The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Stakeholders

  • Over 2,000 stakeholders for The Nation’s Maritime Conference

    Over 2000 participants have signified their interest to attend the planned confe-rence on maximising the potential of seaports for speedy economic recovery and growth.

    The conference, which is the second in the series, will hold in Abuja, next week. It is being organised by The Nation in partnership with Epsilon Limited.

    The theme of the conference is: “Intermodal freight transport: Key to unfolding the potential of Nigerian seaports for a speedy economic recovery and growth.”

    The venue is the NAF Conference Centre, Deeper Life Junction, near Cash & Carry, Kado, Abuja.

    This conference is to build on the success of last year’s. It aims to  actualise the consensus reached, integrate and fuse the plans of government and its agencies, and get a deeper buy-in of major stakeholders while carrying the public along.

    Its major objectives include: To show the critical role that intermodal freight transportation can play in precipitating the potential of maritime ports for speedy national economic recovery and growth; to share ideas on how to activate multi-sector partnerships in harnessing the potential of Nigeria’s Blue Ocean Economy; to heighten the awareness of the stakeholders on the various options available to finance the massive growth needed in the  maritime sector in the next 20 years.

    Others are to discuss how to meet the future human capital needs of the maritime sector and help realise the local content focus of the Cabotage Act; to receive reports from the Federal Ministry of Transportation and her maritime-port agencies (NPA, NIMASA, NSC and NIWA) on specific actions they have taken to actualise the agreements reached at the 2017 edition of the conference and to reassess the ports sector reforms and make recommendations for refocusing and fast-tracking it in line with long-term national objectives.

    Those expected at the conference include middle and senior officials of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Nigeria Shippers Council ( NSC) the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Administration (NIIMASA), Nigerian Export Import bank, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria, Maritime Academy of Nigeria,  Oron, National Inland Waterways Authority, Nigerian Railway Corporation and the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology, Zaria.

    Others are officials from the Federal Ministry of Transport, NCAA, FAAN, Federal Ministry of Finance, Nigeria Customs Service, the BPE, Federal Ministry of Works, NEPZA, the NNPC, DPR, PPMC, NAPIMS, ICRC, NLNG, Information, the CBN, NIPC, BPP, FIRS, OAGF, NBS, NPC, FERMA, ECOWAS, NEPAD, AfDB and UNCTAD.

    Also expected are Commissioners of Transport of the 36 states and FCTA, directors of transportation; officials of the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport, Nigeria Chamber of Shipping, Women in Logistics & Transport.

    Senior officials are also expected from the Office of the NSA, the Police, Immigration, Nigerian Navy, NDLEA, NAFDAC, SON, FRSC, Office of the Economic Adviser to the President, NEPC, NIPC; senior officials of littoral  state governments (Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Delta Rivers, and Akwa Ibom states); port-host local government councils, port operators, shipping companies,  major oil marketers and petroleum tank farm operators, major port users, the organised private sector (NACCIMA, MAN, NASME, chambers of commerce), freight forwarders, licensed clearing agents, operators of truck parks, haulage companies and associations, eg AMATO, NARTO,  service providers,

    From the banking sector,  the Bank of Industry (BoI), Development Bank of Nigeria, the Infrastructure Bank and others are being expected.

    Others are insurance companies, free trade zones and owners of bonded warehouses, maritime consultants lawyers, academia, civil society and  international development partners, among others.

  • Law to combat maritime crime necessary, say stakeholders

    MARITIME Law Enforcement Agencies (MLEA) have unanimously urged the Federal Government to provide for a law to back Harmonised Standard Operating Procedure (HSOP) for combatting maritime crimes and attendant environmental degradation.

    This was contained in a communique after a seminar on ‘Inter-Agency Cooperation, Panacea for Degradation of the Maritime Environment’ held as part of Module for Naval Warfare Course 2 of the Naval War College, Nigeria, in Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government Area, Rivers State.

