The Nation Newspaper

Tag: BUHARI

  • ‘Nigerians should pray for Buhari to succeed’

    The President of the Apostolic Church of Nigeria (ACN), Pastor Gabriel Olutola has said President Muhammadu Buhari cannot solve myriad of Nigerian problems alone except Nigerians intercede on his behalf with fasting and prayers to God.

    The cleric spoke during the 70th birthday celebration of the President of Christ Apostolic Church, (CAC), Worldwide, Pastor Abraham Akinosun in Bashorun, Ibadan.

    Pastor Olutola said: “The only advice I have for Nigerians is to fervently to God for President Buhari to succeed as there is no other solution to myriad of Nigerian problems, saying because Nigerians have decided not to withdraw from their wickedness.”

    He said until they turn away from vices such as favouritism, nepotism, corruption and other immoral acts, the country will continue to suffer from problems caused by these wicked acts, saying except this, there is little President Buhari can do.

    He, therefore, congratulated the celebrator, saying he is a product of Christ and the birthday is to celebrate Christ; which made many people to  celebrate the man of God because of his many virtues.

    Pastor Akinosun, however, thanked God for giving him the grace to celebrate the birthday, adding that many of his mates are dead but he was opportune to see the glorious day.

    Reacting to the crisis rocking the church, the celebrator said the church today, unlike the time of Apostle Ayo Babalola and his co-founder, many people plant churches without reckoning with the centre. This is very dangerous.

    He said they do not consider the importance of being under the authority of the church saying, “this is the reason we are tasking members to be heavenly-focused by doing away with perishable things of life to avoid further rancour in the church”.

    On the effort by the church to bring back departed members, the President said: “We are trying our best but they are not after unity but position. Our faction, from all indications, maintain that we are the original CAC while they are members without names.

    “We recently went to them to seek reconciliation but they insisted that out of three principal officers’ positions, they should be given two which we considered impossible.”

    The CAC President, however, said they are still making efforts to persuade the departed members to come back even though the real institution is with them and standing better chances, adding that they want them back to become one body in Christ.

    While performing the launch of a book written by Pastor Ade Alawode, the church’s Public Relations Officer in honour of the celebrator, entitled The Lifestyle of a Performer and Reformer, Pastor Edwin Etomi said the celebrator is a good mentor and a man of great honour.

    Etomi, who represented the General Overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministry (MFM), Pastor Daniel Olukoya added that he dedicated the book to the  General Overseer whose ministry is the offshoot of the CAC Worldwide.

  • Our Girls; Buhari Award; WAEC 38.6% Pass, is Nigeria failing youth? Japan’s classrooms

    Our Girls are still missing since April 15th 2015 and the struggle goes on, with renewed Presidential vigour. We pray that the end is in sight with the multi-country approach and a three-month time-line even as Nigerians seeking a better future join the 250,000 boat migrants and 2,300 drowned and killed by boat engine fumes while crossing the Mediterranean. And please, President Buhari, reject ‘awards’ for ‘Integrity’ et cetera till you leave office. This will save Nigeria millions in EXPENSIVE PLAQUES WHICH HAVE BECOME A PLAGUE of ‘Conference Awards’ with zero value. ‘GIVE NOTHING OR A BOOK. NOT A PLAQUE’! The epidemic of ‘Wall Plaque’ Awards is a malignantly corrupt Nigerian disease – ‘Plaque-itis’.

    Children are wonderful creations of God, entrusted to our care. We fail and should go to jail!  Today many Internally Displaced Persons are children with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome memories. Meanwhile their peers are faced with PTSD from near-war deprivations in ‘normal’ Nigerian schools. We weep for Franz Fanon’s ‘The Wretched Children of Nigeria’s Earth’ in 2015 – in 70,000 pigsty ‘schools’ containing 1,000,000 ‘empty brain’ classrooms and with ‘less than nothing’ education. For 30+ years, I have been distressed that millions of Nigerian women labour and many die in pools of blood, sometimes in front of me, only to deliver children condemned by politicians to an ‘Education Execution’ in ‘Nigeria’s Epidemic of Education Failure’. Every year nationwide, 1,000,000/class set fail promotion exams from JSS1 to SS3 -about 6,000,000 failing children/year. And no remedy, just more failed multibillion Conferences and Summits and UBEs! Why? And all the support from PTA, Old Students, NGOs, Corporate Social Responsibility-CSR, UN/UNESCO/UNICEF or foreign embassy/donor assistance is a pittance. It cannot replace the leaks or holes in the education sieve caused by thieving education schemes/scams and the unwillingness of parents to confront government and behave responsibly. No child bears the surname ‘Government’. We have a serial ‘Government rundown of education’!

