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Tag: Fed Govt

  • Fed Govt saves $1.7b on JV Cash Call arrears

    Fed Govt saves $1.7b on JV Cash Call arrears

    A cash-call exit agreement between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Joint Ventures partners, the Federal Government has saved about $1.7billion.

    It will repay the Cash Call arrears of $5.1billion within five years.

    These facts are contained in a document titled “The new JV Self-Funding Model/ Cash Call Exit: Issues and implications”, which has been presented to the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    A critical part of the document, which was obtained by our correspondent, borders on “Key Negotiated Terms” on the lingering JV Cash Call arrears.

    The terms were part of issues discussed at the November 21 session of the FAAC Post-Mortem Sub-Committee meeting.

    The key terms are as follows: “On JV Cash Call arrears, the full and final settlement of the arrears amount to $5.1billion which represents 75% of the reported arrears of $6.8billion.

    “The negotiated amount ($5.1billion) is inclusive of indigenous JV partners ($436.09m). The duration of repayment is five (5) years.

    “The $1.7billion reduction write-down will not qualify as a tax- deductible expense by the International Oil Companies JV partners for PPT determination.

    “No tax payable on arrears to be repaid. Receipt by the IOC JV partners of the repayment of Cash Call arrears of $5.1billion represents refund of advances made on behalf of NNPC and is not revenue to IOCs. Therefore, it is not subject to any tax, fee or levy.”

    It was also agreed that the “repayment source will be NNPC’s share of incremental production from JV activities after payment of royalties.

    “100% of PPT from incremental Crude Oil Production is payable to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) after deduction of related cost of production and accumulated arrears.”

    On the 2016 JV Cash Call funding shortfall, the terms indicated that there will be “phased payment of the shortfall to manage impact on the foreign reserves.

    “The parties will set up a mechanism to ensure the remaining future approved 2016 JV Cash Call funding shortfalls are settled installmentally up to April 2018.

    The NNPC and its Joint Venture partners had on December 15, 2016 signed a cash-call exit agreement. The JV Partners are Shell, Total, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and Oando.

    At the ceremony, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, said with the agreement, the Upstream petroleum sector will soon be upbeat in a flurry of activities.

    ”This event is significant because it has taken us to a point where we can compete with our colleagues all over world.

    “We have dealt with the downstream, and this is probably the most important item in the upstream and that is obvious we will begin to go into the policy measures and infrastructural development and the rest after the signing ceremony,” he said.

    The Group Managing Director of NNPC GMD, Dr. Maikanti Baru, said the exit cash call agreements comprised three components which are: the process of settling the pre-2016 cash call areas; the process of sustaining the cash call payment from 2017; and agreement and settlement over performance in 2016.

    NNPC, through its General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Nu Ughamadu, had said:  “Under the new arrangement the entire NNPC equity Oil and gas revenues are now to be paid directly into the Federation Account.

    “Hitherto, competition from other appropriated items of expenditure in the Federal Government’s budget has always limited the deduction of technical cost required to fund the cash calls on monthly basis.

    “It is expected that execution of this agreement would end the long standing cash call challenges that have impacted the Nigerian oil and gas industry over the years.

    “With this arrangement, the Federal Government will continue to receive royalties, taxies and profit from its equity share of JV oil and gas production while the cost of operation is deducted upfront.

    “The agreement provides that the outstanding cash call arrears will be repaid within a period of five years through incremental production revenues without impacting the established based production revenue.”

     

  • Fed Govt unfair to Niger Delta

    Fed Govt unfair to Niger Delta

    The Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Mr. Onofiok Luke, has asked the Federal Government to disburse funds for the Ogoni clean-up with the same speed with which it released $1 billion to fight Boko Haram in the North East.

    He asked the government to take necessary steps to ensure an equal release of funds for development programmes in the oil-rich region.

    Luke also questioned the imbalances in the remittances to Federal Government accounts, which reflect in the remittances to states, especially those of the Niger Delta.

    He spoke yesterday in Uyo, at a public hearing on the proposed constitution amendment.

    His words: “There has to be a reward for the peace in the Niger Delta; we must learn to reward peace and decorum in this country. We have today approved the release of $1 billion to quell Boko Haram activities; we have no problem at all with securing our brothers and sisters.