    The communique was a product of syndicated deliberations on the seminar lecture, ‘Implementation of the HSOP on Arrest, Detention and Prosecution’ delivered by Deputy Director, Data, Naval Headquarters Commodore Matthew Onwuegbu,.

    The guest lecturer explained that HSOP, produced by a Presidential Committee of MLEAs set up in 2016, bears measurable potentials at improving maritime safety in the Nigerian space.

    He stressed that its implementation without statutory force has undermined its value to offer appropriate procedure for arrest of ships or persons involved in maritime illegalities and in handling of seized products.

    Aside calling for an executive bill to the National Assembly towards an enabling HSOP law, the communique read by Commander Aiwuyor Adams Aliu, seminar rapporteur secretary, also advocated “establishment of Maritime Security Trust Fund, designations of Nigerian Navy as coordinating agency. sensitisation of stakeholders, establishment of special maritime courts to expedite trial of maritime cases”.

    Commandant of the Naval War College Rear Admiral Thaddeus Udofia and Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command Rear Admiral Salih Usman, represented by Rear Admiral Frederick Ogu, as special guest of honour, both scored the seminar as timely and beneficial to the warfare course participants and to the nation’s economy.

    Other stakeholders present at the event include sister security agencies, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency.

     

  • Stakeholders push for review of ‘faulty’ policy

    Unless the Federal Government supports the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to  review the nation’s shipping policy, foreign companies will continue to benefit from it at expense of indigenous firms, stakeholders have said.

    The policy, they  said, can hinder the Cabotage Law implementation. They urged Minister of Transport Rotimi Amaechi to champion the revew of the policy to boost revenue generation.

    Speaking at a forum organised by importers and clearing agents in Lagos, Sea Logistics Managing Director Mr. Rufus Olanipekun expressed concern that foreign shipping lines would continue to exploit the country because of what he called the selfish interest of a few and lack of a shipping policy that identifies the strategic challenges of the sector.

    Olanipekun said there had been lapses in enforcing the Cabotage Law and domesticating international treaties and conventions in the sector.

    He regretted that the Cabotage regime was yet to be implemented to meet stakeholders’expectations.

    Olanipekun also said there was a  gap between the Act and the system, which is yet to empower indigenous operators to take advantage of the law.

    The Federal Government’s performance on trade facilitation, high port charges, infrastructure, safety at sea, protection of the marine environment and enhancement of maritime law and security, Olanipekun said, is below expectation. He added that the ports were performing below expectation and that government agencies, such as NIMASA, Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Shippers Council, needed to be strengthened to carry out their core responsibilities.

    He said the Federal Government should do more to reduce piracy and armed robbery on the waterways.

    Another stakeholder and JM Investment Chairman, Mr James Joseph, said conspiracy was hindering the Cabotage Law implementation.

    Its implementation would have been easier, but for conspiracy between some officials of the Ministry of Transport and foreign ship owners, Joseph said.

    He said the law could be easily implemented, if the Minister of Transport mustered enough political will to do so.

    “The minister of Transport needs to see to the full implementation of the Cabotage law before he leaves office. We are aware that some individuals within and outside the government are trying to frustrate the implementation.

    “My suggestion to the minister is that he should make sure every ship that calls at the ports first declare arrival to the NPA, NIMASA and the Navy. By doing  so, it would become easier to implement the law,” he said, adding that poor policy implementation  is the bane of the sector.

    “No government agency needs to go to the jetty to arrest a ship. NIMASA, for instance, can ask any ship 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, if the minister is determined, implementation should not be a problem,” he said.

    According to Joseph, ship owners must be supported with good policies by the government and banks to enable them buy vessels to carry out coastal trade.

    The Coastal and Inland Shipping Act, 2003, he said, is a protectionist law enacted to create exclusive areas of operation in the coastal trade for indigenous operators.

  • AMCON, stakeholders partner on asset disposal

    The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), is collaborating with stakeholders on ways of disposing its toxic assets, the Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Ahmed Kuru has said.

