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N1.037trn: Customs gains not responsible for operators’ pains- Attah

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Against the backdrop of a remarkable surge in Customs Service revenue which in 2017 peaked at  N1.037trn, the Image maker, Deputy Comptroller Joseph Attah has highlighted that the Service cannot be linked with whatever operational pains stakeholders passed through last year.

Stressing that Customs gains not responsible for operators’ pains, Attah who spoke exclusively with Maritime First in Lagos also assured Nigerians that the Service is assiduously working to mitigate the pains of families who lost loved ones on active service.

Excerpt please:-

  Q: This is 2018, how was 2017 generally?

Well, 2017 was quite eventful. It was a year that the Service generated the highest revenue collection ever for the Federal Government of Nigeria, despite challenging periods.

We recall that was a period we pass through with 41 items restricted from Forex. We also recall that a number of policy implementation of the federal government, on special federal government project, that did affect the tariff of items.

For instance, the enforcement of fiscal policy of 2017 led to a decrease in average duty rate; the average duty rate which used to be 12.5 was reduced to 11.1% due to duty lowering; and sometimes, total removal duty such as on agricultural projects.

For example, fabricated agricultural grain house was slashed from 20 to 0%; agricultural machineries from 10 to 5 to 0%; the automotive industry project, CKD … from 35-5%.

So with the reduction in the average duty rate, a decline in revenue could have occurred, but for due diligence and strict application of the laws. For instance, the declarants of vehicles were compelled to put the mandatory vehicle identification numbers; all these added up to give us revenue of One trillion, thirty seven billion Naira and above.

Q: They said while the Customs declares serious profit, the companies, the businesses are actually folding up. Is Customs part of the indices killing the businesses through excessive tariffs?     

No! You see, a number of factors can be responsible for the folding up of industries. Some of these factors I mean, even the Customs has no control over. Government policies could be there.

Government policies over the year have been to encourage the companies, towards industrialization and others. It is to boost industrialization. So, I don’t see how Customs revenue collection, will lead to their closure. But then, you also know some companies can either, because of lack of raw materials, for lack of market, or for various other reasons fold up. We have a government that is deliberately turning out incentives for companies, so I don’t see implementation of this polices as possibly affecting them.

What of the Free-Trade Zones where people are expected to import and produce and export, so as to increase foreign exchange and provide job for people? What of these agricultural polices, whose importation of machineries have either been reduced or totally removed, all of which are to encourage local industry growth?

Q: Now, let’s come to 2018, what is the corporate vision of the Service?

You should know that the present service of today is led by a Comptroller General that assumed duty with a three prompt presidential mandate: restructure, reforms and sequence of raising revenue.

We call it the three “Rs” and the three working together have so far been yielding results.

Of course, you can see the revenue is rising, anti-smuggle is invigorated overall and, therefore we now have an atmosphere that makes smuggling increasingly unprofitable. Going forward, we look at sustaining the gains of 2017, consolidating potentials of these three “Rs” and maximizing gains for the Federal Government of Nigeria and indeed all Nigerians.

Q: You lost some of your best men in the cause of active service, patriotism and raising revenue. What did you do for their families?

We have a service that puts welfare on the front burner. Normally what happens is to first protect the dignity of those that die on active service; we get a way to get in touch with their immediate families, and there after ensure that the process of getting whatever is of their right is not delayed. That is what we are doing and that’s what we will continue to do.

Q: Break it into tangible, verifiable form.

Talking about the tangible things we have done, you know that the Service is undergoing reforms now, those are some of the issues that the on-going reforms agenda will also capture.

We are looking at ways of improving the benefits for families who lost their breadwinners on active service, especially from the angle of what we need to do, both in the short and long run, to truly reduce their suffering.

These are presently being captured and will soon be put forward as a policy. But we do know that there is no amount of money, or material provisions that can replace the life of a loved one. But the service is truly looking at ways of bringing this under the on-going reforms. The Service is currently exploring ways of providing  robust assistance to families who lost their loved ones!

