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  • Challenges before Buhari’s ‘change agents’

    Challenges before Buhari’s ‘change agents’

    Nigerians expect the incoming ministers to hit the ground running by executing the policies of the Buhari administration in their respective ministries. The expectations from the administration are very high. Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI and Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN highlight some of the challenges that would confront the new ministers.

    Given the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari rode to power on the waves of the ‘change’ agenda, there is high expectation among the populace that it is not going to be business as usual. Indeed, since the administration came into power on May 29, Nigerians have challenged President Buhari to fashion out a broader vision that would truly transform the economy to start creating jobs for the teeming youth population.

    Against the background of the expectations, the President reiterated that part of the reason why he did not appoint ministers immediately he took office was to put new rules of conduct and good governance in place before they come on board. He read out what could be termed the rules of engagement during the two-day retreat for the incoming ministers, when he told that they are expected to drive the change agenda the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) promised Nigerians during the electioneering campaign.

    But, what manner of change should Nigerians expect in the coming months? Stakeholders have tried to chart the way forward, by setting an agenda for the new cabinet.

     

    Need for clear road map

     A United Stated States-based Nigerian, Dr. Kole Odutola, wants the new administration to first prepare a clear road map that will guide its journey. Odutola, a lecturer at the University of Florida, said: “A nation on its knees needs all hands on deck. The most important agenda is the road map for Nigeria. A quick period of stock taking is imperative to determine how to get to the next destination with the lean resources at our disposal.

    “Our thinkers need to decide how to fashion out a workable, sustainable development plan that can be applied from the community level to the national level. As we think about production at the national level, we also need to work on creating an integrated system that can kick start economic development without compromising our environment.

    “In short, cottage industries must be assisted to produce items that can feed into what industries may need. Tourism must be designed around the culture of local areas. Regional targets must be set for agriculture based on ecology of the place. I see a concentric circle of urgent activities revolving around security, economy and re-education of the generality of the people.”

    Odutola wants the APC-led administration to adopt the crisis-management approach, by asking the following questions: “Where are we now? Where do we want to be? What resources do we need to get us to the Nigeria of our dream?” He said the Nigeria of his dream is one where the citizenry would live in an environment where they can fully realize their potentials; a society that creates room for citizens to pursue their personal, intellectual and spiritual growth.

     

    Health

     Due to the fact that it has been neglected over the years, the health sector is almost comatose. It is a sad commentary about the affairs in the sector that political office holders are usually flown abroad each time they catch cold. This is mainly because they failed to make provisions for equipping the nation’s hospitals and making them what they should be.

    Public office holders and other Nigerians who travel overseas for medical checkup and treatments annually do so because of lack of confidence in the system in place at home. During the ministerial screening, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan and one of the new ministers, Prof. Isaac Adewole, said about one to three billion dollars is spent yearly on medical tourism abroad by Nigerians, because of the dearth of medical facilities in Nigeria. Adewole said the missing link in the country’s health sector is poor funding and infrastructure. He said would have been cheaper getting treatment in Nigeria, if the country had standardised and well-equipped hospitals. The irony is that many Nigerians who travel abroad end up being treated by their compatriots working in foreign hospitals. Given the dwindling resources available to the various tiers of government, including the Federal Government, how is the country going to develop the much-needed infrastructure in this sector?

     

    Petroleum resources

     Under the former ruling party, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was described as a cesspool of corruption. It would be interesting to see the company chart a new direction under the present administration. This is particularly at a time when the collapse of the price of oil in the international market has put Nigeria’s economy in dire straits, because over 70 per cent of the country’s revenue comes from that sector.

    The charge that the country does not know how much of its oil is produced daily by the multinational oil companies and has to rely on the same multinational joint venture partners to come up with a figure at the point of export leaves much to be desired. The incoming minister must come to terms with the above, which borders on the corruption within the system. The administration must also come to terms with the reality of the country’s dwindling revenue from sale of crude oil, by proffering long-lasting solutions, which would include diversification of the economy from crude oil resources.

    President Buhari has hinted in an interview in the United States that the NNPC will be divided into two successor entities under his administration. The President, who stated this in an interview in Washington DC during his four-day visit to the country, explained that the decision would form one of the key steps of his reform of the country’s oil and gas sector.