    Kuru, who was represented by Aminu Ismail, Executive Director in charge of Operations, AMCON at a two-day Asset Sales Strategy Retreat, which ended in Abuja yesterday, said part of the agenda was to expand the scope of its sales strategy by engaging professionals from the real estate sector, including legal experts and regulatory stakeholders, as well as   cross-fertilise ideas on better measures to follow to enable AMCON dispose its huge assets at good value and in good time in line with AMCON’s mandate.

    “As you may be aware, one of the key objectives of AMCON is—to obtain the best achievable financial returns for all assets acquired. Following the acquisition of Eligible Bank Assets (EBAs), AMCON is now saddled with the responsibility for recovering the bad loans either through cash repayments or asset forfeitures/foreclosures.

    He said the bulk of recoveries which have been recorded at AMCON are in form of asset, saying that considering the fact that AMCON’s obligations to the Central Bank Nigeria (CBN) is in the form of cash repayment, AMCON therefore has the responsibility of converting the assets into cash in order to meet the repayment obligations.

     

    Kuru said as at December 2017, AMCON has recoveredN731billion (excluding claw backs). Out of this amount, properties accounted for approximately 35 per cent. On the flip side, he stated that the Corporation noticed an increasing decline in its ability to dispose of assets at competitive market rates due to the several factors including inflation among other market dynamics.

    With such indices, Kuru again said: “At AMCON, we have realized that we cannot continue to do business as usual – it has therefore become imperative for us to seek more innovative ways of converting our huge portfolio of assets into liquid cash as quickly as possible. We have convened some of the most resourceful real estate professionals and legal experts to this forum to help brainstorm through the issues and proffer practical solutions to the challenges confronting AMCON. We also invited critical regulatory stakeholders to contribute to the discourse toward finding workable solutions.”

    Also speaking,  Executive Director in charge of Asset Management at AMCON, Dr. Eberechukwu Uneze, who also chaired the plenary session stated that there was dire need to have professionals, experts and agencies collaborate with AMCON because it has a stockpile of assets, which it is finding difficult to dispose in the regular open market. These assets, he said, cut across critical sectors of the economy such as real estate, energy, transportation and aviation, maritime, agriculture and manufacturing just to mention a few, all of which he said must be disposed as quickly as possible against all odds the agency is challenged with.

    The retreat featured high-powered presentations and contributions including Appraisal of Methods of Valuation Considering Achievable Market Value by Victor Adekunle Alonge, Board member, and Chairman, Professional Practice Committee (PPC), Estate Surveyors & Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria; Strategies for Conducting Successful Marketing Campaign and Attracting Buyers for AMCON Assets by Mr. Aigbekan Osas; Value Optimisation Strategies for AMCON Assets, which was jointly presented by Obi Mkparu, a real estate investment consultant and Akingbade Tunji of Akingbade & Associates.

    Other presentations include Creating a market for AMCON Assets, delivered by Chinwe Ajene-Sagna of Strategic Reality; Legal Documentation Impediments on the Sale of AMCON Assets by Albert Nwanozie; Challenges Experienced in the Sale of AMCON Assets by Olamipo Macaulay. There were also contributions from Mr. Chuka Agbo SAN, Managing Partner, Lexavier Partners; High Chief Isaac Folorunsho; Lanre Shittu, a Deputy Director with the Central Bank of Nigeria; Mulikat Balogun, Registrar of Titles, Lagos State and Ibrahim Bamidele, Director of Land Services, Lagos State; Aliyu Abubakar Kalgo, AMCON Head of Asset Sales and a host of others.

    AMCON was established in 2010 as a resolution vehicle to purchase the non-performing loans from banks, inject liquidity into the banks and subsequently recover the purchased bad loans. Over the last eight years of existence, AMCON has successfully stabilised the Nigerian banking sector by restructuring and collecting some of these loans. What is outstanding on its portfolio at the moment are hardcore debts, which the corporation is doing everything within its powers to settle as quickly as possible.