    “But the money approved for the clean-up of Ogoni has not been released till today. That clean-up has not gone to the level expected, but we have gotten $1 billion for the fight against Boko Haram. We are not quarrelling with this; all that we are demanding is a level playing turf.

    “The same way you are making quick release of jumbo funds to fight Boko Haram, you should be able to give even more towards development and as an appreciation of the peace we have ensured in Akwa Ibom.

    “You should be able to do this through developing the states and funding federal projects, which produces the wealth from where the Excess Crude Oil account is funded.”

    On the devolution of power, Luke said: “So many times, the Federal Government has failed to give the Niger Delta its dues. Our dues have not been given to the state governments as they ought to. These are issues that devolution of power and restructuring will address.”

    Present at the public hearing were former federal and state lawmakers, local government chairmen, royal fathers, youth and student groups, civil liberties organisations, labour and trade unions.

    The house set up an ad hoc committee, headed by Udo Kerian Akpan, to meet with stakeholders and the public on the proposed amendments to enable the house vote on the 15 items in line with the wishes of the people.

  • Fed Govt orders Dangote, BUA to vacate disputed mining site

    Fed Govt orders Dangote, BUA to vacate disputed mining site

    •Security agents to halt firms’ operations at Okpella • Our position, by BUA

    THE Federal Government has ordered the Dangote Group and the BUA Group to vacate the mining site causing dispute between them in Obuh community, Okpella, Estako East Local Government Area, Edo State.

    This, according to Governor Godwin Obaseki, is to avoid breakdown of law and order in the area.

    Obaseki announced the Federal Government’s directive yesterday at a meeting with leaders and elders of Okpella community at the Government House, Benin.

    The governor told the community leaders that the Federal Government decided to suspend mining activities in the area since both parties involved in the crisis are in court and to allow peaceful resolution of the crisis.

    Obaseki said: “We are following the rule of law; there is a dispute. It is not unusual to have disputes over assets, but they are laid down methods to resolving disputes of this nature. What we understand as a government is that there is dispute or claim between two parties over an existing mining right and the Mining Act of 2007 is quite clear, the Federal Ministry of Mines decides on how to award or issue leases.

    “In this particular case, there are multiple claims and they have all gone to court. We have a letter from the Federal Ministry of Mines and Power instructing that the party currently mining that particular site should vacate pending the outcome of the decision in court. So, the position of Edo State government today is that court orders must be obeyed. Federal Government´s instruction should be obeyed. That mine should be shut until the outcome or the determination of the case in court.”

    Consequently, the governor directed the Police Commissioner and the Army Brigade Commander in the state to halt further operations at the Obu mines with immediate effect.

    The governor described Okpella as the mineral gem of Edo State and as such mineral resources ought to be a blessing to the people, “but regrettably, the situation on ground has degenerated to a security threat and therefore there is the need to nip it in the bud”.

    The Okpela chiefs lauded the government’s decision and declared their loyalty to the state government.

    Okpella chiefs’ spokesman Chief Moshood Aliu told the governor that they were in his office to declare their support for the state government’s effort at industrialising the state and for him to intervene in the dispute between Dangote Cement and BUA.

    The community heads added that the youths were being incited against one another in a bid to enforce perceived right to ownership of the mines, a situation, they said, generating tension in the area.

    Spokesman of Okpella community Mr. Ayuba Giwa said the Federal Ministry of Mines and Solid Minerals ought to be more prudent in granting mineral licence.

    “We urged all parties to abide by the rule of law and the rule of law includes the fact that in 1994, Okpella took this matter to the Federal High Court in Benin and judgment was given in favour of Okpella. “

    In its response, the BUA group said:

    “We heard of the alleged closing down of the Obu mines in Okpella, Edo State by Edo State Governor.

    “Whilst this remains in the territory of hearsay, our position on this matter remains very clear. Just as the Edo State Government said in its statement, this is an issue no state government has jurisdiction over as it is a Federal Issue.

    “It is, however, interesting to note that the mine under contention, ML2541, has been claimed repeatedly by the Ministry of Mines and Dangote to be in Okene, Kogi State.