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NAMTOP: LASTMA Urges Maritime Truck Drivers To Tackle Breakdowns

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More Trouble for Sanwo-Olu: Election Tribunal orders substituted service over Petition

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has urged the Nexus Association of Maritime Truck Operators (NAMTOP) to acquire private tow trucks to tackle breakdowns swiftly.

The General Manager, LASTMA, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, said this when NAMTOP officials paid the agency’s management a courtesy visit on Tuesday in Lagos.

Bakare-Oki said the aim was to foster synergy and cooperation between the two agencies.

The LASTMA GM, represented by the Director of Logistics and Engineering, Mr Jubril Oshodi, assured the association of a harmonious relationship.

“This will enable the association to liaise with all zonal heads to ensure swift evacuation of trucks whenever breakdowns occur,” he said.

The LASTMA boss said his tenure would centre on repositioning and reorganising the agency for professional service delivery to the motoring public with empathy.

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Oyetola Inaugurates 4.8km Road, Mooring Boats At Onne

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…Says the road symbolizes the Ministry’s commitment to make the port more viable

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola on Tuesday, inaugurated a 4.8km road “D” project and six mooring boats at the Onne Port Complex, Port Harcourt, stressing that the road, constructed by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), was a demonstration of the ministry’s commitment to make the port more viable.

He said that the project was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to maximize opportunities within the maritime sector.

”This is part of the measures we are taking to enhance the ease of doing business in Onne Port

”The ministry is committed to leverage Nigeria’s maritime resources under the directives of the president,” he said.

The minister said that the mooring boats would enhance boat safety and general security within the maritime space.

Oyetola said that the Federal Government was committed towards deepening the efficiencies and full capacity utilisation of the ports in the eastern axis.

‘We are now poised more than ever to give the NPA all the support to address factors responsible for the under-utilisation of these national assets,” he said.

The minister stated that by providing port infrastructure, investor confidence would be deepened for more patronage of the eastern ports.

”I was delighted to learn that the Onne and Calabar Port complexes have met the requirements of the International Organisation for Standardisation and are now certified.

Bello-Koko Lauds MWUN for Ensuring NPA Staff's Salary Increase

The NPA Managing Director, Muhammed Bello-Koko

”This shows they we are doing something right but we cannot rest on this determination until all other ports are certified.

”I have been briefed on the growth in numbers especially for exports emanating from Onne Port Complex, and I am impressed.

”I am poised to provide the facilitation and advocacy required to grow the vessel traffic to this important nucleus of growth,” he said.

Oyetola stated that more economic growth would be achieved if more investments were done in port infrastructure.

The minister commended the management of NPA for being prudent with the application of resources that financed the project.

Oyetola reiterated his commitment to grant prompt approvals to initiatives that would enable continuous improvement in the performance of the ports.

In his speech, the Managing Director, NPA, Mohammed BelIo-Koko, thanked the minister for his support to the authority.

He said that the road and mooring-boat projects could only be completed because of the support from the ministry.

Bello-Koko said that the completion of the Road “D” project which linked Berths 9, 10, 11 and 12 at Federal Ocean Terminal would help to grow new business opportunities and increase revenue for the nation.

”This road stretches over a total of 4.8km, covering two container terminals. It will cater for no fewer than 1,000 trucks daily.

”This is a testimony that as an authority, we are repositioning for growth, competitiveness and, future-readiness.

”The road has a 250mm thickness concrete reinforcement provided for a median and side drain with high mast tower Lighting of dual carriageway.

”We are aware that a good road infrastructure requires sound marine craft and equipment, so we added six modern mooring boats to enhance habour operations efficiency,” he said.

Bello-Koko solicited the ministry’s support for concrete fencing of the stretch of land in the port to guard against any unauthorised access.

”This will also enhance the security of the investments that will spring up with the opening of this road.

