The Notorious bandit leader Bello Turji, has denied that his group is being sponsored by the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.

 He however maintained that his group’s operations were divinely ordained.

Turji’s declaration comes amidst a public dispute between Matawalle and his successor, Governor Dauda Lawal, as the two traded accusations of who supports terrorism in Zamfara State.

A situation watcher opined that Turji’s assertion clearly exonerated the minister even a cross-section of Nigerians believe the two politicians’ exchange of accusation and counter-accusations was politically motivated.

It would be recalled that some politicians have exchanged accusations, with Matawalle recently daring Lawal to swear on the Quran that he is not connected to the state’s banditry crisis.

In response, Turji denied any involvement of  Matawalle in the ongoing banditry, rejecting claims that his group is receiving political backing from the former governor.

In his latest video, Turji stated that “Governor Dauda Lawal accusing Bello Matawalle of being a terrorist sponsor won’t solve anything.

“When Matawalle was governor, who was sponsoring us? Likewise, when Abdulaziz Yari was governor, who was sponsoring us? No one is supporting us except God,” he said.

…CGC says effective Post Clearance Audits will Ensure detection, prevention of commercial fraud, enhanced trade facilitation 

Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi’s vision of evolving a more modern and technologically empowered Customs Service got a boost on Monday, as the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in collaboration with the World Customs Organisation (WCO), the World Bank Group (WBG), and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) flagged off a five-day workshop on Post Clearance Audit (PCA) in Abuja.

The Maritime First learnt the aim of the workshop which will run from 7 October to 11 October 2024 is to meaningfully enhance trade facilitation in Nigeria. 

Speaking on this, the CGC, Adewale Adeniyi stressed that the workshop is essential for establishing a robust PCA, which complements the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme; because both initiatives are critical to strengthening the compliance framework and advancing the trade facilitation efforts of the Service.

“PCA plays a vital role in ensuring compliance in international trade and safeguarding national revenue long after goods have exited Customs control,” the CGC, who was represented by the Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Tariff and Trade, Adekunle Oloyode stated, thanking the WCO, WBG, and IMF for their invaluable contributions to the PCA reform efforts.

 “PCA serves as a vital tool in balancing trade facilitation with compliance”, Adeniyi highlighted, emphasising that the ability to conduct effective post-clearance audits enables the NCS to detect and prevent commercial fraud, recover lost revenue, and enhance trade facilitation. 

The CGC also disclosed that a strong PCA framework fosters a secure trading environment, ultimately facilitating smoother international trade.

Highlighting the significance of online virtual sessions, he added, “They provide real-time insights and knowledge sharing, allowing us to address specific challenges and implement the best practices around the globe, helping to innovate NCS PCA processes.”

Outlining the key areas of the workshop, the CGC added: “The focus includes risk management, targeting, developing data-driven methodologies to identify high-risk transactions, creating detailed audit plans for efficient execution, capacity building, leveraging international expertise and technology, among others.”

He urged participants to apply what they had learned to strengthen the Service’s PCA system and protect national revenue.

Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, Suleiman Chiroma from the Strategic Research and Policy Department of NCS, emphasised that PCA is a tool that ensures the smooth running of Customs processes by introducing measures, methods, and various approaches for seamless transactions. 

He remarked, “Collaboration with these organisations is key to the survival and success of the NCS.”

Also speaking, a World Customs Organisation expert, Russell Clark expressed his appreciation for the collaboration and commended the NCS’s dedication to improving its processes in facilitating trade.

…Mobereola assures NIMASA will assiduously work, to become a revered voice, in global maritime diplomacy

The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, Arsenio Dominguez, has commended Nigeria’s committed efforts to ensure the safety and security of commercial shipping in the Gulf of Guinea.

The IMO Scribe gave the commendation during a meeting with the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dayo Mobereola, at the IMO headquarters in London, stressing that the commendation has particularly become imperative now, following recent developments in the Red Sea which have resulted in heavier shipping traffic in the region.

The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, IMO, Arsenio Dominguez also commended the NIMASA DG for engaging the technical team at the IMO on how Nigeria could address all identified gaps from the 2016 audit conducted by the organization.

In his words: “I want to appreciate the effort of Nigeria on the progress made so far as regards security in the Gulf of Guinea region. 

“There were concerns due to the situation in the Red Sea and resultant pressure around the Gulf of Guinea but we are pleased that the situation has remained the same.

 “We at IMO have been working with Nigeria through NIMASA and we desire that the partnership continues. I am also happy that you, DG, are meeting with IMO technical staff on how to close all identified gaps before the next audit cycle. 

“This is a step in the right direction and we are ready to give any technical support”, the IMO Secretary-General said, before announcing that the Organization is working on enhancing the Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS) to provide better services to member states in terms of information management.

On his part, the NIMASA DG, Dr Dayo Mobereola, declared that his administration would pay attention to details on how Nigeria can become a voice to be reckoned with in global maritime diplomacy, adding that Nigeria is committed to sustaining the momentum of recent achievements in safety and security within the maritime domain.

According to Mobereola, “My tenure will leverage existing relationships both locally and internationally to sustain the momentum in safety and security within the Nigerian maritime domain. 

“The creation of the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry in Nigeria by Mr. President emphasizes the policy direction of this administration. Our goal is to ensure that Nigeria plays an active leading role not just in the region or the IMO, but in the global maritime space.”

Speaking further, he noted that his meeting with IMO technical staff was aimed at ensuring that NIMASA and the IMO are aligned before the next audit cycle.

 “I discovered today that some critical information regarding our administration and the technical team at the IMO is obsolete, and we are reviewing it to update it immediately. 

“We do not see the IMO audit as an examination but rather as a guide to assist Nigeria in achieving its potential; hence, my decision to get personally involved. We need to get the basics right”. Mobereola also stated. 

He announced that the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has constituted a committee to address all areas of concern raised in the 2016 IMO audit report. This includes reviewing NIMASA’s enabling laws and effectively implementing a corrective action plan.