  • Stakeholders, agency battle over regulation

    The World Environmental Day (WED), was marked on Tuesday. However, the Environmental Import Clearance (EIC) permit, a regulation allegedly put in place to safeguard the country from degenerating into a “dumping ground,” has pitched a regulator against some stakeholders, reports MUYIWA LUCAS.

    THE environment, its maintenance and sustainability, have remained  source of grave concern to the government. Hence, it was quite impressive when the government set up various agencies to tackle, headlong,  environmental degradation.  One of these is the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).

    The agency’s statutory function centres on environmental  protection, conservation and natural resources safeguard, all centering on having in place a sustainable development of the country’s natural resources and environmental technology co-ordination. This meant that the agency ought to have developed a sustainable programme of liason with relevant stakeholders to make its impact felt more in the society.

    But experts and stakeholders have continued to express concern on the scope of operations of this agency. For instance, issues bothering on oil spills, desertification, loss of natural habitat, exploitation for firewood, uncontrolled logging, fire, petroleum exploration activities, mining as much as grazing have continued to constitute major environmental challenges confronting the nation.

    In the Niger Delta region for example, where more than 70 per cent of the people rely on natural resources for existence, it has not been a palatable story. This is on account of the region’s peculiar terrain, which has made it possible for crude oil to be found just five meters from the surface of the earth.

    A couple of years back, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said the Niger Delta people, Ogoniland in particular, have lived with chronic pollution all their lives. Benzene levels were as much as 900 times higher than the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommendations, and Nigeria was losing about 0.6 per cent of its treasured land to desertification on yearly basis.

    By far, the biggest concern is the  extensive exploration in the country, which has led to massive pollution with far reaching implications. The high volume of associated gas (AG) in Nigeria’s light crude coupled with a poor history of investment in gas gathering and utilisation infrastructure have made the elimination of gas flaring difficult.

    It is on record that organisations and businesses involved in generating environmentally degrading items are daily seeking means of disposing their produce with the cheapest means. One of this is dumping. In this instance, the Koko Village, in Delta State, toxin dump of 1988 comes to mind. For regulatory agencies, policing this type of incidence can be challenging and requires a holistic approach.

    Perhaps, issues such as this explained the proposed plans by NESREA aimed at enforcing import clearance permit, a regime which mandates importers intending to clear their consignments at the ports, to first apply for its newly formulated Environmental Import Clearance permit (EIC). The permit is to regulate imported items and to ensure that banned chemicals and hazardous substances are not imported into the country. It is also to ensure that “end-of-life” of the items is considered under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programme as required by law.

    The EIC, according to NESREA, would replace the import permit usually issued by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) as well as the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP) certificate usually  issued by the SON.

    But this position is now a subject of discord among the agency, environmentalists, importers and other stakeholders across the sectors. While questions are being asked by stakeholders on how well the agency has acquainted itself with its core environmental responsibilities by way of tackling same successfully since its inception, yet, others are concerned at how NESREA obtained the authorisation to be the sole authority for the issuance of the said document.

    For instance, an environmentalist, Mayowa Sodipo, said the position of NESREA on the EIC is worrisome, as it may have gone beyond its brief. “Going by the NESREA functions, its responsibility as enshrined in NESREA Act, is mainly protection and development of the environment, bio-diversity conservation and sustainable development of Nigeria’s natural resources in general and environmental technology, including co-ordination and liason with relevant stakeholders within and outside Nigeria,” he argued.

    According to him, the enforcement or implementation of this policy is at variance with the several efforts of government in the past aimed at eliminating duplicity of functions, checkmate corruption as well as quicken the process of checking goods entering the country through its waterways.