The managing director commended the concessionaires for their huge investments, describing it as indicative of their confidence in the system.

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Environmental Stewardship: Maritime Experts Appraise Industry, Deep Blue Project

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…As OAF Boss, Olaitan Williams harps on the need to further protect the Planet 

She has a vision: refocusing the youths, particularly the Nigerian girl into the nation’s maritime industry. Her modus operandi is simple: encouraging, motivating and redirecting every pupil and student’s interest towards productive pursuits in marine terrain.

She is probably today, Nigeria’s most consistent and committed promoter of youths’ education in the marine and blue economy.

The Chief Executive Officer of Ocean Ambassadors Foundation OAF, Mrs. Violet Olaitan Williams does not need much introduction in terms of her relevance and mindset for creating the desired conditions for mental and attitudinal development of the Nigerian child, particularly in Lagos State.

Lieutenant Commodore A.A Makinwa

Several times, she has ‘dragged’ students of several secondary schools in Lagos, for a day-out at Sea. 

OAF, redirecting students’ interest into the maritime terrain, at an early age…

During such periods, the lucky beneficiaries were sufficiently exposed, to jobs in the marine and blue economy sector; as well as the vital courses to pursue, in order to realise such dreams.

Only recently, she selflessly embarked on a costly documentary to meaningfully draw attention to EHINGBETI, the nucleus of the Lagos relevance as Nigeria’s most celebrated litoral state, stressing the need to regenerate Nigeria, from the symbolic lessons of its origin.

Though finally depleted and sapped at the end of the costly project, Olaitan Williams remained undaunted in her commitment to the promotion of a cause she truly believed in.

It is like, having lived her childhood days beside the shores of Lagos, she had prudently identified areas she is convinced, early and right exposures of the youths, could transform many of them, tomorrow, into job creators.

Only last week, the OAF Boss again assembled some experts to a ‘Blue Talents Career Talk’ in Lagos, to educate, impact and, enlighten students of several secondary schools, on the importance of the Ocean, the Marine and the Blue economy; the current Government’s efforts at harnessing it’s economic endowment, as well as the need to more properly, protect it.

Students learn better, by seeing it as it is…

Speaking at the occasion, a top naval officer, Lieutenant Commodore A.A Makinwa stressed the need for maritime industry Stakeholders to commend the Federal Government for initiating the Integrated National Security and Waterways Infrastructure, otherwise known as ‘the Deep Blue Project’. 

Lieutenant Commodore A.A Makinwa of the Nigerian Navy who made the call at the Blue Talents Career Talk in Lagos said the Deep Blue Project is such that accommodates almost every maritime security architecture such as NIMASA, NPA, DSS and, even the Marine Police. 

The Ocean Ambassadors Foundation CEO, Violet Olaitan Williams

According to him, “it is whole of the nation’s business and not just limited to the Nigeria Army, Navy or Airforce alone”. 

He mentioned different security agencies, identified their relevance in the security and safety web; and lauded them for the safety of the communities.

In his remark, the Guest Speaker, Engr. Jamiu Badmos while admonishing maritime security personnel not to rest on their oars also said: “You play a lot of roles in the saving of lives of the people and that is why security and safety have links.

“In security, you protect the vessel from any external aggression and the people inside the vessel but in safety, you look more on the people inside the vessel and how to protect them” Badmos stressed. 

Earlier in her speech, Violet Olaitan Williams while welcoming participants at the well-attended event, stated that “by embracing a culture of Safety, Responsibility and Environmental stewardship, you can also ensure a brighter future for the planet and all who call it home!”. 

ALSO READ: BLUE Economy: Synergise With FME, Create Future for Girl Child, Informed Delegates urge Oyetola

The topic for this year’s Blue Talents Career Talk organized by Ocean Ambassadors Foundation was “An Overview of Safety and Security in the Maritime and Blue Economy” with a special focus on goals 3, 8, 14; and 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals.

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