    “Thus, we are curious and are at great loss as to why the Governor of Edo State is closing down a mine in Edo State, which has been claimed by the other parties involved to be outside his state in Okene, Kogi State and which the purported ML2541 licence also states clearly.

    “The ministry has written us prior and our response was published in our open letter to His Excellency, The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on December 4, 2017.

    “This case remains in a competent court of jurisdiction which has ordered all parties – BUA, Dangote, the Ministry of Mines and others to maintain status quo and we will continue to abide by the dictates of the court as a responsible corporate citizen.

    “We are however yet to receive some form of official communication asking us to close our mining sites ML18912 and ML18913 in Edo State, thus this alleged closing down report still remains in the territory of hearsay.

    “We will respond accordingly when and if we get an official communication from the proper authorities.”

     

     

  • 20 years after, Fed Govt cedes Presidential Lodge to Lagos

    20 years after, Fed Govt cedes Presidential Lodge to Lagos

    •Ambode says asset will boost economy

    THE final papers on the transfer of the Presidential Lodge on Marina to the Lagos State government were signed in Abuja yesterday.

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and Works, Power & Housing Minister Babatunde Fashola signed the documents on behalf of the federal and Lagos governments at the at the Works, Power & Housing ministry’s Conference Room in Abuja.

    Yesterday’s final handing over came 20 years after the Lagos State government showed interest in taking over the management of the edifice that once served as Presidential Lodge.

    Speaking after the signing, Ambode said the asset transfer will not only boost the state’s economy, but, shore up the tourism potential of the Centre of Excellence.

    He described the development as a testament of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s commitment to bring a positive change to the national’s industrial hub.

    Besides commending the President, Ambode laos lauded the roles played by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Fashola (his successor), officials of the ministry,  and the permanent secretary in the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, as well as other stakeholders, who ensured the final transfer of the asset to Lagos.

    The governor said: “We are strongly delighted to be here on this historic day; on a day that actually finalises the intention of Mr. President to bring positive change to Lagos.

    “We want to sincerely appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari who has graciously approved that the Presidential Lodge be released to Lagos State and for the use of Lagos State which, just has said by the Minister, we have been trying to get for the last 20 years.

    “We are pleased that on a day like this, it is my predecessor and present Minister of Works who is now doing the final handing over of which he had also been part of that process to get this asset back to Lagos but in God’s own doing, the Minister is in the position today to do the final documentation and we are very grateful for that.”

    Alluding to the fact that the development was a sign of greater collaboration between the federal and Lagos State governments, the governor described the transfer as the beginning of a process for the state to take over the management of more federal assets.

    Ambode reassured that his administration will put the edifice to good use and transform it into a national monument to boost tourism and grow the economy of Lagos and Nigeria.

    He said: “This is a sign of greater things and greater collaboration between the Federal Government and Lagos State. We believe strongly that this singular gesture is part of what will improve the economy of Lagos because our intention is to turn that particular asset into a national monument where we can christen it a National Heritage Centre for Leadership and we will use it also as a tourist centre to bring Nigerians and foreigners to come to Nigeria and as well use that as a means of improving on the economy of Lagos State and Nigeria.

    “On a final note, I want to show my sincere appreciation to the Minister and hope that this particular event will bring more good stories as we continue to see how much we can strive to get some of these assets back to Lagos State.”

    Fashola congratulated his successor and Lagosians for the N1.04 trillion budget estimates, presented by the governor to the State House of Assembly on Monday.

    He expressed the hope that the proposal will improve quality service delivery to the people of the state.

    According to the minister, the signing of the document formally vests ownership of the Presidential Lodge in the State sovernment, describing it as a fulfillment of the promise made by President Buhari.

    He said: “It is gratifying that the long journey spanning, about two decades, had finally come to an end. This is a long journey that has come to an end; a journey that has taken almost two decades when the Lagos State Government asked that the property be vested in Lagos but for reasons that remained difficult to understand it did not happen but the President of change who is a promise keeper has made it happen.”

    At the historic transfer were: Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Tunji Bello; Information & Strategy Commissioner Steve Ayorinde and his Waterfront Infrastructure Development counterpart Adebowale Akinsanya.

     

  • N750b capex fund coming, says Fed. Govt

    N750b capex fund coming, says Fed. Govt

    A total of N750 billion would be released this week to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government for implementation of capital projects contained in the 2017 Budget.