     

    Security

     The biggest security challenge facing the nation at the moment is the Boko Haram insurgency. In this regard, experts say the administration must begin to fashion out how to support the communities, to keep them away from Boko Haram. It is also expected to work towards providing jobs and economic growth, to stabilize the region in the long run.

    Beyond security, legal luminary, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN) said all eyes are on the new ministers particularly those that will be posted to the ministries of Works and Transport; Education and Justice.

     

    Works

     According to Akintola, the Minister of Works will be judged by the way and manner he quickly fixes deplorable highways like Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway and the Onitsha-Owerri-Port Harcourt Highway.

    Akintola said: “The Abuja roads are in state of disrepair. If nothing is done it will be difficult to move freely in the Federal Capital Territory in the next five years. If you see the traffic gridlock in Apo, Nyanya and Gwagwalada, you will think all Nigerians are living in Abuja. I suggest the Buhari administration should embark on underground rail system in Abuja to minimise the traffic jam in the city. The Minister of Works has a lot to do; he has a job caught out for him.”

     

    Education

     On education, the legal practitioner described the decay in education infrastructure in public schools as unprecedented. He said the over centralisation of education system in the country is responsible for the decay.” It is wrong to centralise education; the Federal Government should only set standard. Every state should be allowed to operate the system that is convenient to them. There should be devolution of power. Education is in shambles.” He advised the Minister of Education to come up with measures that will restore the old glory of education in the country.

     

    Judicial reforms

     Experts believe that there is need for judicial reforms to drive the change agenda, because efficient justice delivery is central to the nation’s economic growth and development. Continuing to do things the same way and expecting a different outcome, they say, amounts to wishful thinking.

    The justice machinery, reputed to be the last hope of the common man, is squeaking under the weight of the growing number of cases yet to be sorted out and other problems. The criminal justice system has endured prolonged delay in the administration  of justice, congestion of courts, inadequate infrastructure and lack of access to justice by the poor, a majority of who cannot afford the services of lawyers, the congestion of prisons with the daily influx of accused persons or suspects awaiting trial, the persistent issue of the holding charge, arrest of suspects’ relatives in place of suspects, the use of torture by the police to extort extra judicial confessions and allegations of corruption against judicial officers.

    In addition, some of the country’s laws are outdated and out of tune with modern trends. Some of them are nothing but mere relics of colonial legislation that ought to have been reformed long time ago. Most of the laws brim with anachronistic provisions that take no cognizance of the changes and developments that have occurred over the years.

    The experts say the envisaged judicial reform requires both cultural and systematic change in the delivery of justice. This, they added, should include repealing/amendment of antiquated laws, enactment of modern laws to meet the needs of ever changing socio-economic conditions, court modernization and restructuring, legal reforms and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, training of judges, court personnel, and lawyers, students and civil society; and improved access to justice. The starting point for these programmes should be a clear plan that focuses on activities that have a high probability of success and that provide immediate benefits.

    Although justice is most of the time, a matter of finding the appropriate rules for settling disputes, resolving grievances and trying the accused persons with basic fairness, no justice system can be worthy of that name unless it provides for judges who are independent of the state which appoints them and operate without any pressure to decide cases in favour of government.

    In addition, certain offences like corruption, terrorism, kidnapping, election fraud, etc., should be designated as serious crimes and should attract severe punishment without option of fine. There should also be a time limit of 12 months for criminal trials to ensure speedy dispensation of justice. In cases where the accused does not have counsel when a matter is called, the state should appoint a counsel to represent him before the adjourned date. It is further suggested that various tactics employed by parties to judicial proceedings to delay and undermine the justice system, should be sternly deprecated.

    Former Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association, Ikeja Branch, Mr Monday Ubani, and Akintola emphasized the need for reforms in the judiciary. They called on the new Minister of Justice to introduce policies that will transform the sector.

     

    Finance

     Ubani wants the Minister of Finance to give diversification of the economy a priority. He said the fall in oil price has proved that it is dangerous to run mono-economy. “We should invest on agriculture which was the main stay of the Nigerian economy before the discovery of oil. We should embark on exploitation of solid minerals. Nigeria is endowed with solid minerals like bitumen, coal, gold which have not been tapped. The multiplying effects of economic diversification include more revenue for the government and job opportunities for the unemployed graduates.

