter of 2024, which is N22,198,965,809.55 higher than N44,721,215,776.75 collected between January and March 2023, representing 49.6 percent increase.
The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Command , Compt. Saidu Abba Yusuf, who described the increase in revenue collection as a laudable feat , said the Command is more committed towards trade facilitation and support government drive for ease of doing business.
Comptroller Yusuf, who thanked the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for initiating strategies to achieve faster cargo clearance, reiterared that PTML Command under his watch aims to surpass its record of three hour cargo clearance for compliant traders.
According to Yusuf, the launching of time release study (TRS), which is ongoing, and other deliberate efforts by the Comptroller General have contributed in the expansion of terminal space and promoting ease of doing business in PTML.
He also disclosed that the PTML Command has potentials to achieve two hour cargo clearance and surpass its existing three hours record, if port users compliance level is improved upon.
Comptroller Yusuf, who described PTML as one of the safest and most secure environment for RoRo (Roll On Roll Off) and general cargoes, also advised importets and their agents to take advantage of the incentives available for compliant traders such as fast track, advance ruling and possible migration to the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) status.
He reminded port users in PTML of the robust and time conscious dispute resolution mechanism, which has contributed immensely to the revenue collection, trade facilitation and anti smuggling functions of the Command.
While commending the various government and private sector stakeholders for their cooperation and support towards realisation of government goal of revenue collection and prevention of unlawful activities, Comptroller Yusuf expressed optimism that the Command will surpass its annual target for the year.

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Maritime

Customs Comptroller Lauds Scanning Officers Over Efficiency

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The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of Apapa Customs Command, Comptroller Babajide Jaiyeoba, has commended the officers of the Non Intrusive Inspection Technology Unit (NIITU) for their invaluable contributions to the overall success of the Command.
Comptroller Jaiyeoba, who was on an unscheduled visit to the scanner site, reminded the officers of the importance of team work as a strong basis to sustain the gains of compliance and revenue collection recently recorded by the Command.
According to a statement by the Public Relations Officer, Apapa Command, CSC Abubakar Usman, Comptroller Jaiyeoba thanked Deputy Comptroller, Salamatu Atuluku, the Officer in Charge of scanning site, and encouraged the unit not to be deterred by complaints coming from persons who were made to pay accurate duties to government after issuance of demand notices.
The Customs boss stated that no business person who is made to part with money will be happy with officers that refused compromising the ethics of their job.
He noted that “The main reason for me coming here is to appreciate you. I may not see you, but I have seen your work and I won’t keep quiet about what I have seen about your work. You are doing very well. I just want to encourage you to work as a team. If you don’t work as a team, you give room for outsiders to come in and when they come in, they divide you, and when they divide you, achieving success will be very difficult.
“Do your work without blemish. Once you keep your arm straight, you can stand before anybody. Your work as a Customs Officer is to ensure that you do the correct thing.
“For those of you doing intervention in the form of Demand Notice (DN), there is no body who part with money that will be happy with you. They will want to play intelligent by hiding somewhere. When you fetch them from their hiding place, they become your enemy.
Whatever they write about anybody here will still come down to me and if anybody works well, the onus on me is to defend such a person .
“Just have it at the back of your mind that you owe yourself the duty of doing your work diligently whether anyone comes around as a friend or enemy. It is not enough for you to rest. The reward for hard work is more work. These demands require sacrifice so that you can maintain the status”.

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