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SIFAX cries out: 440 Pump Rifles not intercepted on our terminal

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  • As U.S. pledges support to Nigeria in fighting cybercrime, financial fraud

The SIFAX Group has dissociated itself from any direct or indirect connection with the controversial 440 pump action rifles intercepted by Customs Service at the Tin Can Island Port on Tuesday.

“The attention of the management of SIFAX Group has been drawn to a false news report being circulated by some online news (not Maritime First) media to the effect that a container load of arms was intercepted at a subsidiary of our company, Ports & Cargo Terminal, Tin Can Island Port, Lagos.”

Stressing that the arms in question neither originated from the Ports and Cargo Handling Services Limited terminal, nor was intercepted near its terminal, the SIFAX Group image maker, Mr. Olumuyiwa Akande also expressed dismay that journalists failed to cross check their facts, before rushing to press.

“Let me quickly put on record that the news report is totally false, untrue and misleading.

“Our findings have shown that the said container was released from another terminal and was headed for an Off-Dock terminal, before it was intercepted by the Nigerian Customs Service on the port access road close to our terminal.

“Ports & Cargo terminal doesn’t own the port access road and how we are linked to this beats our imagination.

SIFAX Group image maker, Mr. Muyiwa Akande

“It is quite unfortunate that these media organizations published the false news report without making the slightest effort to balance it with our own side of the story”, the image maker indicated further, enjoining the public to disregard the misinformation, while urging the media to always uphold the ethics of professionalism in the discharge of their duties in order to avoid the error of misinforming the unsuspecting members of the public”, he stated.

In the meantime, the U.S. on Wednesday pledged to support Nigeria in the fight against cybercrime and financial fraud.

A statement issued by the U.S. Embassy quoted Amb. Stuart Symington, as saying this at the Second Annual Conference on Combatting Financial Fraud, Cybercrime, and Cross-Border Crimes on Tuesday.

The conference with the theme `U.S.-Nigerian cooperation in combating cybercrime and financial fraud,’ was organised by the Federal Ministry of Justice and the National Information Technology Development Agency.

Symington said: “there is not a country in the world that is kept secure day and night, year after year by anything other than the people of that country.

“They are to national security what every user of a computer is to internet security, they are the critical link.”

The ambassador expressed the need to set up appropriate legal frameworks, deploy computer emergency response teams in critical sectors, and develop national and international tools that will work to combat cybercrime.

He explained the internet has leveled the playing field for all citizens, because anyone in the world can compete with, influence, and change what the entire world is doing.

Citing the recent WannaCry worldwide attack, he said “whatever challenges Nigeria is facing, the United States and the global community are confronting those challenges as well”.

He emphasised the need for an immediate response and robust coordination between nations in answer to frequent cyber-attacks and increasingly sophisticated transnational criminal networks.

“The U.S. has partnered with the Nigerian government to combat fraud, financial crimes, money laundering, cybercrime, and cross-border crimes including drug, human, and wildlife trafficking.

`The two countries also continue to work to counter these threats, strengthen information sharing, and develop strategies to work together to protect citizens, resources, and financial networks from dangerous criminal attacks,” he said.

Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, Minister of Justice said Nigeria was proactively taking steps to ensure that the Cyber Crime Act of 2015 was implemented.

Representing Malami, Mrs Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu, Special Adviser to the President on Justice Reforms, said the Ministry of Justice was ensuring that cyber crime perpetrators were prosecuted for obstructing national security.

“Our intention is to ensure that Nigeria is proactively implementing our Cyber Crime Act of 2015 and also to ensure that we are implementing the Advanced Fee Fraud Act of 2007.

“We want to ensure that we are looking at cross border crimes that can affect the national security of Nigeria and we are taking proactive steps in that direction.

He said that Nigeria was in a critical situation and if nothing was done to tackle cyber crime issues in the government and across private sector, the country might become subject to gruesome cyber attacks.