    Ubani said liberal industrialisation policy will attract both local and foreign investors to invest in the economy. According to him, security and power supply situation must be assuring for the investors to make Nigeria their destination. With the establishment of small and medium scale industries, the problem of unemployment that is responsible for high level of crime will be addressed.

    He advised President Buhari to assemble a crack economic team that will come up with policies to rejuvenate the economy, improve the standard of living and put food on the peoples’ table.

    The new ministers are: Chris Ngige (Anambra); Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers); Babatunde Fashola (Lagos); Abdulrahman Dambazau (Kano); Aisha Alhassan (Taraba); Ogbonaya Onu (Ebonyi); Kemi Adeosun (Ogun); Abubakar Malami (Kebbi); Hadi Sirika (Katsina); Adebayo Shittu (Oyo); Suleiman Adam (Jigawa); Solomon Dalong (Plateau); Ibe Kachikwu (Delta); and Osagie Ehanire (Edo). Others are: Audu Ogbeh (Benue); Udo Udo Udoma (Akwa Ibom); Lai Mohammed (Kwara); Amina Mohammed (Gombe); Ibrahim Jibril (Nasarawa); Khadija Bukar Ibrahim (Yobe); Omoleye Daramola (Ondo); Anthony Onwuka (Imo); Geoffrey Onyema (Enugu); Dan Ali (Zamfara); James Ocholi (Kogi); Zainab Ahmed (Kaduna); Okechukwu Enelamah (Abia); Muhammadu Bello (Adamawa); Mustapha Baba Shehuri (Borno); Aisha Abubakar (Sokoto); Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa); Adamu Adamu (Bauchi); Isaac Adewole (Osun); Abubakar Bwari (Niger); and Pastor Usani Uguru (Cross River).

  • Here come the change agents

    Here come the change agents

    How youths can become change agents was the focus of a discussion at a conference organised by the Lagos Area Unit of Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) at the College of Medicine of the Lagos State University. SAFIYYAH ABDUR-RAZAQ reports.

    The Malaria Research Centre (MRC) of the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM) in Ikeja was filled to on Sunday. All guests and members of the audience seated quietly, waiting for the arrival of the special guest of honour and the keynote speaker – Lagos State Deputy Governor Dr Idiat Adebule.

    No sooner did she arrive that the event started.

    It was the annual conference and inauguration of executive members of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State Area Unit.

    In her lecture on the event’s theme: The change that matters, Dr Adebule said Muslim students should show good examples through their conduct and relationship with people from diverse religious affiliations. She said the students’ group must work hand-in-hand with the government to bring about the needed change.

    Dr Adebule said: “In line with the theme of this event, it is our duty as the government to lead by example and be responsible. To achieve our aims, every member of the society must support the government, because we cannot do it alone. We must be the change we want to see. It is your responsibilities as citizens to pay tax, obey the law and follow due process. These are the changes we are clamouring for.”

    Describing Governor Akinwunmi Ambode as a tolerant leader, who would not engage in religious discrimination, she praised the efforts of MSSN members in the struggle to allow the use of Hijab (Islamic veil) in public schools in Lagos. She promised that the present government would revisit the matter assuring the students them of a positive outcome.

    In his address, the MSSN Amir (president), Mallam Kamil Kalejaiye, said the peaceful change of government showed the nation was overcoming its fundamental challenges. He urged governments at all levels to be alive with their responsibility, stressing that investment in education must be increased to drive change needed.

    He said: “We are convinced that we may not get the change that matters in the absence of good governance and legislation in all states of the federation. It is impossible for a nation with good governance not to witness positive changes. With good governance, which means observance of the rule of law, transparency, responsiveness, equity and inclusiveness, effectiveness and accountability, we believe the country can witness the positive changes.”

    Chairman of Management Board, Vanguards Academy, Dr Zafaran Adeniyi, captivated members of the audience with his thought-provoking lecture, where he explained that change did not mean a peaceful change of guard and reduction in fuel pump price; he said change would only occur if the plight of the masses remained the focus of the leaders.

