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How Nigeria Can Enhance Foreign Exchange Earnings -Customs CG
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says the African Continental Free Trade Agreement(AfCFTA) stands as a golden opportunity for Nigeria to significantly enhance its foreign exchange earnings.
The Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Comptroller Adewale Adeniyi, said this at the Distinguished Lecture Series organised by the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), in Lagos, yesterday.
The lecture had the theme: “Nigeria’s Economic Growth and Development: Reforming and Positioning the Nigeria Customs Services for the AfCFTA and other Emerging Challenges.”
According to Adeniyi, the expansive marketplace created by AfCFTA can serve as a catalyst for increased trade, attracting diverse businesses and stimulating economic growth.
He said Nigeria, with her rich array of sectors from agriculture to technology, had the potential to capitalise on this opportunity by strategically positioning herself within the continental trade framework.
The CG said that Nigeria should focus on targeted sector-specific initiatives, invest in infrastructure to facilitate seamless trade, and actively engage in cross-border collaborations to solidify its position as a key player in the African trade landscape.
He said this could be worked on by establishing task forces or committees dedicated to each key sector to identify opportunities, address challenges, and formulate tailored plans for growth within the AfCFTA framework.
Adeniyi also stressed that the success of AfCFTA is hinged on the crucial factor of policy alignment, necessitating Nigeria’s commitment to crafting policies that synergised with continental objectives.
“This policy harmony must extend to infrastructure development, balancing the trade facilitation mandate of the NCS with revenue generation expectations.
“In navigating this balancing act, the NCS must engage Africans at the heart of its operations, fostering a collaborative dialogue through transparent communication channels.
“The crescendo towards economic brilliance requires prioritising infrastructure development, continuous policy adaptation, and stakeholder engagement.
“As we delve into the intricacies of Nigeria’s economic growth, development, and the dance of trade, remember that behind every policy and every customs checkpoint, there’s a story,”he said.
According to Adeniyi, while the delay in ratifying AfCFTA may be considered a setback, it provides Nigeria with a crucial moment for strategic recalibration.
This, he said involves meticulous planning and implementation of measures that align with AfCFTA objectives.
“Nigeria should view this delay as an opportunity to strengthen its readiness, focusing on resolving challenges, streamlining regulatory processes, and enhancing the ease of doing business.
“To kickstart this recalibration, it is recommended that Nigeria conducts a comprehensive review of existing policies, identifying areas that require adjustment to align with AfCFTA standards,” he said.
Speaking on the importance of policy alignment, Adeniyi said the success of AfCFTA intricately depended on the alignment of Nigeria’s fiscal policies with its foreign policies.
He said that a harmonised policy framework would create an environment conducive to trade, attracting investments and facilitating the seamless flow of goods and services.
“To accomplish this, Nigeria should establish a continuous feedback mechanism between fiscal policy makers, foreign affairs representatives, and NCS,”he said.
He, however, said the inadequacy in infrastructure posed a substantial threat to the seamless and timely movement of goods, potentially resulting in detrimental trade delays.
“The focus should centre on the modernidation of entry points, the implementation of cutting- edge technology infrastructure, and the creation of an environment conducive to expeditious trade operations,” Adeniyi noted.
Prof. Eghosa Osaghae, Director- General, NIIA, said the institute was set up to promote the understanding of international affairs, especially complexities that made those affairs not easily intelligible to the ordinary people.
“Beginning today, the NIIA will have as part of its repertoire and its intellectual foundations, the Bashir Adeniyi Centrefor International Trade and Investment.
“Together with the NCS, the NIIA will now establish a senior executive force for senior officers of the NCS to ensure that they provide the leadership that Africa is waiting for to drive the AfCFTA,” he said.
Chairperson of the lecture, Erelu Dosumu Abiola, said the AfCFTA was a game changer, noting that to position the NCS as a catalyst for economic development, a journey of reforms must be embarked on.
She said this included embracing technology for streamline processes, investing in human capital and enhancing collaboration with other stakeholders, adding that challenges of corruption, inadequate infrastructure, and others cannot be overlooked.
“Each hurdle demands strategic and immediate response by fostering a culture of integrity and unity, investing in infrastructure, supporting no mainstream sectors and collaborating with international partners.”
Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for an official State visit at the invitation of the Prime Minister, Dr. Abiy Ahmed.
Upon arrival yesterday, Shettima was received at the airport by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Dr. Gedion Timothewos, and other members of the Ethiopian and Nigerian diplomatic corps.
Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communication, Stanley Nkwocha, revealed this in a statement he signed yesterday, titled: “VP Shettima arrives in Ethiopia for official state visit.”
During the visit, Vice President Shettima will participate in the official launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Programme, a flagship environmental initiative.
The programme designed to combat deforestation, enhance biodiversity, and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change targets the planting of 20 billion tree seedlings over a four-year period.
In line with strengthening bilateral ties in agriculture and industrial development, the Vice President will also embark on a strategic tour of key industrial zones and integrated agricultural facilities across selected regions of Ethiopia.
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RSG Tasks Farmers On N4bn Agric Loan ….As RAAMP Takes Sensitization Campaign To Four LGs In Rivers
The Rivers State Government has called on the people of the state especially farmers to access the ?4billion agricultural loans made available by the State and domiciled in the Bank of Industry.
This is as the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) of Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), a World Bank project, took its sensitization campaign to Opobo/Nkoro, Andoni, Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor local government areas.