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AfCFTA: Africa Needs 100 More Ships, Enhanced Ports, Unified Regulations to Fully Harness Opportunities- Captain Umoren

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AfCFTA: Africa Needs 100 More Ships, Enhanced Ports, Unified Regulations to Fully Harness Opportunities- Captain Umoren

… As NAMM President, Capt. Alao underscores challenges, with the urgent need for improved market access

Captain Sunday Umoren, Secretary General of the Abuja MoU has emphasized the urgent need for enhanced maritime infrastructure and regulatory alignment to ensure the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Speaking at the National Association of Master Mariners (NAMM) 3rd Quarterly Paper Presentation in Lagos on Saturday, Umoren emphasized that without significant upgrades, Africa risks missing out on the full economic potential of AfCFTA, as current facilities are grossly inadequate to adequately handle the anticipated surge in intra-African freight volumes.

Addressing the assembly of maritime stakeholders, Umoren highlighted the key challenges, including inadequate port facilities, low ship ownership, and limited digitalization, which are hindering Africa’s ability to fully capitalize on AfCFTA’s potential.

The Abuja MoU Scribe pointed to UNCTAD’s Review of Maritime Transport 2023, which projects that AfCFTA implementation could double Africa’s maritime freight demand from the current 58 million tons to 131.5 million tons. However, he cautioned that Africa’s existing infrastructure is insufficient to handle such an increase, risking missed opportunities for intra-African trade and economic growth.

“With AfCFTA, Africa has a unique chance to boost its blue economy, but the infrastructure to support this growth is lacking,” said Umoren.

 He stressed the need for a comprehensive investment in port facilities, modern shipping fleets, and digitalization to streamline Customs and logistics processes.

Speaking further, Umoren advocated for initiatives such as the Near Coastal Voyage (NCV) Code, which aims to limit foreign vessel reliance in regional trade and promote indigenous participation in the maritime sector.

This multilateral agreement among African nations would standardize maritime practices, enhance port operations, and limit dependency on foreign vessels in regional trade. 

He equally noted that the NCV Code would create more employment opportunities within the region’s maritime sector and support local industries.

Captain Umoren called on African governments to create policies fostering indigenous ship ownership and to implement environmentally sustainable practices within the maritime industry.

 He emphasized that collaboration between government and private sector stakeholders would be essential to achieving AfCFTA’s goals, and urged policymakers to make maritime development a priority in their national agendas.

The Abuja Sec Gen however called for African nations to embrace unified regulations and infrastructure enhancements, as these elements are critical to establishing Africa as a strong global trade partner through AfCFTA.

“We have the market, but the ships are not there” 

Also addressing the issue, Captain Tajudeen Alao, President of NAMM, underscored the significant challenges confronting the Nigerian shipping industry, stressing the urgent need for improved market access, ship availability, and manpower to unlock the sector’s full potential.

In a recent discussion, Captain Alao noted the limited control exerted by the Federal Government and Nigerian shipping authorities, resulting in fragmented coordination and a lack of sustainable trade practices.

 He pointed out that while the market exists, there is an immediate need for more ships to meet demand.

“We have the market, but the ships are not there,” Captain Alao remarked, citing data from global institutions like the World Bank and the IMF that highlight the gaps in ship ownership and financing.

Another major concern raised by Captain Alao was the restricted capacity of Nigeria’s coastal trade (NCV).

 He explained that under existing maritime conventions, ships are limited to operating within 30 miles of the coastline, with newer regulations further reducing this to just 15 miles from a port of refuge. 

These limitations, he argued, hinder the growth of inter-regional trade and create challenges for vessels operating along Nigeria’s coastline, particularly on longer routes like from Lagos to Port Harcourt.

AfCFTA: Africa Needs 100 More Ships, Enhanced Ports, Unified Regulations to Fully Harness Opportunities- Captain Umoren
*L-R: The Arrowhead of the Nigerian Association of Master Mariners, Capt. Tajudeen Alao, welcoming the Guest Speaker, and Secretary General of the Abuja MoU, Captain Sunday Umoren to the Quarterly Paper presentation in Lagos…on Saturday.

Captain Alao also highlighted the broader prospects for Nigerian shipping within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), describing it as a major opportunity for the continent with the potential to foster greater regional integration in maritime activities. 

However, for Nigeria to fully benefit from this opportunity, he stressed the need for updated legal frameworks and improved diplomatic cooperation to address the jurisdictional complexities in the maritime sector.

