The Nation Newspaper

Tag: implemented

  • Why Cabotage Act can’t be implemented, by lawyers

    Maritime lawyers and stakeholders have explained why the Cabotage Law cannot be implemented.

    They said the Federal Govern-ment’s failure to assist shipowners, banks’refusal to support indige-nous shipowners to buy sufficient vessels and the conspiracy by some importers and clearing agents to deceive security agents at the ports were affecting the execution.

    At a stakeholders’ forum in Lagos, a maritime lawyer, Mr Mohammed Usman, described the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act, 2003 as a protectionist law to create exclusive areas in the coastal trade for indigenous operators. Indigenous ship owners, he  said, had complained that the waiver clause has made the implementation of the law difficult.

    Mohammed urged the  government to support the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in executing its mandate.

    “This is the time for the Federal Government to give the necessary support to NIMASA and see to the implementation of the Cabotage Act.

    “There is no doubt that some powerful individuals in government are trying to frustrate the implementation of the law.

    “Nigerians are waiting to see the government that will see to the quick implementation of the law. Any government that is ready to enforce the law would make it compulsory that every ship that calls at our port should first declare its arrival to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigeran Customs Service (NSC), NIMASA and the Navy. By doing so, it would become easy to implement the law,” he said.

    Usman said the implementation should not be a problem. “NIMASA does not even need to get to the jetty to arrest a vessel. It can ask a vessel to tell her its point of loading. So, if it is offshore Lagos or offshore Cotonou, the agency can then verify if it is on the list of Cabotage registered vessels. Therefore, implementation should not be a major issue. From all indications, there must be a kind of conspiracy between the operators and people that grant approval for foreign vessels to come into the country,” he said.

    He said the shipowners must be supported by the government and banks to buy sufficient vessels to carry out coastal trade.

    ”Much as it is estimated that marine transportation offshore alone has a potential annual revenue profit of millions of naira as against coastal trade in commodity and products, it is believed that harnessing the opportunities of effective implementation of Cabotage will provide a springboard for indigenous operators to acquire requisite capacity and expertise to launch themselves into global shipping.

    “The target is for Nigerian carriers to have a share of about $4 billion per annum gross value of freight in and out of Nigeria. Only 20 per cent share of the market will stimulate the local economy to the tune of about $600 million gross per annum,” Usman said.

    Another operator, Olive Venture Chairman, Mr Samson Ojikutu, said the Cabotage regime covers ship building, ship ownership, manning and registration. Unlike the Cabotage Law in other maritime nations, he said Nigeria’s Cabotage law provides for waivers.

    Ojikutu said the government should stir maritime development in the country by using its agencies to coordinate and regulate the industry.

    Felix Ogomoju also agreed with them.

  • Why Cabotage Act can’t be implemented, by lawyers

    Maritime lawyers and stakeholders have explained why the Cabotage Law cannot be implemented.

    They said the Federal Govern-ment’s failure to assist shipowners,   banks’refusal to support indige-nous shipowners to buy sufficient vessels and the conspiracy by some importers and clearing agents to deceive security agents at the ports were affecting the execution.

    At a stakeholders’ forum in Lagos, a maritime lawyer, Mr Mohammed Usman, described the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act, 2003 as a protectionist law to create exclusive areas in the coastal trade for indigenous operators. Indigenous ship owners, he  said, had complained that the waiver clause has made the implementation of the law difficult.

    Mohammed urged the  government to support the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in executing its mandate.

    “This is the time for the Federal Government to give the necessary support to NIMASA and see to the implementation of the Cabotage Act.

    “There is no doubt that some powerful individuals in government are trying to frustrate the implementation of the law.

    “Nigerians are waiting to see the government that will see to the quick implementation of the law. Any government that is ready to enforce the law would make it compulsory that every ship that calls at our port should first declare its arrival to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigeran Customs Service (NSC), NIMASA and the Navy. By doing so, it would become easy to implement the law,” he said.

    Usman said the implementation should not be a problem. “NIMASA does not even need to get to the jetty to arrest a vessel. It can ask a vessel to tell her its point of loading. So, if it is offshore Lagos or offshore Cotonou, the agency can then verify if it is on the list of Cabotage registered vessels. Therefore, implementation should not be a major issue. From all indications, there must be a kind of conspiracy between the operators and people that grant approval for foreign vessels to come into the country,” he said.

    He said the shipowners must be supported by the government and banks to buy sufficient vessels to carry out coastal trade.

    ”Much as it is estimated that marine transportation offshore alone has a potential annual revenue profit of millions of naira as against coastal trade in commodity and products, it is believed that harnessing the opportunities of effective implementation of Cabotage will provide a springboard for indigenous operators to acquire requisite capacity and expertise to launch themselves into global shipping.

    “The target is for Nigerian carriers to have a share of about $4 billion per annum gross value of freight in and out of Nigeria. Only 20 per cent share of the market will stimulate the local economy to the tune of about $600 million gross per annum,” Usman said.