    In Oyo State, the Japanese are building classrooms. Hurray??? Yes, ‘Thank you’ Japan where its people have had 10,000 MW Fukushima nuclear plant disaster–2.5 times Nigeria’s power, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods since 2011. In contrast, Nigeria’s only disaster is a corrupt ‘Politics and Civil Service System. Nigeria should be building classrooms for Japan, abi?  Why only classrooms from Japan? After or instead of the classrooms, Japan, famous for science, IT, cars, bullet trains, solar and wind power, must be asked to GIVE OYO STATE A MODERN ROBOTICS LABORATORY in the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, The Ibadan Polytechnic and even in the Federal Faculties of Technology, Engineering and College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, for robotic limb replacement post-Boko Haram. Or perhaps a NEW AGODI GARDENS JAPAN-OYO STATE SCIENCE EXHIBITION CENTRE for more science knowledge. Anyone can build classrooms. Only the brilliant build Science Exhibition Centres. Both Ajimobi and the Japanese are brilliant. Foreign aid is welcome. Is there a Japan/Oyo State Robotics Exchange Programme between LAUTECH, Polytechnic Ibadan and Okinawa Lego Robots? Please Google Robotic Teachers in Japan, Robotic Technology in Japan, IEEE-Xplore, innovate.ieee.org, International Robot Exhibition in Japan and 1000 Japanese robotic websites. Building on this Japan classroom link, the Ajimobi Government can ask Japan to support a massive science teacher upgrade packages, science development kits in schools including Government College, St Anne’s and School of Science School, Elekuro. Japan is a leader in wind and solar technology. Beyond building mundane classrooms, Nigerians await the ‘JAPAN TSUNAMI EFFECT IN SCIENCE EDUCATION AND ELECTRICITY IN OYO STATE. Governor Ajimobi can bring Oyo children into a 2015 HIGH TECH FUTURE.          

    Excuse me, in which continent is 38.6% [ 616,370/1,593,442] a pass mark? The Dark Continent? And half of those who passed were attending private schools. The real pass rate for ‘public schools’ will be 20%. So 80% of public school students are not ‘fit for purpose’ after 6 years, in spite of UBE, PTF and sundry bodies spending too much on administration and corrupt contracts.

    And who is responsible for children’s failure? Education is not ‘nuclear physics’ but brain-bathing in knowledge stew stirred by teachers with facilities. Teachers protested being sacked for failing Governor Oshiomole’s Teacher Quality Control Tests. He lost and so youth failed again. Without sacking, the solution is to USE HOLIDAYS FOR ‘INTENSIVE TEACHER RETRAINING’ including the ‘HUMAN RIGHT OF A CHILD NOT TO BE INJURED, ABUSED, ASSAULTED OR BULLIED’.

    The WAEC students for 2016 should be targeted by EDUCATION ELITE FORCE/NYSC with additional lessons in MORAL AND SOCIAL SKILLS for ‘change’.

    This WAEC failure is Nigeria’s failure. The wealth of UBEC and other agencies contrasts with the empty classrooms which lack simple keys to an educated brain – BOOKS, WALL CHARTS, SCIENCE LABORATORY EQUIPMENT, SPORTS EQUIPMENT AND LIBRARIES/LIBRARY BOXES. AND THEN WE WONDER WHY NIGERIA’S CHILDREN FAIL IN THE UNFRIENDLY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. We all know DECREPIT SCHOOLS- UNFIT FOR ANIMALS BUT ‘OK’ FOR NIGERIA’S CHILDREN. OUR MIS-EDUCATION IS A HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE OF NIGERIA’S CHILDREN.

    In government schools, THERE IS ONLY A 20% CHANCE OF PASSING AND AN 80% CHANCE OF FAILURE IN WAEC. Put this sign on the blackboard in every classroom as a permanent slogan for the education war.

    PS: Nigerian children do not need another Ladi Kwali Hall N1billion Education Summit. Under ‘change’, remove corruption from Education and booklists. ‘It is better.. to have a millstone around the neck.. than to harm… a child’ is a biblical quote for Education Stakeholders.