    He decried people’s care-free attitude, which he said gave leaders to loot the nation dry. He said people must get involved in governance to bring leaders to accountability.

    He said: “Our care-free attitudes as Nigerians and imposed ignorance have always been exploited by our so-called leaders, who have brought untold hardship to the people. It has given them the freedom to self-enrich in the face of staggering non-performance and inefficiency. Yet, the shameless among them to still go around campaigning for re-election.”

    He told President Muhammadu Buhari to prepare for tough times ahead, saying the president emerged at a time the structure of the country had collapsed. He said Buhari alone could not re-build the nation, stressing that it would be a tough battle for the president to put things in order.

    Adeniyi advised youths to portray the changes they desired. He added: “Change does not just happen. Everybody must appreciate that we all have roles to play if we want to bring change about. We must change our lawless attitude and the objective that drives our politics. We must also change our unruly behaviour in schools, hospitals, market places, motor parks, on the roads, in our homes and offices. To bring about change, we must change ourselves by being law-abiding citizens.”

    The highpoint was the inauguration of new members of the MSSN executive. Dr Adebule advised them to keep the association vibrant and improve on the achievement of their predecessors.

    The new Amir is Mallam Saheed Ashafa, while the Amirah (female head) is Hajia Hafsa Badru.

  • Agents urge Buhari to stop Intels from collecting dollars

    Agents urge Buhari to stop Intels from collecting dollars

    The Association of Customs Licensed Agents (ANLCA) has urged the Federal Government to stop Intels Logistics Terminal, Onne Port, Rivers State, from collecting charges in dollars.

    The group also seeks the reversal of the directive of former President Goodluck Jonathan that oil and gas cargoes coming into the country go through the private terminal.

    Importers of cargoes in oil and gas sector are allegedly diverting goods to neighbouring countries’ ports because of the monopolistic nature of the directive, especially paying charges in dollars at the terminal and other alleged oppressive tendencies associated with it.

    The group said if the Federal Government fails to act urgently, it may lead to loss of jobs as cargo diversion translates to revenue loss.

    Its President, Alhaji Olayiwola Shittu, said the directive “is obnoxious, uncharitable and counter-productive” because of its negative effect on the economy, arguing that it negates the foreign exchange (forex) policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) designed to enhance the value of the naira.

    The company, which has interests in Onne Port, Warri Port and Calabar Port, Shittu said, has been frustrating the efforts of the government to strengthen the local currency as it still collects dollars from users of its facilities.

    Shittu alleged that to protest against this directive that favours Intels, some importers of oil and gas related cargoes  have boycotted the use of its facilities and diverted their consignments to neighbouring ports.

    The Federal Government, he said, needs to show the political will to address the problem.

    Shittu said ports concession was to reduce costs of doing business, increase revenue generation, create employment and promote competition and not monopoly in port services.

    He said: “What the last administration had done was highly un-charitable and very irresponsible; what they did was to create a monopoly that is anti-people, and not in the interest of the economy.

    “Everybody should have a choice of where they want to take their cargoes to. The government concessioned the ports and all of them signed the same documents. “Why do you have to force people to take their cargo to Onne so that they can charge them in dollars? Not only that, their charges are 300 times more than regular charges in other ports.

    “We have embarked on a campaign to boycott Onne port facilities. In addition, we are prepared to take our oil and gas goods through Cotonou. If that discrimination continues, then we go through the border and pay duty. “It is very unfortunate because the terminal has become a big problem and it is like a government on its own. That is because the promoters held the last administration by the jugular because they wanted to remain in power at all cost. Thank God, Nigerians have sent them back to the creeks but it is very unfortunate that we are in this mess.”

    When our reporter visited Seme and Idiroko borders at the weekend, findings revealed that importers of oil and gas cargoes have carried out their threat to divert their goods from Onne Port based on what they described as the abuse of the monopoly granted them by the last administration.

    It was also  discovered that importers now bring pipes and other materials meant for water and oil and gas industry through the port of Cotonou in Benin Republic.

    Importers of oil and gas cargoes, it was gathered, are now paying shipping charges, terminal handling charges and other sundry charges to the Benin terminal operators.

