Business
Ex-Militants Leader Wants Abuja Protesters Prosecuted
The last might have not been heard about the recent protest of over 20,000 ex-militant groups in Abuja , as the leadership of the Niger Delta Vigilante Force yesterday called for their arrests, submitting that they should be tried for various cases of impersonation discovered during the verification exercise.
Warning the Federal Government against conceding to their demands, the NDVF said such acceptance would promote criminality and destroy the amnesty programme in the region.
In a statement made available to newsmen and signed by NDVF spokesperson, Comrade Kaikoro Dimo, the group said those involved in the protest are not ex-militants and should be arrested for their alleged involvement in the killing of police officers in the region and presentation of the deceased officers’ rifles as their weapons.
The statement read in part, “the protest staged in Abuja by the self-acclaimed ex-militants youths should be regarded as a crime against the agreed terms and condition for the submission of arms, as such if the Federal Government accepts to register them, they have decided to instigate more criminals to search for guns and present to the committee as a condition for registration.”Dimo noted that”there will be trouble in the Niger Delta if these protesting youths are registered.
“Instead of explaining why we were owed one month allowance under the past leadership of the Amnesty Committee, they are busy trying to scatter the process that has been reset after their disgraceful and corrupt tenure. The Federal Government should probe Godwin Abbe’s Committee now.
When we came out as militants, we agreed on a timetable with the Federal Government. People like Tompolo, Boyloaf, Tom Ateke, Fara Dagogo, Ogunboss, Soboma George, Africa , Joshua Machiver and many others embraced the timetable. They made sure they did not come foul of the agreed terms.
I am surprised how the issue has become. “When we came out of the creeks, we were called names and some of us got rejected by our families. We know our boys, Tompolo know his boys and others know theirs too. Tompolo also knows boys in the other camps. But who are these people claiming to be ex-militants and who is their leader? And from which camp are they from? We should all have respect for constituted authority.
If the Federal Government brought out a time-table, they should abide by it. “If they register these people, it simply ,means that the Federal Government has introduced another level of criminality back to the region. Some other persons will now see the killing of police officers or soldiers on the streets of the Niger Delta and stealing of their rifles for presentation to the committee as a rewarding venture. “People will now remember their father’s dane guns and hand them over to the committee for registration.
There will be trouble in the Niger Delta if they register these boys”.
They should be arrested and prosecuted. If they were afraid that the arrest and prosecution will provoke the genuine ex-militant leaders, it will not because they have identified them as criminals out to scuttle the peace process.”
For officers and men of the Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the battle is not over until smuggling is over.
In the wake of Wednesday May, 8, 2024, the ever vigilant officers, acting on a tip-off, intercepted 177 sacks and 61 kegs of 25 litres containing petroleum products, valued at about N8.750,000million.
The items were intercepted along Isalu Creek, Badagry Waterway en-route Benin Republic.
While briefing newsmen, the Command’s Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Paul Bamisaiye, said: “This seizure is most economically significant to the Command at this period of scarcity of Petroleum Products, especially Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in our cities, and shows the anticipatory posture in our response to economic saboteurs.
“At about 2:330hrs on Wednesday 8th May 2024, while on joint patrol by teams in the Command, credible intelligence was received of the movement of 2 boats laden with what was suspected to be petroleum products concealed in sacks. Upon receipt of the information, the team moved into Isalu creeks, Badagry waterway.
“On sighting the approach of the Officers, the smugglers took to their heels through the shore of the Creek. The loaded boats were then towed to the station at Badagry where preliminary examination was conducted and transferred to Western Marine Command Headquarters, Ibafon, Apapa, Lagos.
“Careful examination at the Command Headquarters revealed that the arrest was found to contain One Hundred and Seventy Seven (177) Sacks and Sixty One (61) Kegs of 25 Litres Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) containing Twelve Thousand Five Hundred (12,500) Liters with a total Duty Paid Value standing at Eight Million Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N8,750,000) only”.
Bamisaiye noted that the action of the smugglers is a contravention of Section 245 & 254 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 which the service, through Western Marine Command, is responsible for enforcing.
“The Command, under the leadership of Compt. PK Bamisaiye, is poised more than ever to rid the waterways of all acts of smuggling and economy sabotage for the benefit of the growth of economy of Nigeria”, he said
Bamisaiye said so far, no suspect was arrested in the Command’s anti-smuggling operations.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
Petroleum products being sought by motorists have disappeared from virtually all filling stations within Lagos and its environs, but are now booming in business in retail outlets.
Investigations by our correspondent revealed that while the product could not be got at some of the petrol service stations, activities are in top gear in the local retail outlets where the price has gone beyond the reach of users.
It was also gathered that in some filling stations supplied with the products, preference are often given to retail outlet operators by petrol attendants against the consuming public.
A source, directly involved in the business, said some petrol dealers are cashing on the irregular supply to divert the products to retail outlets where they could easily make their gains.
It was also gathered that some sales representatives in the service of major oil marketing firms indulged in the diversion exercise because of their personal interest.
At the retail outlets a liter goes for N950,00 against the normal N760,to N800 at some stations.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
The Nigeria Customs Service Board (NCSB) has confirmed the appointment of five Deputy Comptroller-Generals (DCGs) and eight Assistant Comptrollers-General (ACGs) of Customs during its 59th regular meeting.
The meeting, chaired by the Honorable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, was held at the Nigeria Customs Service Headquarters in Abuja last Tuesday.
National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Abdullahi Maiwada, who disclosed this in a statement yesterday, gave details of the confirmed appointments as: O.O. Peters (DCG /Commander, Training and Doctrine Command (rtd); B.M. Jibo (DCG Enforcement Inspection & Investigation); and B.U. Nwanfor (DCG Excise, Free Trade Zone & Industrial Incentives).
Others are: S.A. Bomia (DCG, Commander Training and Doctrine Command); and C.K. Niagwan (DCG, Tariff & Trade).
The Assistant Comptrollers General (ACGs) are: B. Imam (ACG Board); A.A.S. Oloyede (ACG, Trade & Tariff); S.K. Dangaldima (ACG/Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘B’); A. Abdul Azeez (ACG/Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘D’); S.A. Yusuf (ACG, Human Resource Development); N.P. Umoh (ACG, Training and Doctrine Command); C.O. Obih (ACG/Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘C’); and S. Chiroma (ACG, Strategic Research and Policy).
The new appointments, according to the statement, were made to fill the vacancies created by some senior officers who recently retired from the Service, noting that the principles of federal character, seniority and merit guided the appointments approved by the board.
“These appointments are a testament to the officers’ exemplary services and dedication to the Nigeria Customs Service. The NCSB remains committed to providing strategic leadership to ensure effective and efficient service delivery for optimum performance”, he said.
While thanking the retired members of the management for their meritorious services, the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, congratulated the newly confirmed officers and charged them to redouble their efforts to ensure the service attains greater heights in its mandates of revenue generation, suppression of smuggling, and trade facilitation amongst others.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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