    ‘And who is responsible for children’s failure? Education is not ‘nuclear physics’ but brain-bathing in knowledge stew stirred by teachers with facilities’

     

  • Anti-corruption group seeks support for Buhari

    The initiator of Movement for Nigeria’s Total Transformation (MNTT), Chief Areoye Oyebola, has urged the middle class, professional bodies and human rights groups to help President Muhammadu Buhari win the war against corruption.

    The Ibadan-based social crusader and veteran journalist also enjoined the President to remain focused and resolute in the crusade for the elimination of corruption, terrorism and other social vices in the country .

    Oyebola , in a statement made available to reporters in Ibadan, yesterday called on Buhari to intensify and accelerate all necessary measures aimed at eliminating both external money laundering and domestic corruption which , according to him, had drained huge resources meant for national development for many decades.

    While praising the President for setting up the anti-corruption Committee made up of men of proven integrity, the Initiator of MNTT further called on the Committee to cast its net wide and collaborate with other respected and relevant international organisations to produce efficient and effective recommendations .

    The movement also expressed the belief that in the task of getting rid of corruption and other social vices in the country, there must be no sacred cows and no scapegoats.

    “ Hence, this is not the time to allow people of doubtful character and integrity to romance with the President, as they are likely to have hidden agenda . This is also not the time to seek for human face approach in tackling the problem of shameless graft that has inflicted endemic poverty and monumental sufferings on millions of Nigerians.”

    “Strangely enough, the conservative and lethargy middle class have remained unconcerned with the recent and most ridiculous uproar in the National Assembly where members were protesting against any reduction in their emoluments , which is four and half times the salary of President Barrack Obama , the President of the richest country on earth. Meanwhile, we salute the courage of a few National Assembly members who have openly indicated that they will fight for the reduction of their outrageous salaries and allowances.

     

  • Buhari to ministry: Develop ICT revenue potential

    Buhari to ministry: Develop ICT revenue potential

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday directed the Ministry of Communications Technology to work harder to fully develop the revenue-generation potential of Nigeria’s information technology sector.

    Speaking after receiving a briefing from the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Tunji Olaopa, President Buhari also directed the ministry to bring forward for his consideration and approval, all pending proposals for the development of the country’s IT sector which require the approval of the Federal Executive Council.

    Buhari in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said: “Where you don’t need EXCO approval and you are not in breach of the law and will not lose money, you can go ahead.

    “Now that oil costs less and we are contending with its theft, we have to move to areas where we can realize revenue quickly.”

    The President welcomed the plan by the ministry to use post offices across the country for IT and financial transactions especially in the rural communities, saying that he was happy to hear that “we are recovering the post offices from rats and rodents.”

     

     

  • Buhari orders probe of NITEL/MTEL sale

    Buhari orders probe of NITEL/MTEL sale

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday ordered an investigation into the sale of Nigeria Telecommunications Company (NITEL).

    He gave the directive while receiving briefing from officials of the federal Ministry of Communications Technology led by its Permanent Secretary, Dr. Tunji Olaopa.

    Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Olaopa said President Buhari who was not opposed to the sale of the national communication firm, wanted to ensure that the country was not shortchanged in the process.

    Accordingly, he said the President has directed him to detail the transaction in a memo and forward that to his office.

    He stressed that Buhari was deeply concerned about the transaction.

    He said: “The President was concerned by the quality of service of telecom operators. The President is very concerned about the whole issue of privatization that is hindering the investments in ICT infrastructure and that he will personally champion this.

    “The President talked about the potentials of the ICT sector in generating employment.

    “The President was concerned about the liquidation of NITEL. He is not opposed to its privatization but he wants to know and he wants us to bring a memo on how the whole transaction was undertaken so that he would know whether Nigeria was shortchanged.”

    The administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan sold the telecom company to NATCOM consortium for $252million in December 2014.

  • Fayose unfit to advocate for rule of law – APC

    Fayose unfit to advocate for rule of law – APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has declared that Governor Ayo Fayose is unfit to advocate for adherence to the rule of law in Nigeria, saying “a lot of impunity and constitutional breaches have been committed under his watch” in the state.

    The party in its reaction to Fayose’s latest outburst against President Muhammadu Buhari, said “it is contradictory for a serial lawbreaker to suddenly become a self-appointed apostle and advocate of the rule of law.”