    Aside paying in dollar at Onne port, one of the importers, Mr Felix Johnson, also alleged that the charges were on the high side.

    Johnson identified abuse of agreement, arbitrary charges and undue delay to clear cargo as soem of the challenges facing the concession model at the ports.

    He admitted that importers now bring pipes and other materials meant for water and oil and gas industry through Cotonou port.

    He said  the creation of monopoly at Onne is not in the best interest of the Federal Government because of its forex policy.

    Johnson said it was wrong to compel businessmen to consign their cargoes to a particular port.

    Contacted, Intels Public Relations Manager, Mr Isidore Sambol, confirmed the receipt of foreign currencies by the company for his services.

    Sambol said Intels operates in a free zone which he claimed is exempted from the CBN’s forex restriction policy.

    “Yes, we are exempted from the forex restriction because we operate in a free trade zone. If you conduct your investigation well, you will notice that free trade zones are not part of the policy.

    “You should also be aware that oil and gas is an international business and there is nothing wrong if we collect international currency, mostly United States (U.S) dollar,” he said.

    He, however, added that the company may collect the naira equivalent of foreign currency from its clients.

     

  • Agents urge govt to review waiver clause

    The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) and importers have urged the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to review the waivers granted by the Federal Ministry of Finance to boost its revenue.

    ANLCA also said there was a need for the government to remove the waiver clause from the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act (Cabotage Act of 2013).

    This, it said, would improve the business of indigenous ship owners and provide employment for many.

    Its President, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, said many indigenous shipping firms have closed shop due to the poor implementation of the Cabotage Law.

    His words:“Most of the waivers that were granted by the previous administration were done based on political reasons that have added no economic value to the country in terms of employment generation and its economy.

    “The management of the Nigerian Customs Service should be allowed by the government to scrutinise all requests for waivers and make recommendations to the government before it would be granted.

    “Although, the request for waivers for the development of the gas is necessary, but there is an urgent need to stop granting waivers for those bringing wine, iron rod and other items that can be produced locally, to the country.”

    Olayiwola said the removal of waivers from the CabotageAct would help to alleviate the plight of indigenous ship owners whose businesses have been damaged.

    “The waiver clause has been made more important by some ministry officials to the detriment of the implementation of the Cabotage Law itself,” Olayiwola said, adding: “We are not happy with the kind of vessels that are granted waivers in Nigeria. Instead of giving waivers to specialised vessels in consonance with the dreams of the initiators of the Act, the ministry ends up giving waivers to anchor handling and tankers which the Act did not envisage for waivers.

    “In other climes, they do not leave the administration of waivers to be handled by the ever-busy government officials like the Minister, Permanent Secretary or NIMASA, but rather, it’s an all-inclusive exercise where applications are received by the agency concerned and forwarded to the stakeholders who do the needful and make recommendations to the implementing agency which now carries out the recommended action.”

    An importer, Mr Victor Adeyemo, said the use of waivers and concessions was one of the legitimate tools any government could use for economic development and poverty eradication, but he wondered why the granting of waivers by the government has not decreased the high level or unemployment. He urged the government to review it.

     

     

     

     

  • Agents petition IGP over practitioners’ fees row

    Agents petition IGP over practitioners’ fees row

    THE Association of Nigerian  Customs and Licensing Agents (ANCLA) has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), protesting the new fees regime at the ports,’ The Nation has learnt.

    ANCLA’s petition, it was learnt, followed the Federal Ministry of Transport’s directive to the Council for the Registration of Freight Forwarders in Nigeria (CRFFN) to collect Practitioners Operation Fees (POF) at seaports, airports and borders.

    The order, it was learnt, varies with the agreement reached by the five freight forwarders and the CRFFN when they were invited to Abuja by the police on July 2.

    In a July 22 letter, obtained by The Nation, ANCLA alleged that some individuals were planning to disrupt the peace at the ports, urging the IGP to place his officers on red alert.

    The letter, signed by ANCLA reads: “At an interview, which was held in your office with all parties involved in attendance, it was agreed that all actions towards the commencement of the collection of the POF should be suspended, while efforts should be intensified to ensure that election is held into the Governing Council of the CRFFN. This is sequel to all acknowledging that the governing council is imperative for a complete CRFFN as approved for in its Act 16 of 2007.