    If the capital release is made as planned, it will bring total sum so far relaesed by the Federal Government for capital projects this year to N1.2 trillion comprising N450 billion earlier released.

    The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun,  spoke in Abuja yesterday when she received a delegation of 30 French firms and investors that expressed interest to invest in key sectors of the Nigerian economy.

    She said: “What the government is doing is to provide enabling infrastructure that would bring potential into reality. Last year, we released N1.3 trillion of capital and so far this year we have released N450 billion and this week we will release another N750 billion. This will take the release to N1.2 trillion by the end of the year.”

    The head of the French delegation, Mr Philippe Labonne, said French investors have indicated interest in investing in key sectors of the economy such as banking, infrastructure, renewable energy, agriculture and youth empowerment.

    The decision of the firms to invest in Nigeria he said was in keeping with French government directive for French frims to increase their investments in Nigeria.

    To achieve their investment objective, Labonne said most of the French frims would form strategic partnerships with their Nigerian counterpart because “the Nigerian economic environment has been encouraging following the recent stability in Nigeria’s foreign exchange market.”

    He added that the investors wer in Nigeria “to assess the investment environment in Nigeria to enable us take advantage of Nigeria’s investment opportunities. We have about 30 firms in this delegation in sectors such as infrastructure, services, agriculture and banking and the purpose of this meeting is to identify key sectors where we can invest.”

  • World Bank, Fed Govt discuss power sector recovery programme

    World Bank, Fed Govt discuss power sector recovery programme

    The World Bank Group and the Federal Government have concluded two days of high-level consultations on the Power Sector Recovery Programme (PSRP).

    A joint statement by the World Bank and the Federal Government through the Special Adviser, Communications to the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Hakeem Bello, said the PSRP is a comprehensive programme of policy, legal, regulatory, operational and financial interventions that will restore service efficiency and long-term power sector viability.

    The measures that will be implemented through 2021, are aimed at improving transparency, service delivery and re-establishing investor confidence, and hence, investment in the sector. Accelerating electricity access including through off-grid public private partnerships is an important component of the PSRP.

    The meetings assessed progress in implementing the Programme and followed on similar high-level meetings that took place in Abuja in December 2016 and in Washington D.C during the 2017 World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings.

    The Federal Government clarified progress made to date and next steps on key components of the PSRP.

    The federal government has prepared a financing plan to ensure financial sustainability of the power sector and included it in the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper submitted to the National Assembly in October 2017.

    The financing plan will be monitored regularly and incorporate contingencies should the sector shortfall deviate from the base case assumptions until retail tariffs are adjusted in line with improved service delivery to attain cost recovery by 2021.

    The PSRP envisages measures to contain costs and carefully manage contingent liabilities to ensure cost-reflective and affordable tariffs. In this context, it was agreed that existing generation infrastructure assets will need to be optimized before the sector assumes new financial obligations that could not be supported.

    Furthermore, least cost planning for the interconnected grid system will be institutionalised and its governance arrangements elaborated in the PSRP. The federal government anticipates that all arms of government and the National Assembly will continue to advance the programme.

    The parties agreed that the process of “Market Reset”, redefining the revenue requirement of the sector based on new performance parameters and detailed investment plans, will be implemented rigorously, transparently and in a highly consultative manner.

    A communications campaign has commenced that will facilitate the participation of all stakeholders including consumers. The Market Reset is to be led by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) whose independence is recognised by the federal government and which needs to have sufficient resources with which to discharge its mandate.

    The World Bank delegation informed the federal government that it was pleased with progress in implementing the early actions of the PSRP. “The World Bank is committed to assisting the federal government with Programme implementation working closely with the PSRP Implementation Monitoring Team, which reports directly to the Vice-President. The World Bank will continue the preparation of the proposed $1 billion Performance Based Loan (PBL) to support the Programme.

    The federal government and the World Bank Group agreed on the necessary next steps to present the PBL to the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors for their consideration.