    Similarly, an importer and clearing agent at Apapa Wharf, Toyin Orimolade, lamented that the introduction of EIC by the agency was a duplication when it is considered that the same certificate is used to obtain Form M, unlike the SON certification, which requires that an importer must get  product certificate (PC) first, and later get SONCAP after getting Form M. Again, no certificate validation is required for NESREA, as one may then use his permit to apply for Form M.

    Sodipo contended that NESREA‘s statutory responsibilities are huge hence, the agency needed not involve itself in port clearing. “NESREA should concern itself with containing the huge and worrisome environmental issues bedevilling the country, rather than desiring a spot at the ports where sister agencies have established a reputation and can run the rounds effectively,” he said.

    In NESREA’s view, promoting  EIC permit is very apt, and devoid of any form of overlap, so long as the agency is strictly enforcing environment related issues.

    Besides, such efforts are aimed at tackling the dumping of environmentally hazardous products in the country. Since NAFDAF oversees drugs related issues;  SON tackles products specification and standards, then NESREA, it is argued, should be made to check the influx of used equipment, especially e-wastes. This is to prevent Nigeria from being turned into a dumping ground for e-waste. This is what is believed the EIC will stop.

    But, the general consensus is that thre are  more far-reaching environmental task ahead of the agency begging for attention.

  • Stakeholders allay fears over stock market downtrend

    Major operators in the capital market have allayed fears over the recent decline in share prices at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), assuring that the fundamentals of the market remain strong.

    The Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) and Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON) assured investors of safety of their investments, noting that the depression was a temporary dip in the price cycle.

    They said the performance of quoted companies on the Exchange has been satisfactory and the current downswing was due to the general lull in the economy and other exogenous factors prompting both domestic and foreign investors to convert their shares to cash.

    They pointed out that the market remained undervalued; hence, investors have greater chances of higher returns when the situation becomes more stable.

    Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) President, Mr. Adedapo Adekoje, attributed the bearish trend to panic sales by foreign portfolio investors, who are taking advantage of emerging higher returns on mutual funds in the United States (US) and Europe, leading to massive sale of their shares on the NSE.

    “Information about mutual funds in America and Europe that are giving five per cent return on investment (ROI) is attractive to foreign portfolio investors and they are offloading shares to take advantage of the investment opportunity. They are more comfortable with the new returns on mutual funds. The good news is that we are having good valuations. Investors should buy on long term basis and not short term,” Adekoje said.

    He urged the government to initiate policies that would enable the Pension Fund Administrations (PFAs) to increase their investments in the market.

    President, Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), Mr. Patrick Ezeagu, said nothing was wrong with the Exchange in terms of governance structure, technology and compliance with the rules and regulations by stockbrokers.

    He noted that the quoted companies are also not doing badly when viewed against the general lull in the economy.

    “The Federal Government should intensify efforts in addressing security problems in Nigeria and keep on reassuring of a safe investment environment. Our market is full of opportunities but we need to sustain the momentum of assuring both indigenous and foreign investors that the market is safe,” Ezeagu said.

    According to him, the Exchange is a barometer that gauges the mood of the economy. Therefore, there is need to address investors’ fears in order to enable them take advantage of good returns associated with the market.

    “The current bearish trend is temporary as the market would bounce back soon,” Ezeagu said.

    Average year-to-date return for Nigerian equities opened this week at -3.73 per cent, technically implying that all gains so far recorded this year had been eroded and investors now carry average loss of 3.73 per cent. Compared to net capital gain of N1.34 trillion at the beginning of May 2018, the market opened this week with net capital loss of N273 billion.

    Benchmark indices at the Exchange indicated steep declines in share prices over the past 11 trading sessions as panic selling exacerbated mild profit-taking transactions that had moderated the market since last March. The equities market had started last month with a year-to-date return of 7.91 per cent, a slight decline but considerable return compared with 8.53 per cent recorded at the end of the first quarter.

    The All Share Index (ASI)-the common value-based index that tracks share prices at the Exchange opened this week at 36,816.29 points while the aggregate market value of all quoted equities stood at N13.336 trillion, their lowest values this year.