    “Surprisingly, we received a letter from the Federal Ministry of Transport purporting to authorise the immediate commencement of POF collection.

    “We, therefore, wish to call your attention to this apparent reneging on the agreement reached in your office and the threats it portends to the freight forwarding industry,” Oparah said.

    ANCLA’s National President, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, told The Nation that association’s board has ordered its members to resist any attempt to collect the fees from them since the election and composition into the Governing Council of the CRFFN as required by its Act are yet to be met.

    He said ANCLA had sued CRFFN over the plan to circumvent the law setting up the Council.

    Meanwhile, ANCLA’s National Publicity Secretary Dr Kayode Farinto has raised the alarm over the appointment of a consulting firm to collect the fees

    Farinto also alleged that the firm would retain 40 per cent of the fees.

    “We have just received information that there was an arrangement to give a company the collection of the controversial POF. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the firm was that the company will collect 40 per cent of the money generated.

    “Some of those behind this company are high-ranking officers in the Ministry of Transport. That is why they are insisting that the POF must be collected by all means,” Farinto alleged.

     

  • Ministry, agents disagree over practitioner’s fee

    The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Asso-ciation of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has ordered its members to shun a Federal Ministry of Transport  letter on payment of practitioner’s fee to the Council for the Registration of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).

    The July 15 letter, exclusively obtained by The Nation, was signed by the ministry’s Director of Maritime Services, Musa Nagogo.

    It reads: “The Minister of Transport had approved the collection of Practitioners’ Operating Fees (POF) vide a letter referenced T.4252/s.46/C.3/1/177 dated 26th February, 2015 for the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) to collect Practitioners’ Operating Fees.

    “Further to the Resolutions reached at the Stakeholders meeting held on 3rd July, 2015, the Ministry hereby informs the Nigeria Customs Service, all registered freight forwarders, all seaports terminal operators, all airports cargo terminal handlers and the general public that CRFFN is hereby authorised to immediately commence the collection of Practitioners’ Operating Fee (POF),” Nagogo said in the letter

    But ANLCA’s National Publicity Secretary Dr. Kayode Farinto told The Nation that the group has instituted a case at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, challenging the directive by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Mohammed Bashir, on payment of the fee.

    Joined in the suit are the CRFFN and Inspector-General of Police (IGP). Under the new fees regime, importers will pay N1.50 per kilo of every air cargo, N1,000 per 20-foot container, N2,000 per each 40-foot container, N500 per car or Jeep imported into the country and N1,000 per every truck or 20-foot equivalent.

    Others include N2,000 per truck or 40-foot equivalent, N3.50 per every ton of general cargo imported into the country and N1 per ton of every dry bulk cargo handled in any of the nation’s seaports.

    The minister also approved various registration fees for freight forwarders, including Nigerians and non-Nigerians, which range from N7,500 to N50,000 yearly depending on the category of membership as well as yearly subscription fees ranging from N10,000 to N60,000 for the various levels of the membership of the council.

    But in a motion on notice filed by Ayodele Olaniyi on its behalf, ANLCA is asking the court to grant an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants by themselves, their agents, servants, employees, assigning, representatives and/or privies from further collection of the POF pending when the Governing Council of the CRFFN will be elected and or re-constituted and pending the final determination of the suit.

    ANLCA is also seeking an order of mandatory injunction restraining the third defendant (Inspector-General of Police) from using his instrument of office to coerce and intimidate its members into paying “the illegitimate fees” pending “when the court will make its final pronouncement on the matter”.

    In an affidavit in support of the motion on notice, Farinto averred that by virtue of the Act establishing the second defendant (CRFFN), the council is only empowered to collect the fees through its Governing Council.

    He claimed that the Governing Council has since been dissolved and the Registrar of CRFFN assumed the duty of generally overseeing the affairs of the council.

    ANLCA, it was gathered, has also suspended any further discussion between the association and CRFFN until the court settles the matter.

    Farinto said that the Governing Council of the CRFFN has since been dissolved and that its Registrar assumed the duty of generally overseeing the affairs of the council.