    Fayose had warned Buhari to “tread cautiously,” alleging that he was aware of “sinister plots” to destabilize his government because of his “strong and truthful stands on national issues.”

    The governor, who vowed to continue speaking the truth no matter whose ox is gored, challenged the President to “tread cautiously,” saying “any President or governor that does not want opposition will eventually become a dictator.”

    But the APC in a statement issued on Tuesday by its Publicity Secretary in the state, Taiwo Olatunbosun, described the “ceaseless attacks and insults” on Buhari by  Fayose as a “devious bad-mouthing and reckless diversionary tactics to take  away public attention from his many alleged constitutional breaches.”

    He said “such petulant antics” cannot save the governor from facing justice over his many infractions on the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    According to him, the party was not surprised by the governor’s antics in his relentless media attacks on the President, noting, however, that “false accusations and sophistry would not distract the Federal Government from pursuing its anti-graft agenda and free the country of official impunity.”

    Olatunbosun said: “Impunity has wreaked havoc in the polity resulting in some cases to crimes against humanity. Fayose as a promoter of impunity is only trying to employ his basket-mouth antics to blackmail the President in his witch-hunting accusation in the media to preempt dispensation of justice in his financial crimes, acts of impunity and crimes against humanity.”

    “It is laughable and an insult on the intelligence of Nigerians for Fayose to accuse President Buhari of persecuting the opposition simply because he wants to recover funds stolen from the nation’s treasury and punish looters.

    “Fayose has persecuted members of the opposition in Ekiti State to no end. He runs them out of town as promised by declaring them wanted over trumped-up murder charges.”

     

  • Sultan to Buhari: corrupt officials should go to jail

    Sultan to Buhari: corrupt officials should go to jail

    The Sultan yesterday backed President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption battle, recommending jail for treasury looters.

    To Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III,  treasury plunderers  do not deserve mercy. They should be tried and jailed, the Sokoto monarch said.

    The monarch said: “It is our belief that all those found guilty should not only have their entire assets seized and forfeited to government but also face jail sentences.”

    It was all at the opening of a National Security Summit organised by the police in collaboration with The Sun Publishing Limited in Abuja. The President said more hands were on the way for the police.

    He spoke of a plan to recruit 10,000 to  strengthen the capacity of the police to fight insurgency and other crimes.

    The summit’s theme is “Community partnership approach to internal security and crime management”.

    Besides, Buhari said his administration was considering Close Circuit Television (CCTV) monitoring systems for major cities and towns to address security challenges.

    The Sultan was not alone in the support for the anti-corruption war. Former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu, publisher of The Sun, also backed the President.

    The former governor advised that the anti-graft battle should be targeted at the real culprits and not political foes.

    Speaking of the theme of the summit, the President reminded the police that no matter how well motivated, equipped and successful they think they are, they cannot operate without the support of the various communities.

    The President said: “The need for community input to crime management and policing in Nigeria has become more imperative, considering our current national security challenges in which kidnapping, armed robbery, murder, transitional crimes, terrorism and other organised crimes evolve and threaten our national values and overall progress as a nation.”

    To address the challenges, including unemployment, illiteracy, radicalisation, negative peer group influence, substance abuse and erosion of family and moral values, President Buhari restated his promise to empower the youth.

    “The Federal Government is planning to employ at least an extra 110, 000 police officers and establish a properly trained and equipped Federal Anti-Terrorism Multi-Agency Task Force that will effectively address the challenge of future insurgency in a sustainable manner.”

    On the installation of CCTV systems, the President said: “In order to further strengthen the security of the public space, consideration is being given to the extension of the CCTV Monitoring Systems across major cities and towns in the country while the police accountability mechanism will be strengthened.”

    He also spoke of efforts being made to enhance the operational capacity of policemen through a tailor-made training programme that will give them the right civil orientation in their roles as guidance of the constitution.

    Speaking on the welfare of police officers, the Sultan said: “We should face the task of reforming and repositioning the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to ensure that our security agencies truly become 21st Century organisations, able to discharge their mandate effectively and efficiently. We should be able to cater for their operational needs and the welfare of their members.

    “Institute national integrity plan for the country as soon as feasible, which will refocus our ethical, moral and spiritual energies and the indomitable spirit of our people into building a peaceful, prosperous and democratic country, which shall take its pride of place among the comity of nations.