The campaign was aimed at enlightening community dwellers and other stakeholders in the various local government areas on the RAAMP project implementation and programme activities.
The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Maurice Ogolo, said this at Opobo town, Ngo, Port Harcourt City and Rumuodumanya, headquarters of the four local government areas respectively, during the sensitization campaign.
Ogolo said apart from the ?4billion, the government has also made available fertilizers and other farm inputs to farmers in the various local government areas.
The Permanent Secretary who is the Chairman, State Steering Committee for the project, said RAAMP will construct roads that will connect farms to markets to enable farmers and fishermen sell their farms produce and fishes.
He also said rural roads would be constructed to farms and fishing settlements, and warned against any act that will lead to the cancellation of the projects in the four local government areas.
According to him, the World Bank and Federal Government which are the financiers of the programme will not condone such acts like kidnapping, marching ground and other acts inimical to the successful implementation of the projects in their respective areas.
At PHALGA, Ogolo asserted that the city will benefit in the areas of roads and bridge construction.
He noted that RAAMP was thriving in both the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; Lagos and other states in the country, stressing that the project should also be given the seriousness it deserves in Rivers State.
Speaking at Opobo town, the headquarters of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, the project coordinator, RAAMP, Mr.Joshua Kpakol, said the programme would reduce poverty in the state.
According to him, both fishermen and farmers will maximally benefit from the programme.
At Ngo which is the headquarters of Andoni Local Government Area, Kpakol said roads will be constructed to all remote fishing settlements.
He said Rivers State is lucky to be among the states implementing the project, and stressed the need for the people to embrace it.
Meanwhile, Kpakol said at PHALGA that RAAMP is a project that will transform the lives of farmers, traders and other stakeholders in the area.
He urged the stakeholders to spread the information to their various communities.
However, some of the stakeholders at Opobo town complained about the destruction of their farms by bulls allegedly owed by traditional rulers in the area, as well as incessant stealing of their canoes at waterfronts.
At Ngo, Archbishop Elkanah Hanson, founder of El-Shaddai Church, commended the World Bank and the Federal Government for bringing the projects to Andoni.
He stressed the need for the construction of roads to fishing settlements in the area.
Also, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in the state and Okan Ama of Ekede, HRH King Gad Harry, noted that storage facilities have become necessary for a successful agricultural programme.
Harry also stressed the need for the programme to be made sustainable.
In their separate speeches, the administrators of Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas, pledged their readiness to support the programme.
At Port Harcourt City, the Administrator, Dr Arthur Kalagbor, represented by the Head of Local Government Administration, Port Harcourt City, Mr Clifford Paul, said the city would support the implementation of the programme in the area.
Also, the administrator of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Dr Clifford Ndu Walter, represented by Mr Michael Elenwo, pledged to support the programme in his local government area.
Among dignitaries at the Obio/Akpor stakeholders engagement is the chairman, Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council and paramount ruler of Apara Kingdom, HRM Eze Chike Wodo, amongst others.
John Bibor
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the commencement of personnel audit and skill gap analysis across all cadres of federal civil servants.
The president gave this directive in Abuja, yesterday, while speaking at the International Civil Service Conference, reaffirming his resolve to achieve efficiency and professional service delivery in the civil service.
“I have authorized the comprehensive personnel audit and skill gap analysis across the federal civil service to deepen capacity. I urge all responsible stakeholders to prioritize timely completion of this critical exercise, to begin implementing targeted reforms, to realize the full benefit of a more agile, competent and responsive civil service,” the president announced.
Tinubu further directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to prioritise data integrity and sovereignty in national interest.
He called for the capture, protection and strategic publication of public sector data in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023.
“We must let our data speak for us. We must publish verified data assets within Nigeria and share them internationally recognized as fruitful. This will allow global benchmarking organisation to track our progress in real time and help us strengthen our position on the world stage. This will preserve privacy and uphold data sovereignty,” Tinubu added.
President Tinubu hailed the federal civil service as the “engine” driving his Renewed Hope Agenda, and the vehicle for delivering sustainable national development.
He submitted that the roles of civil servants remain indispensable in modern governance, declaring that in the face of a fast-evolving digital and economic landscape, the civil service must remain agile, future-ready, and results-driven.
“This maiden conference is a bold step toward redefining governance in an era of rapid transformation. An innovative Civil Service ensures we meet today’s needs and overcome tomorrow’s challenges.
“It captures our collective ambition to reimagine and reposition the civil service. In today’s rapid, evolving world of technology, innovation remains critical in ensuring that the civil service is dynamic, digital” the President said.
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack in her welcome address told the President that his presence and strong words of commendation at the conference has renewed the morale and mandate of public servants across the country.
Walson-Jack described Tinubu as the backbone of driving transformation in the Nigerian civil service, and noted that the takeaways from past study tours undertaken to understudy the civil service in Singapore, the UK and US under her leadership, is already yielding multiplier effects.
Walson-Jack assured Tinubu that her office, in collaboration with reform-minded stakeholders, will not relent in accelerating the implementation of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan, FCSSIP 25.
She affirmed that digitalisation, performance management, and continuous learning remain key pillars in strengthening accountability, transparency, and service delivery across MDAs.
Walson-Jack reaffirmed that the civil service is determined to exceed expectations by embedding a culture of innovation, ethical leadership, and citizen-centred governance in the heart of public administration.