    Another operator, Olive Venture Chairman, Mr Samson Ojikutu, said the Cabotage regime covers ship building, ship ownership, manning and registration. Unlike the Cabotage Law in other maritime nations, he said Nigeria’s Cabotage law provides for waivers.

    Ojikutu said the government should stir maritime development in the country by using its agencies to coordinate and regulate the industry.

    Felix Ogomoju also agreed with them.

  • Why tax on luxury goods cannot be implemented, by Adeosun

    The Federal Government has explained why it has not started taxing luxury goods as planned by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Addressing reporters on the state of the economy in Abuja at the weekend, Finance Minister, Mrs Kemi Adeosun said: “Taxing of luxury items was more of statement than a policy, there is no current tax position on luxury items but the committee that was inaugurated last week will look at putting the laws into place because issues of tax are legislative.”

    According to Mrs Adeosun, “that statement on taxing luxury items and private jets had no legal backing but we need laws in place to tax such items.”

    On the duplication of taxes, she noted that “that is one area where the Joint Tax Board (JTB) is working to harmonise taxes and where there is overlapping between federal, states and local governments they do need to be harmonised and that is part of the ease of doing business initiative because this is one of the issues that make businesses close down, so we are trying to harmonise taxes.”

    The government, she also said, “is trying to identify the agency that is best suited to collect taxes, “one agency can collect on behalf of others instead of different agencies because it is very expensive to collect taxes.”

    On charges, Mrs Adeosun said government is “trying to harmonise charges like the one collected for passports with both ministries of finance and interior working together to harmonise this and in the process block leakages.”

    The government two weeks ago said it was developing a new tax policy to show that Nigeria is open for business with a tax system that is easy to understand and comply with and reduces tax burden on small businesses.

    While inaugurating the committee, Mrs Adeosun stated that businesses react to tax policies and government was determined to ensure that the Nigerian tax policy “sends the right message being that Nigeria is open for business and is encouraging businesses with a tax system that is easy to understand and comply with.”

    She noted that “areas of our tax code and laws that are in need of review will be addressed as part of this exercise, as will modalities for simplifying our processes and reducing the tax burden on small businesses.”

  • Bakassi: Panels’ reports not implemented, says Ita-Giwa

    Bakassi: Panels’ reports not implemented, says Ita-Giwa

    Former Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters and the political leader of Bakassi people in Cross River State, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, has said the recommendations of two committees inaugurated for the resettlement of her people were not implemented.

    In a statement yesterday in Lagos, Ita-Giwa she was the chairperson of the committee at the local level while Fidelis Ukpo, the then Secretary to the Cross River State Government (SSG) under former Governor Liyel Omole, was the alternate chairman.

    She hailed Governor Ben Ayade for visiting Bakassi indigenes in their refugee camp with his delegation.

    The senator noted that this enabled the governor to have first-hand information on their plight, which she said moved him to tears.

    According to her, the governor’s visit showed Nigerians and the international community the terrible conditions the Bakassi residents are facing.

    Ita-Giwa said the conditions of the Bakassi people were worse than those of internally displaced persons (DPs).

    The former presidential aide asked rhetorically that if N9 billion had been spent on their resettlement, would their condition have deteriorated to that level?

    She said structures in another resettlement camp were there before the committees were created adding that none of the state or presidential committees was able to implement or execute any of the recommendations.

    Ita-Giwa said: “So, up till now, the recommendations of the state-owned resettlement committee and the Effiong Cobham’s Presidential Committee under the supervision of the former Vice President Namadi Sambo too were not implemented.

    “So, I am calling on the Federal Government to implement the recommendations; if possible, come out with a White Paper. We don’t want any palliative anymore. What we want is a permanent solution to our permanent injury.”

    The statement added:” I want to use this medium again to thank Governor Ayade for visiting the Bakassi refugees with his delegation. His visit has enabled Nigerians to see and watch what my people are passing through. The suffering is too much.

    “May I also reiterate that the two resettlement committees’ recommendations were not implemented. That is why we are still in this sorry state.

    “I am, however, calling on the Federal Government to implement the recommendations of the committees and resettle Bakassi people.”

  • ‘Why National Conference report must be implemented’

    ‘Why National Conference report must be implemented’

    Dr. Rotimi Oladele was a member of the National Conference convened by the immediate past administration last year. In this interview with Musa Odoshimokhe, he highlights the importance of the outcome of the conference and why the present government should implement it. 

    As a member of the National Conference, are you bothered about the fate of the conference recommendations?

    My feeling is that the change that we are ultimately looking for as Nigerians has come, whether we belong to the governing class or those of the governed. The ingredients that will make the change possible are embodied in the report of the conference. It will be the wisest thing, for the new government to look diligently into the report and implement those aspects that have not been overtaken by events. It was a thorough job by people from all walks of life. We disagreed to agree on issues, but I can tell you that the conference was one of the best things that have ever happened to Nigeria. Apart from the way former President Goodluck Jonathan conceded defeat and handed over power, the conference is another plus for him. I want to put it on record that I recognise his contribution to nation building, by establishing that conference and by also conceding defeat. These are the two sides of the coin that I will like to look at in term of nation building.