    The market had witnessed its worst decline last week, losing N908 billion in four trading sessions. The week-on-week average decline of 6.38 per cent last week eroded positive return and left the market with average negative return of -3.73 per cent.

  • NBA electoral committee to meet stakeholders June 12

    The Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) will meet with stakeholders on June 12 ahead of the association’s election next month.

    It has invited those who have submitted nomination forms to their formal opening.

    ECNBA Secretary Bolaji Agoro said the meeting would hold at the Conference Room of the President, Eighth Floor, NBA House, Central Business District, Abuja.

    The notice reads in part: “Consequent upon the closure of nomination on May 31, 2018, I am directed by the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Election Committee Prof. Yadudu Auwalu to invite you or your representative to attend a stakeholders’ meeting organised by the ECNBA to formally open all the nominations submitted by contestants for the national offices of the NBA.

    “At the meeting, inventory of all documents submitted by all those who filed nominations shall be taken in their presence as one of the steps to be taken to secure the integrity of the screening process that will follow immediately after the nominations have been opened in the presence of some invited Bar leaders.”

  • Stakeholders to Sirika: inaugurate agencies’ boards 

    Some stakeholders have called on Minister of State, Aviation, Hadi Sirika, to inaugurate boards of agencies.

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria and the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), among others, have been running without boards in the past five months.

    Muhammadu Buhari directed that the boards be inaugurated when he constituted them last December 29.

    Following the directive, the Secretary of the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, directed ministers and their deputies to inaugurate boards.

    Investigations revealed that the agencies are being run by their maangement.

    According to observers, this might have given the minister unlimited power in the agencies.

    In an interview, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) National President, Comrade Ahmadu Illitrus, said it was not the first time such thing is happening.

    He painted a similar scenario during the tenure of Stella Oduah.

    According to Ahmadu, though the delay in the inauguration was abnormal, he attributed it to  ‘an error in the appointment of politicians with little or no knowledge on the technicalities’ of the sector.

    His words: “May be the minister saw the appointment as an error and waiting for the Presidency to correct it.

    “Most of the board composition are made up of politicians who do not have the technical knowledge about aviation.”

    But, an ATSSSAN National Officer, Comrade Sarah Rindams, disagreed with Ahmadu.

    She described the failure to inaugurate the boards by Sirika as  abnormal.

    Rindams said the minister’s refusal to inaugurate boards would only encourage unauthorised activities,  and absence of checks and balance  at the agencies.

    She said such negative development at a time Nigeria is preparing for election could have negative impact on the agencies.

    Rindams said the right thing to do was for Sirika to inaugurate the boards.

    An industry player, who pleaded not to be named, said Sirika might be capitalising on the delay in inaugurating boards for the agencies for a  motive based on the so called error in the appointment of non-industry professionals on the list.

    According to the key player, the failure to inaugurate the boards may have a negative effect on the agencies since the financial spending by their heads are limited by law as they can only go through the board for approval.

  • Stakeholders reject exercise in Cross River

    •‘Usani is the leader of APC in Cross River’

    Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State, led by ex-governor, Dr. Clement Ebri, have rejected the state congress, which held last Saturday.

    Addressing reporters in Calabar yesterday evening, they demanded a “proper state congress using the authentic state delegates elected at the ward congress.”

    He said, “It has become expedient that we address you in respect of the recent congress of the APC held in Cross River State on Saturday, May 19, 2018, at the cultural centre, Calabar. Most of you would have noticed that majority of the party’s stakeholders representing about 90 per cent of the party’s leaders were absent at the charade tagged a congress.