    “The last few years have undoubtedly been trying period for this country. Blood has been shed with impunity and reckless abandon, lives have been lost, livelihoods have been shattered and entire communities have been dislocated. A significant percentage of our population has become refugees in our own homeland.”

    He, however, urged traditional and community/religious leaders and the entire citizenry to come together to ensure that the suspicion and mistrust of the past give way to major trust and understanding.

    The Sultan spoke about how the Caliphate fought corruption. He said: “As from early stage, the leaders realised that they needed honest people at all levels to be able to establish a decent state. Leaders, according to Sultan Mohammed Bello, are a spring of water and all your officials are like water ways. If the spring is pure, the filth of the waterways cannot harm it. If on the other hand the spring is polluted, the purity of the waterways will have little effect on the purity of the water. And I can say Alhamdulilai, in Mr. President, we have a pure spring as our president.

    “On his employees, the ruler was asked to estimate their wealth before appointing them and should watch their conduct at all times. He shall confiscate whatever is in excess of their legitimate income and if in doubt, confiscate half of it. To his subject, you will be shepherd of flock amongst ravening lions, for from evil employees proceeds all manner of corruption in every learning.

    “On bribery and gift taking, Sheik Abdullahi Fodio could not be more emphatic… Another thing agreed upon as being illegal is the collection of bribes on behalf of the leader or other officials like the judges and other employees. It is also illegal to accept gifts from the common people for such action is the door leading to all calamities. Where a gift finds its way to a man of authority, justice and goodness will find their way out of him and what he does is to purchase for himself a place in hell.

    “Mr President, we are 100 percent in support of you and your fight against corruption in this country and it is our belief that all those found guilty should not only have their entire assets seized and forfeited to government but also face jail sentences.”

    Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase urged the President to persuade the National Assembly to pass the Police Trust Fund Bill into law.

    The Bill will address adequate funding for the police.

    Arase said: “Through effective funding, the welfare needs of police personnel will be met and the challenge of corruption that has eroded professionalism and public respect for police officers will be addressed.

    “Consider funding options for the police. In so doing, consideration may be given to the resuscitation and passage of the Police Trust Fund (Establishment, etc) Bill, which has been pending in the National Assembly since 2012.

    “Like the Education Tax Fund, the bill seeks to tax corporate entities in order to complement the Federal Government in funding the police.

    “If passed into law, it will give effect to the concept of public-police partnership while addressing the funding challenges of the Police on sustainable basis.

    “This is because modern policing is a cost-intensive venture, but the benefits of a well-funded Police Force far outweigh the value of the budgetary investment. For it is only through adequate funding that the huge logistics demand of the police can be met and operational efficiency assured.”

    Kalu said the President must be focused in his fight against corruption.

    His words: “Do not pursue corruption the way some of your predecessors pursued corruption. The fight should not be by fighting individuals that have not done anything, but you should fight anybody, no matter his tribe, ethnicity, colour or person. Whoever is involved in corruption should not be spared.

    “Corruption in the past had been fought based on political disagreement; corruption in the past had been fought because you don’t like a face.

    “Don’t focus on catching any governor. If you cannot catch the governor because he has immunity, please don’t catch the mother like the former President said,” Kalu said.

     

  • Buhari: no pressure will derail war against corruption

    Buhari: no pressure will derail war against corruption

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said that no amount of pressure will make him give up on the war against corruption.

    He spoke through an address delivered by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, to a group of Nigerians under the aegies of “Nigerians March Against Corruption,” who were at the gate of the Presidential Villa.

    Members of the group came on a solidiarity visit to pledge their support for the Buhari administration’s  anti-corruption campaign.

    The President promised a relentless prosecution of the war with due regard for the rule of law.

    According to him, all persons charged with stealing the nation’s resources will have their day in court and that, upon conviction, their ill-gotten wealth will be seized and returned to government coffers.

    He said: “I believe it is time for Nigeria to change course. That is why I sought  election as President and got elected. As President, I am determined that Nigeria must move away from a course of endemic corruption that was leading us to perdition.

    “There can be no question of our willfully allowing anyone to get away with corruption. No matter the pressure and entreaties, the anti-corruption war will continue and all accused persons will have their day in court.”

    Describing the group’s support as encouraging, the President reaffirmed his commitment to curbing insecurity in the country and boosting employment opportunities for Nigerians, especially the youth.

    He called for the continued support and solidarity of Nigerians as his administration works to correct the wrongs of the past.