    “This administration is fully committed to implementing the PSRP.  We believe that the PSRP is the clearest pathway to reform the power sector and its success is contingent on a strict adherence to performance and programme implementation monitoring which I will continue to give a priority from my office” said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    “PSRP  is  an  intervention  that  we  have  been working  on in collaboration  with  the  Federal  Ministry  of Power,  Works  and  Housing  and  the  World  Bank.  We are very confident that this laudable and vital programme will make a fundamental difference in the economy in particular and the country in general.” said Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, Minister of Finance.

    The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said “The federal government is committed to addressing the challenges in the power sector as part of its efforts  towards  achieving  economic  recovery  and  accelerating  growth.”

    On his part, Riccardo Puliti, World Bank Senior Director for Energy and Extractive Industries, observed,  “The discussions we had with the Government demonstrated that there is strong momentum in the power sector  and  government  commitment  to  taking  the  critical  next  steps  that  will  allow  us  to  present  the Performance Based Loan to our Board of Executive Directors.”

     

  • Remove tariffs on anti-diabetes drugs, others, Fed Govt urged

    The Federal Government has been urged to remove tariffs on imported anti-diabetes drugs and devices to make them affordable.

    Experts gave the advice at the capacity building workshop for reporters organised by a multinational pharmaceutical company, Sanofi Aventis Pharmaceuticals, as part of activities marking the World Diabetes Day.

    A major highlight of the workshop was the revelation that many sufferers of the disease could not control their blood sugar as the cost of drugs and monitoring devices have become too expensive and unreachable.

    A Senior Lecturer/Consultant Endocrinologist at the Department of Medicine, College of Medicine/University of Lagos, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Dr Ifedayo Odeniyi, said diabetes is on the increase worldwide, especially in developing countries.

    He disclosed that over in 100,000 deaths were caused by the disease  in the country in 2013, adding that the disease affects about 5.5 per cent of the population and could rise to 6.1 percent, if urgent steps were not taken to curtail its spread.

    According to the medic, Nigeria has the third highest incidence of diabetes in Africa, after South Africa with 9.7 percent and Tanzania 7.8 percent.

    He regretted that many people do not know they have the disease because its symptoms occur when it has progressed to an advanced stage.

    He however said while the disease has no cure, people with diabetes could live to a ripe old age and enjoy a good quality of life, if they strive to control the disease.

    Diabetes control, he said, involved good diet, exercise, use of drugs and  compliance with the doctor’s instructions. He advised those with the disease to work with the health care givers in managing their condition.

    The goal of diabetes management, Odeniyi said, is to prevent complications which, when they occur, could be deadly or very expensive to manage.

    “Poorly managed diabetes leads to serious complications and early death,” he said.

    Such complications, he said, include blindness, kidney failure, heart diseases, infections, skin diseases, among several others.

    Head, External Affairs Sanofi Nigeria-Ghana, Mr. Oladimeji Agbolade, urged the participants to be relentless in their enlightenment efforts about diabetes, adding that the disease is fast becoming an epidemic worldwide.

    He urged the Federal Government to implement the proposed policy aimed at ensuring that every patient who reports in the hospital has their blood glucose measured  just as it is done with blood pressure to ensure early detection of the disease.

  • Fed Govt inaugurates committee for Ekwueme’s burial

    Fed Govt inaugurates committee for Ekwueme’s burial

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, yesterday inaugurated a committee to oversee the burial of former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme.

    Ekwueme died in the United Kingdom (UK) on November 19.

    He was 85.

    Mustapha eulogised the late Dr Ekwueme’s personality, who he said served his fatherland meritoriously.

    The SGF assured the family, who are part of the committee, that the late Vice-President would be given a befitting burial.

    He said the Federal Government would foot the bill and the evacuation of the body from London hospital to Nigeria.

    A statement by the Deputy Director (Press), Mohammed T. K. Nakorji, on behalf of the SGF, listed the members of the committee as: Mr. Boss Mustapha (Chairman), Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN, member), Alhaji Lai Mohammed (member).

    Othera are: Finance Minister, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, Labour and Employment Minister, Dr. Chris N. Ngige, Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris and the Director-General of Directorate of State Services (DSS), Mallam Lawal Musa Daura.

    Also in the committee are: Pastor Goodheart Obi Ekwueme, Prof. Osita Chukwulobelu (SSG, Anambra State), Dr. R. P. Ugo (member/Secretary).