    “The congress committee led by Maj.-Gen. U.T. Umar (retd) had conducted successful congress across the state and were in the process of collating result’s from the local government congress when news got to us that the secretary of the committee, one Bar. Ambrose Egwunatum, had surreptitiously taken off from the state with fake result sheets to submit to National Secretariat without the congress chairman’s knowledge. These were the fake result sheets that were used in the delegates list to conduct the improper state congress yesterday…

    “Consequently, the overwhelming majority of stakeholders of the party in Cross River hereby demand a proper state congress using the authentic state delegates elected at the ward congress. For this to happen, we demand that certain minimum conditions be adhered to.

    “We demand that before the state congress, the delegates list must be published 24hrs before the event. We demand as a matter of urgency that the party at the national level should call for the said congress to hold before Saturday May 26, 2018.”

    Present at the briefing were National Vice Chairman South-South, Ntufam Hilliard Eta, ex-governorship candidate, Mr. Odey Ochicha, Senator John Owan-Enoh, Prof. Eyo Etim Nyong, Mr. Paul Adah, Bishop Victor Ebong, among others.

    But former Presidential Adviser Senator Florence Ita-Giwa said Minister for Niger Delta Pastor Usani Usani is the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State.

    Ita-Giwa, who addressed reporters with the minister, condemned the actions of those she said were perpetrating crisis in the party.

    She reasoned that the party leader is the highest serving politician in government.

    The APC chieftain and Bakassi leader, who wondered why that should be in contention, urged party faithful to have respect for the party’s leadership.

    She said the party remains one despite attempts to at destabilising it.

    Usani said: “People don’t want us as a party to take Cross River State. They continue to romance with the government of the day in this state in perfect compromise. As soon as they finish, they are the ones to proclaim that others are evil. I want to let you know that I have never in the history of my life has my political career been identified with violence.

    “I am a minister in charge of the Niger Delta Region and Cross River State is part of the Niger Delta Region and if there are issues concerning governance, I will only be parochial and timid not to relate with my governor.

    “I have to come to him to make sure what is due to the state is received by the state. In relating with the governor, go and ask him if we have ever discussed politics? When it is governance, I have the responsibility but when it is politics I will return to my party.”

     

  • Stakeholders accuse Customs of extortion

    Stakeholders in the maritime industry have accused offcials of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) of extortion at the ports.

    The stakeholders which include importers, clearing agents and truck drivers allege that officials of NCS “extort” them and subject them to “second clearing.”

    The NCS has denied any such dealings, insisting that it is performing its job of securing the nation.

    Speaking at the second stakeholders meeting organised by the  Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) in Apapa, Lagos, yesterday, the stakeholders said what the Customs is doing is against the trade facilitation programme of the Federal Government and ease of doing business.

    An Assistant Controller of Customs at the forum Mr Yahaya O I A said the agency has resorted to the measure because most of the importers and clearing agents operating at the sea ports are not honest in their declarations.

    Yahaya said if there is information that there was manipulation in the document presented by any importer or clearing agent for the release of cargo from the port, other customs officers will look at the papers before allowing the truck to exit the gate.

    The Managing Director of NPA Ms Hadiza Bala Usman said the agency has received several complains from importers and freight forwarders  that officials of the NCS  are subjecting their cargo to ‘second clearing” an allegation that was randomly dismissed by Yahya.

    Represented by the Executive Director, Marine and Operations, Dr Sokonte Davies, the NPA chief urged the Customs to put in place mechanism that would eradicate re-examination of cargo at the gate, reduce time and boost the policy of the government on the ease of doing business.

    She also directed shipping companies to develop their holding bays to international standard to receive their empty containers and reduce the gridlock on the Apapa road.

    Some of the truck drivers at the event who spoke with The Nation on the side line of the event alleged that some of the Customs officers at the Tin-Can port demand between N20,000 and N40,000 and, at times, more before allowing them to go.

    The importers and drivers appealed to Transport Minister, Mr Rotimi Amaechi; his Finance counterpart, Mrs Kemi Adeosun and the Customs Comptroller-General (CCG) Col Ahmeed Ali (retd) to  eliminate what they called “open day extortion at port”.