    Which of the constituencies did you represent at the conference?

    I represented the professional group. I did not belong to any political group or religious interests. I was one of those who represented the professional group. We were after the betterment of the economy. We were concerned about the improvement of Nigeria and for the country to be respected in the comity of nations. We were after Nigeria being self reliance as a nation.

    What would be the implication of not implementing the report by the new administration?

    I believe very sincerely that President Muhammadu Buhari will run his administration with a team and as an individual in a government. I also believe he will listen to the ideas of others. I equally believe he will work with intelligent and patriotic Nigerians. If anybody will jettison the whole content of that national conference report, the person will not be doing this nation any good. I don’t see President Buhari as someone who will do that. I believe sincerely that he may not take everything in the report, but he will take what is good for Nigeria, especially since he has promised us change. He has promised to move this nation forward. He has promised that all that he will do will be to look for what will help Nigeria. Based on the promises he has made during the campaigns and his antecedents, I don’t expect him to throw away the report. If the report is thrown away, anything good that anybody will do to move Nigeria forward would amount to recycling the content of that report. It will be a political manoeuvre to say I did not use the report. But, when you go back to the report, you will find that what was done by such a person would be in the report.

    What were the most important things the report highlighted?

    The report actually addressed a lot of Nigeria’s challenges. And I can tell you that we looked at governance, the future of governance and cost of governance. We looked at education, gender, infrastructure, resource control, political agenda, historical challenges and how to correct them. We looked at religion as a challenge and so many other things. We looked at the economy, transportation, industry and security.

    What are the critical areas you want the new government to focus on?

    For me, President Buhari should not see himself solving all our problems. It should not be a generalist; he should be a selective combatant. He should identify energy, security, education, agriculture and transportation. If he concentrates on these five areas, we would be able to overcome them, I can tell you that this country will be a paradise. And other things will take effect and change naturally. If there is effective transportation system, where we can leave our home and get to work by the next one hour, then there will be adequate use of time which is often being wasted. You will discover that entrepreneurship will grow when the infrastructures are available. I know everybody will be able to engage himself. It is important for us to redesign our education curriculum. We should look at the education that can put food on the table from primary to tertiary levels. We should look at a situation whether a man or woman can have access to his or her rights. So, it is important he knows that he cannot solve all the problems. Under the situation, all the resources that the environment can give the country will be fully developed. This is what I expect from the new government.

    How can the new leader get patriots to work with him to achieve his set goals?

    To get patriot to work with him, first of all President Buhari must assist to de-emphasise the monetisation of politics. We must let the system of getting patriots on board come by ensuring that we are not over pricing political offices and the benefit of the office. People who want to serve the nation, those who have contribution to make, should be the ones that should come forward. It should not be that people who want to make money, people want to milk our country dry, people who want to mortgage our future that seek to hold political offices. It should not be people who want to borrow money that our children and grand children will be paying. Such people should not be encouraged into governance. We just need to de-monetise politics and governance.

    With defectors rushing to the ruling party, there are fears that Nigeria may become a one-party state…       

    It is because the politics we are playing is monetised. They are not playing politics of philosophy, ideology and services. They are only playing politics of stomach infrastructure. The assignment and primary role of the opposition is to find the alternative ways of doing things better than the government in power. This is by putting the party in power on its toes by preventing them from making mistakes and by ensuring they make no mistakes. You pass information to them by way of criticising and not condemning them.

    Today, some states in the country cannot pay their workers. What is the way out?

    This is the reason why the report of the National Conference is important. This issue was debated robustly and the committee that worked on it brought out a very good report. We don’t have reason to even create some states in the first place because they are not viable. They are just drainage pipes; they are just political support instruments. They were created to appease certain people. That is why the conference was looking at a programme, a structure that will give the country structural capability and ability to make the states self-reliant.

  • ‘2012 budget poorly implemented’

    The member representing Isiala Ngwa North/South federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Chinenye Ike, has decried the inability of the executive arm of government to successfully implement the 2012 budget.

    Ike, who is a member of the House Committee on Constituency Outreach, has been mandated by his colleagues from Abia State to tour  all the constituency project sites and report back to them, noted that none of the projects had been kick started in any part of the state.

    Speaking in Umuahia, Ike said that members of the House have done their job to ensure that the projects are properly captured in the current budget, while it is the executive that should execute them, however, lamented, “nothing has been done in all the places I visited.”

    Ike said, “We have made proposals on rural electricity, water supply, education, ICT, health care and poverty alleviation/ youth empowerment in the budget which amounts to over N2 billion, but I want to announce that these projects are nowhere to be seen”.

    Ike explained that the capital figure for the 2012 budget is N3 trillion, adding, “but only N500 billion has been released as at September this year; this shows that something is wrong somewhere and we need to correct that before it becomes too late. Capital expenditure affects the people more than recurrent expenditure”.

    The legislator said that if the executive fails to implement the 2012 budget and show meaningful implementation as the House had directed, the House would have no option than to commence impeachment process against the president.

    The legislator also faulted the 2013 budget, which he noted did not make any provision to address youth unemployment in the country.