Day: June 20, 2024

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), says it has recorded 74 per cent increase in revenue growth in the last one year.

The Comptroller General (C-G) of the service, Adewale Adeniyi, stated this on Wednesday in Abuja, during a Press briefing on NCS’ achievements in the last one year.

Adeniyi said that the service recorded a total revenue collection of N4.49 Trillion between June 2023 and May 2024, compared to the N2.58 trillion collected during the corresponding period of the previous year.

‘This achievement was underpinned by a sustained increase of 70.13 per cent in average monthly revenue collection, compared to the previous year.

‘ NCS recorded an average monthly revenue collection of N343 billion, compared to the N202 billion monthly average.

‘ Notably, there was a substantial 122.35 per cent increase in revenue collection during the first quarter of 2024, compared to the same period in the previous year,’ he said.

The C-G said these giant strides recorded were as a result of the service’s various str
ategic initiatives, which included the collection of N15 billon by the Revenue Review Performance Recovery exercise.

He explained that N2.79 billion was realised from the 90-day window for the regularisation of documents of uncustomed vehicles.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the NCS in March, granted a 90-day grace period for payment of import duties on improperly imported vehicles, as part of its commitment to facilitating compliance.

He added that N1.5 billion was realised from the decongestion of 1,705 overtime containers and 981 vehicles from the port.

‘It is also worthy of note that on June 13, 2024, NCS recorded a daily All-Time-High of N58.5 billion in revenue collection,’ he said.

Adeniyi also noted that the NCS’ anti-smuggling efforts in the last year resulted in 63 seizures related to animal and wild life products, valued at N566 million, and seven seizures of arms and ammuition made through the ports and borders.

‘ In terms of illicit drugs, a combined total of 127 cases invo
lving narcotics and pharmaceutical products, valued at over N6 billion, were seized.

‘The Service also recorded 724 seizures of 2.93 million litres of PMS (Premium Motor Spirit), that wad being attempted to be smuggled out of the country,’ he said.

He explained that the illegal dealings in petroleum products had remained an issue of great concern to relevant stakeholders, adding however, that the Operation Whirlwind would continue to intercept and disrupt the activities of smugglers.

NAN reports that Operation Whirlwind was recently inaugurated by NCS to combat smuggling of petroleum products to neigbouring countries.

The C-G said as part of its effforts to ensure food security and curb the smuggling of food in and out of the country, the service recorded 1,744 cases of rice and grain seizures, valued at N4.4 billion.

‘These concerted efforts underscore the NCS’s commitment to protecting society and! ensuring national security,’ Adeniyi said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), is determined to smoke out food hoarders as part of its contribution to checking inflation, its Comptroller-General (C-G), Adewale Adeniyi, has stated.

‘The service will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that the business of food hoarders is unprofitable,’ Adeniyi declared in Abuja on Wednesday at a media briefing on achievements in the past one year.

He said that the NCS recorded 1,744 cases of rice and grains seizures valued at N4.4billion, in the efforts to curb smuggling.

‘These concerted efforts underscore the NCS’ commitment to protecting society and ensuring national security,” he said.

He said that in the past one year, one of the leading policy measures it implemented was the transition from the repealed Customs and Excise Act of 2004 to the newly signed Nigeria Customs Service Act of 2023.

He explained that the new act strengthened the modernisation of NCS operations and promoted innovation within the service.

The C-G emphasised that the new act also for
med the basis for several trade facilitation measures currently being pursued by NCS, including the recent transition from Fast Track 2.0 to the Authorised Economic Operators (AEO) concept.

He highlighted that the Advanced Ruling system, which also originated from the act, represented a significant advancement in aligning NCS operations with global best practices.

‘This initiative is now at an advanced stage of implementation,” he said.

He added that Time Release Study was also inaugurated in February to identify and address bottlenecks in the clearance process aimed at easing trade facilitation.

The C-G further noted that it decongested ports and reopened previously inaccessible access roads.

‘In response to the need for dedicated terminals to process export goods, the NCS command at the Port of Lilypond was designated to handle export transactions.

‘Other targeted measures to jointly facilitate trade and enhance revenue collection by the service include implementation of the presidential approval to
decongest the ports area and improve logistics around the port in line with the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.

‘NCS also commenced 24-hour clearance at the Port of Tincan Island, Lagos, in line with the Presidential Directive to enforce 48- hour clearance of goods,” he said.

According to the customs boss, NCS also implemented measures to address national security concerns which include strengthening and reinforcing the Federal Operating Units to pursue, intercept, arrest and dismantle smuggling networks.

He said that new frontiers of interagency cooperation were established with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), finalising arrangements to integrate both systems to minimise the registration of smuggled vehicles.

‘The service also commenced engagement with critical stakeholders like the Health Federation of Nigeria (HFN), with the support of the Federal Ministry of Finance, to facilitate the clearance of medical goods.