    He claimed that consequently, the first defendant ordered the Registrar to commence collection of the POF “which is an exclusive duty of the Governing Council which is not in place”.

    The image maker is therefore, requesting for an order compelling the defendants to pay N50 million in damages to ANLCA.

     

  • ARIAN, NAICOM train 300 agents

    ARIAN, NAICOM train 300 agents

    The Association of Registered Insurance Agents of Nigeria (ARIAN) and the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) have trained over 300 insurance agents.

    ARIAN President, Gbadebo Olamerun, who made this known in Lagos, said the training was sponsored by NAICOM to increase insurance penetration and it is the first of its kind in the industry.

    According to him, the Commission realise that it is better to train the foot soldiers – insurance agents.

    He said the agents trained represents agent managers, regional managers, unit managers and agency controllers from over 15 firms.

    He noted that the agents would further drive the agenda of the Commission on the Market Development Restructuring Initiative (MDRI)

    He stressed that the Commission expected them to increase  penetration, demystify the urban transactions common in the industry to urban rural.

    The training will help the agents to reach the nooks and crannies of the country. “There is no way we can achieve the goals without adequate knowledge,” he added.

  • ECOWAS common tariff won’t benefit Nigeria, agents claim

    ECOWAS common tariff won’t benefit Nigeria, agents claim

    Is the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Common External Tariff (CET) of benefit to Nigeria?

    No, says the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), which is championing the review of CET by the incoming Muhammadu Buhari administration.

    CET, ANLCA claims, has made Nigeria’s ports the most expensive in West Africa because of the multiple charges collected from importers.

    “These charges are hindering the trade facilitation programme, while businesses in other sub-regional ports like Cotonou are thriving,” the agents said, adding that this is why CET cannot be implemented in Nigeria unless the government reviews it.

    ANLCA, it was learnt, has drawn the battle line with the Customs and the Council for Regulations of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) over CET’s implementation and practitioners’fee collection.

    ANLCA asked its members not to pay the fee, which CRFFN would have started collecting since May 11.

    In a Public Notice, the CRFFN said: “In exercise of the powers conferred on it under Section 4 (d) and 6 (2) (C) of the CRFFN Act No 16 of 2007, notice is hereby brought to all registered freight forwarders; all seaport terminal operators; all airport cargo terminal handlers and the public that the collection of practitioners’ fee by the council commences on Monday, May 11, 2015.”

    Besides asking its members to shun the directive, ANLCA has suspended further discussions with CRFFN.

    ANLCA said the directive for the fee collection can only emanate from the National Assembly after the CRFFN board must have been constituted by the government.

    ANLCA President, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, is blaming the high cost of cargo processing on the introduction of what he calls “obnoxious levies”.

    Importers, he said, pay multiple charges before collecting their goods, urging the government to address the problem and reduce the cost of doing business.

    Shittu said: “Importers pay Customs duties and levies that are not uniform in most of the seaports. Other tariff that make the ports expensive are the seven per cent development levy; one per cent comprehensive import supervision scheme; 0.5 per cent  ECOWAS Trade Liberation Scheme (ETLS); NIMASA/NPA Sea Protection Levy (SPL); haulage cost – transportation per 20-foot equivalent unit (TEU) and terminal operator progressive stage charges.

    “Importers also pay terminal operator documentation; terminal operator examination; terminal operator scan fee; terminal operator scan loading fee; terminal operator delivery; terminal operator terminal handling and terminal operator labour fees.

    “They also pay shipping line demurrage, shipping line agency, shipping line documentation, shipping line telex release, shipping line container deposit fees, terminal operators two weeks additional advance rating period, shipping line two weeks additional advance rating period, shipping line minimum of one month grace for container deposit refund, freight forwarders professional fee – unstreamlined, and several inconsiderate charges at the bonded terminals”.

    An ANCLA member, Mr Segun Ogusanu, derided the five per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) and one per cent Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) charge as some of the multiple charges.

    Ogunsanu said for CRFFN to be effective, it must comprise elected practitioners.