    The Permanent Secretary at the General Services Office, Dr. Roy Ugo, will also serve as the committee’s Secretary.

  • No cause for alarm over terror alert, says Fed Govt

    No cause for alarm over terror alert, says Fed Govt

    Nigerians were advised yesterday not to panic over that alert of a likely terror attack on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and elsewhere.

    Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed said in a statement signed by his Special Adviser Segun Adeyemi: “There is no cause for alarm despite the latest travel advisories by some Western countries.

    ”We know that the terrorists, who have been massively degraded and put on the run have been looking for soft targets to attack.

    “This is the nature of terrorism all over the world, as can be seen in recent attacks in the UK, France and Egypt, among others.

    ”That is why the Nigerian security agencies have continued to be on the alert, even if their efforts have been largely unobtrusive so as not to disrupt the daily activities of the citizenry.

    ”Such efforts are routinely stepped up during religious festivals.”

    Mohamned said the Federal Government would continue to take adequate measures to protect the lifes and property of citizens and non-citizens alike.

    He stressed that the military remained unrelenting in ensuring that the terrorists neither regroup nor regained the capacity to carry out organised attacks.

    He said the Federal Government’s sensitisation campaign on security, with the punchline ”if you see something, say something”, would be stepped up on national radio and television.

    The Minister advised the citizens to be security conscious and to report suspicious people and objects to the security agencies.

  • Fed Govt implements revised import, export guidelines next month

    The Federal Government is to begin the implementation of the 2017 Revised Import and Export Guidelines in January, 2018, as part of its policy of enhancing the ease of doing business in the country.

    The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, who stated this at a sensitisation workshop on 2017 Revised Import and Export Guidelines in Lagos at the weekend, said  it is mandatory for both imports and exports to be palletised in containers as is the pratice globally.

    She said the take-off date was fixed after due consultations with relevant stakeholders, saying that imports already prepared for shipment into the country will not be affected by the new policy.

    In a speech delivered on her behalf by the Director, Home Finance Department in the ministry, Mrs. Olubunmi Siyanbola, Mrs. Adeosun said the Federal Government has considered all the concerns raised by the trading public regarding the palletisation policy.

    The review of the Nigerian Export and Import Guidelines was motivated by the desire of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to deepen ease of doing business in line with the Executive Order 1, she explained.

    Mrs Adeosun said attention has been focused principally on measures to ensure drastic reduction in time spent on processing of exports, ensure a 24-hour clearance of imported cargoes and block leakages of government revenue.

    The minister said Nigeria has moved to the 145th position out of the 190 countries in the World Bank’s ease of Doing Business Index for 2018.

    She said the Federal Government has adopted a number of measures to improve trading across the country’s border. The measures include reduction of documentation requirements from 10 to seven days for exports; and from 14 to eight days for imports. She said additional responsibilities have also been given to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) and sanctions have been introduced to enforce compliance.

    Mrs Adeosun said the workshop was, “an auspicious start to interacting with (the) trading public and is tailored to enlighten the relevant stakeholders on the major provisions of the 2017 revised Import and Export Guidelines”.

    Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Dr. Mahmoud Isa-Dutse said until the review, the Export and Import Guidelines had become obsolete and had constituted a huge administrative impediment to smooth export and import operations in Nigeria. He said the Export Guidelines came into effect in 2007, while the Import Guidelines had been in existence since 2013.

    Represented by the Director of Information in the Ministry, Salisu Na’inna Dambatta (who endorsed a statement from the forum), the permanent secretary expressed optimism that the revised guidelines will eliminate the bottlenecks that have militated against efficient conduct of trade across the country’s borders, which had contributed to the declining ranking of the country in this regard.

    The one-day sensitisation workshop featured presentation of papers, panel discussions, and questions and answers session.

    A communiqué was issued at the end of the workshop, which recommended that there should be a Ministerial Directive to all agencies to be integrated into the Single Window Platform in order to have seamless transaction, adding that government should ensure that Scanners at the ports are functional.

    The communique further recommended the use plastic pallets; that Ministry of Mines and Steel Development should be made to own its guidelines in line with the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF) structure.

    Shipping lines should not be sanctioned or penalised for vessels not palletised but the importers should bear the risk while there is need to automate the NXP Form by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the communique added.