Business
Ogoni Day: Amaechi Condemns Manhandling Of Journalist
The Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has condemned ‘ man-handling of a journalist in the state, who was covering the 19th edition of the Ogoni Day in Bori.
The journalist, Mr Kenneth Amabipi of the Port Harcourt-based National, Network is still, receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in the state.
A statement signed by the Acting Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Blessing Wikina, noted with disdain the manner some miscreants molested the journalist and inflicted wounds on him.
“It is saddening to see that journalists are now made easy targets by some self-serving miscreants doing the bidding of their paymasters” he said, regretting that newsmen ought to be protected to do their duties.
“We have left the era of violence in our state, and government would respond decisively to any attempt to re-introduce violence to any area of our state,” Mr Wikina said.
He therefore called on law enforcement officers to fish out the perpetrators of the dastardly act and bring them to justice.
The governor sympathized with the affected journalist, Mr Kenneth Amabipi of the National Network Newspaper and urged him not to allow the incident deter him from his sacred duties to society.
However, the Office of the Acting Chief Press Secretary to the Governor has undertaken to replace the camera of the journalist which was stolen by the miscreants.
Meanwhile, the Abe Campaign Organization has criticized the planned attack on Hon. Magnus Ngei Abe, an aspirant for the Rivers South East Senatorial District. In a statement signed by Honour Sirawoo, Head, Media, Publicity, the Campaign Organisation regretted that at a time the world is set for issue-based and non-violence in politics, some politicians are still embracing thuggery as a means of silencing political opponents. It described this as wicked and intended to embarrass the highly respected aspirant whose towering credentials are admired by not only Ogonis but the entire people.
The Campaign Organisation therefore advised politicians to see their political expedition as an opportunity to serve their people with integrity, rather than personal aggrandizement.
It would be recalled that Hon. Magnus Abe was at the Ogoni day celebration with the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi where the former among others spoke at the event that attracted applaud. Unfortunately, some persons suspected to be hired thugs numbering about 25 threw stones and other deadly weapons at Abe. The aspirant’s car was damaged and that of his supporters. The governor’s convoy cars were not spared in the attack that saw prominent Ogoni sons and daughters scampering for their dear lives.
The campaign organisation believed that the attack was sponsored by out-of-favour, non-performing and self-centred politicians from the Ogoni area.
It called on security agencies to intensify efforts at bringing the perpetrators and their sponsors to book no matter how highly placed, while urging its supporters and the people of Ogoni to remain calm.
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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