    “CRFFN is headed by a Registrar, who is the Chief Executive. He is a permanent staff member unlike others who are elected into office or appointed by the Minister of Transport. The Board of the CRFFN cannot remove him without the approval of the Minister, a position that makes the chief executive officer very powerful and issue any notice he likes without consulting the people on whose behalf the council was established.

    “Since a new board has not been constituted and election held, the council is a one-man show,” he said.

    ANLCA’s  National Publicity Secretary Kayode Farinto told The Nation that the National Executive Council (NEC) has suspended further discussions with CRFFN.

    He said: “NEC has constituted a committee to interface with the management of CRFFN to come up with recommendation towards further engagement.

    “The committee is empowered by NEC to discuss, negotiate and take all appropriate steps towards ANLCA professional interest.

    “The committee members include the association’s former president, Chief Ernest Elechukwu; Chief Peter Obi; Prince Taiye Oyeniyi; Mayor Ekweche; David Kanikwu; Bayo Oyekanju; Alhaji Umar Ibrahim and Kayode Farinto.”

    Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), it was learnt, may intervene in the face-off between the CRFFN and ANLCA to ensure peace at the ports.

    Its Executive Secretary, Mr Hassan Bello, sources said, may summon ANCLA and CRFFN officials to a meeting before the week runs out.

    CRFFN Registrar, Sir Mike Jukwe, said the collection of practitioner’ operating fees was a directive given to his agency by the Federal Government.

    “As an employee, I will convey the position of ANLCA to the government and will be directed further,” he said.

     

  • Agents, shippers urge Buhari to review 70% duty

    The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has urged President-elect Muhammadu Buhari to review the automotive policy, which imposes 70 per cent levy on imported vehicles, pending the mass production of Made-in-Nigeria vehicles.

    The 70 per cent levy was introduced by the Jonathan administration to support the local industry.

    ANLCA President Prince Olayiwola Shittu said the 35 per cent duty imposed on used vehicles is obnoxious and urged the in-coming administration to review the policy.

    High port charges, Shittu said, have increased the costs of doing business and encouraged diversion of cargoes to neighbouring countries’ ports, thus, leading to loss in government’s revenue.

    “The in-coming administration needs to review the auto policy and make the port attractive for business. The maritime sector is confronted with many problems that need to be addressed to boost trade and generate employment,” he said.

    Also, the Shippers’ Association Lagos State (SALS) has urged the incoming government to assist shippers in reducing the costs of doing business at the seaports.

    Its President, Mr Jonathan Nicol, lamented that the high port charges had affected the costs of doing business in the country.

    He said: “We have a very big problem in the maritime sector. We believe that government will stick to the maritime sector as one of the most important aspects of the nation’s economy.

    “This will enable other Nigerian shippers, who have gone to the neighbouring ports to come back.”

    Nicol said Nigerians were still expecting basic infrastructure such as good roads, water supply, uninterrupted power supply, good health facilities and free education.

    He also joined ANLCA to urge the government to reverse the automotive policy which imposed a 70 per cent levy and duty on imported vehicles, pending the large production of Made-in-Nigeria cars.

    “If the automotive policy comes into existence without sufficient production of cars in the country, such a policy may destroy the transport sector,’’ Nicol said.

     

  • Don’t bribe police, CP tells agents

    The Commissioner of Police in charge of Western Ports, Mrs Hilda Ibifuro Harrison, has urged the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) to report any police officer who demands bribe.

    Speaking during her visit to ANLCA national secretariat, Mrs Harrison said she was not happy that ANLCA members accused some of her officers of demanding as much as N25,000 bribe before allowing them to move their goods out of the ports.

    To show her readiness to deal with the situation, she gave ANLCA members her private mobile numbers, and directed the clearing agents to shun any request for bribe from her officers.

    “Until some persons are taught lessons, they don’t ever change, and you are the people to assist me do my job, not when the case has passed, but when they are right in the act, making the demand for corruption, I promise you that I will act.

    “If you have any case of injustice, report to me and I will take it up, but the problem is that a lot of you fraternise with my police men to sweep these things under the carpet and that is why they come to you again and again.

    “I urge you not to fraternise with the bad eggs in the Nigerian police come out and let us fight the fight of bribery together and we will achieve its,” she said.