    The Nigerians March Against Corruption group led by Aisha Yesufu had condemned recent statements by some individuals against the President’s anti-corruption posture.

    They assured the President that the vast majority of ordinary Nigerians fully supported his ongoing efforts to curb corruption and urged him not to be deterred by the antics of those who do not share in his laudable vision of a fairer, more equitable, corruption-free and progressive nation.

    Among the inscriptions on the placards displayed by the protesters include: ”I voted Buhari to fight corruption” and “NASS, epitome of corruption”.

     

  • Buhari accepts Abdullahi’s resignation from Customs

    Buhari accepts Abdullahi’s resignation from Customs

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday accepted the resignation of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi.

    Abdullahi is billed to proceed on his voluntary retirement from Tuesday, August 18.

    The Customs boss had earlier written a letter dated August 3 to the President notifying him of his desire to proceed on voluntary retirement from Tuesday.

    President Buhari’s approval of Abdullahi’s request was dated August 14 and personally signed by the President.

    In the letter, the President thanked the NCS boss for his services to the county in the last six years.

    The President’s letter, titled “Voluntary retirement from the Nigeria Customs Service” read: “Dear, Alhaji D.I. Abdullahi. I write to acknowledge the receipt of your letter Ref. No. NCS/ADM/HQ/P. 35802 of 3rd August, 2015 conveying your decision to voluntarily retire from the Nigeria Customs Service with effect from Tuesday, 18th August, 2015.

    “I note with appreciation your services to this nation, especially as the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service in the last six (6) years.

    “Accordingly, I hereby approve your voluntary retirement from the Nigeria Customs Service with effect from 18th August 2015.

    “I wish you the very best in your future endeavours.

    “Yours sincerely, Muhammadu Buhari.”

    The Nigeria Customs boss had in his letter to the President thanked him for the confidence and trust reposed on him since he (Buhari) was inaugurated on May 29.

    Stressing that he would be six years in office as the Comptroller-General of the NCS by August 18, he recalled that on assumption of office, he articulated six-point agenda which he vigorously pursued.

    tering understanding of the Service in the eye of the general public using an intensified and a well-coordinated public relations platform.

    Under his tenure, he said that the revenue collection into various coffers of government increased drastically.

    He also pointed out that the Service’s average monthly collection in 2009 when he took over was about N29billion, while the average monthly collection is currently between N90billion and N100billion.

     

    His decision to go on voluntary resignation, he said, was based on the need to allow young bloods to takeover the mantle of leadership of the Service in order to sustain and improve on his legacy.

    “While thanking Your Excellency and indeed Nigerians for the opportunity to serve and contribute my quota to the development of our fatherland, I wish to seek approval of Your Excellency to be allowed to retire voluntarily on 18th August 2015.

    “This decision is taken with a view to allowing young bloods to takeover the mantle of leadership of the Service in order to sustain and improve on my legacy.” He stated

    But the President was yet to name Abdullahi’s successor as at the time of this report.

     

  • Shippers to Buhari: reposition maritime

    Shippers to Buhari: reposition maritime

    President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to reposition the maritime industry.

    The Shippers Association of Lagos State said Buhari should tackle the high cost of cargo processing at seaports, which, it said, is caused by the multiple charges on imported goods.

    Speaking in Lagos, the association’s President Mr Jonathan Nicol, listed the five per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) and the one per cent Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) charge as  some of the charges.

    The others are the 35 per cent Automobile Levy and the Common External Tariffs levy.

    According to him, these charges on one consignment affect shippers’ profit.

    The shippers urged the Federal Government to cut the costs to make business easy at the ports.

    They also urged the Federal Ministry of Finance to assist to solve  shippers’ problems.

    The shippers’ boss said the government should think about the huge investments in building seaports as well as maritime prospects in the next 20 years to attract more cargo.

    Nicol also suggested that plans must be made by the government to secure and promote the local industries, the manufacturing sector and the shippers.

    He noted that it was the duty of the government to encourage private entrepreneurs toward sustainable contributions to developing the economy.

    “When you add the costs of generating power in a factory with salaries, these costs cannot be by-passed whether you like it or not.

    “You must provide power for your factory and you must pay staff salaries,” he said.

    Nicol said the bottlenecks at the ports were the reason the government’s appointed the Council as the economic regulator, adding that the Council was aware of some of the problems.