“There is no quick money in shipping, but through the multiplier effect, shipping creates employment and wealth”

Additionally, Captain Alao touched on the ongoing issue of shipping codes and certifications, mentioning that ships from countries such as Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda have historically operated alongside Nigerian ships due to shared maritime certification from the UK.

 However, as the global maritime industry evolves, he cautioned that unless Nigeria updates its policies to align with current international standards, it risks falling behind in the continental shipping space.

Despite these challenges, Captain Alao expressed optimism about the maritime sector’s potential to generate wealth. 

“There is no quick money in shipping, but through the multiplier effect, shipping creates employment and wealth,” he said, stressing that the industry can drive long-term economic growth and uplift various sectors of the economy.

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Customs ‘FOU Zone C’ Intercepts N126M Contraband Goods in 1 Month; Champions Medical Outreach

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Customs 'FOU Zone C' Intercepts N126M Contraband Goods in 1 Month; Champions Medical Outreach

The Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone C of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted various contrabands with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N126.67 million in furtherance of its anti-smuggling activities.

The Unit, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, also championed a medical outreach and water supply project in Irete, Owerri state.

The Unit Head, Comptroller Michael Ugbagu,  disclosed this in a briefing held on 7 November 2024 at the command’s headquarters in Owerri, Imo state. 

He said between October 7th and November 6th, the unit seized a range of contraband items, including 5,189 sachets of tramadol, 164 bales of secondhand clothing, 212 cartons of foreign macaroni, 643 used pneumatic tyres, 119 jerrycans of premium motor spirit, 44 bags of foreign rice, 40 used compressors, and 10 parcels of cannabis sativa. 

Based on intelligence, these seizures were primarily conducted along the Ewu-Okada/Benin expressways and Calabar axis.

He said, “The FOU Zone C also focused on giving back to its host communities. In collaboration with stakeholders, the unit organised a two-day free medical outreach on November 2nd and 3rd for residents of Irete, Imo State.”

The outreach offered services such as blood pressure and sugar level checks, eye examinations, consultations with medical practitioners, and distribution of free medicated glasses. 

Community members expressed appreciation, noting that the medical outreach met critical health needs.

“Zone C implemented two solar-powered boreholes with 10,000-liter storage tanks in Irete, Imo State and Ibaka, Akwa Ibom State. The water projects, set to be inaugurated next week, aim to provide consistent, clean water access regardless of power availability, directly addressing community needs,” he explained.

Comptroller Ugbagu commended the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, for his support and guidance. 

He urged the public to support Customs’ efforts by providing intelligence information to curb smuggling activities that harm the nation’s economy.

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ACG Dangaladima Lauds Customs Kebbi Command on Core Mandate

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ACG Dangaladima Lauds Customs Kebbi Command on Core Mandate

…Lauds Kebbi Command’s cordial relationships with stakeholders

The Zonal Coordinator Zone B, Assistant Comptroller General of Customs (ACG) Sambo Kaliel Dangaladima on Friday commended the Kebbi Customs Area Controller and his officers on the stride they have so far achieved on the core mandate, emphasizing the collaborative need to help in curbing security challenges facing Kebbi axis.

Sambo Kaliel Dangaladima made the commendation when he paid an official visit to Kebbi Area Command on Friday, November 8th, 2024, in furtherance of his continuous tour of the Zone B axis. He stressed the Custom’s leadership belief in focusing on the Service’s core mandate. 

 

He stressed that a secured Kebbi might not be achieved without strengthening the relationship between the Command, sister agencies, stakeholders, and traditional rulers.

Subsequently, he held a closed-door meeting with stakeholders, charging them with being compliant traders and urging them to abide by the Customs laws extant during cross-border trade. 

 

To encourage work-life balance and capacity building, which were some of the visions of the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, the Assistant Comptroller General of Customs commissioned a five-a-side football pitch and an E-library/Learning Centre that was fully sponsored by stakeholders.

He lauded the Command’s cordial relationships with the stakeholders which he noted had been improving steadily.           

The Kebbi Customs Command Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Customs, Mohammed Tajuddeen Salisu while expatiating on the visit, noted that the Zonal Coordinator concluded the visit by paying homage to the emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Muhammadu Iliyasu Bashar, to seek his blessings as he retires back home.

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