‘This collaboration aims to ultimately reduce challenges and costs, making these
services more affordable for Nigerians and specifically targeting the Presidential Priority Areas on healthcare,” he said.

He said that NCS was recently ranked by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) among the top five Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

The assessment was conducted among 36 MDAs, with NCS achieving a perfect score of 100 per cent, marking 81.5 per cent increase from its previous average scores of 18.45 per cent between 2020 and 2022, and 18.53 per cent in 2023.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Mr Mersole Mellejor, the Philippines Ambassador to Nigeria said both countries shared mutually beneficial relations, especially in trade and people-to-people partnerships since 1962.

The envoy said this at the Diplomatic Reception held to mark the 126th Anniversary of the Philippines’ Independence on Wednesday in Abuja.

The ambassador said the occasion was symbolic of strengthening relations between Nigeria and the Philippines for more than six decades.

According to him, although the countries may be located on two different continents, with no fewer than 18 hours of flight time between them, relations between the two have been robust.

‘Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1962, the two countries have signed bilateral agreements and are in the process of concluding more, to generate concrete mutually beneficial outcomes.

‘At the political level, the Philippines and Nigeria have a regular Joint Commission Meeting between our respective Ministries of Foreign Affairs.

‘This year, we are resuming t
o hold another edition. The joint commission meeting was suspended due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

‘We have a respectable level of bilateral trade reaching more than a million US dollars at its highest in 2020 and a steady flow of tourists from both sides.

‘The most concrete manifestation of our relations has always been our people. At its peak before the global financial crisis in 2009, there were an estimated 8,000 Filipinos in Nigeria.’

‘Mostly professionals in various capacities, in the oil and industrial states, factories in many parts of Nigeria, and more importantly, in the services sectors.

‘Now, estimated to be around 3,000, the number is rising again as we emerge from the global pandemic. We certainly thank Nigeria for welcoming and hosting our nationals,” Mellejor said

Speaking on educational exchange, Mellejor said the Philippines had hosted more than 10,000 Nigerians studying in various higher institutions in his country.

On governance, he said, ‘There are many areas in which both countr
ies can work continually to strengthen democratic governance and law enforcement.

‘Meanwhile, the Philippines hosts some 10,000 Nigerians, the majority of whom are studying in various tertiary institutions in the country.

‘I was told that the number was even higher in the 90’s. The graduates even have an association here in Nigeria called the Philippine Graduates in Nigeria, or PHILGRAN.

‘There is also a good number of Nigerians pursuing productive careers in the Philippines – perhaps in the medical and the entertainment industry,” he said.

The ambassador also seeks Nigeria’s support for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council for the 2027-2028 June elections of 2026 expected to be held in New York.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the highpoint of the event was the cultural dance performance by a Filipino group and a song from a Nigerian artist.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Prof. Peter Akah, a professor of Pharmacology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, has organised a free healthcare services to over 1,000 residents of Okporo Community in Orlu Local Government Area of the state.

Akah, former acting Vice Chancellor, Imo State University, who hails from the community, also inaugurated a Clinic in the area.

He said that the project was initiated to address the health challenges of the vulnerable members of Umunyem-Umuebele Village in Okporo Community, especially the aged, women and children.

‘Sincerely, if I had 20 calls in a day, 18 of them ask for money to buy drugs, not even food. I know how much it is to pay for consultancy, let alone hospital bills and I can imagine what people in the village go through,’ Akah said.

According to him, many of the villagers are moving around with malaria and typhoid, prostate cancer, ulcer, diabetes and partial stroke without proper medical attention.

Reacting to the development, the President of the town’s union, Chief John Egolu, thanked Ak
ah for the health outreach and establishment of a clinic in the area.

‘A visit to the facility shows that there are beds and full theatre for surgery and there is a promise that more equipment would be brought, subsequently.

‘This vision of our dear son, Prof. Akah, is that which will in no small measure help our people, especially by getting healthcare services closer to them,’ he said.

A 67-year-old stroke patient, Mr Charles Okechukwu, said the gesture was ‘God sent to help the less privileged in the community. We have never seen this type of medical care in our village.’

Another beneficiary of the health mission, Mrs Fidelia Ibemike, 89, said the health facility had brought healthcare services closer to the people.

Ibemike said that the facility would reduce the sufferings usually encountered in traveling to other communities for medical treatment.

She said that many aged persons have died in their homes because they lacked the money to seek medical attention.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

A former Director of the National Orientation Agency(NOA) in Ekiti State, Mr Bamitale Oguntoyinbo, has advised local government chairmen to initiate and execute projects that would promote community development.

Oguntoyinbo gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Oye-Ekiti, Oye Local Government Area of the state.

He noted that some local government chairmen in the state were not living to expectations of the residents in providing the dividends of democracy.

Oguntoyinbo, also a former Chairman of Oye Local Government, described local government as the bedrock of democracy.

He said it is also the closest government to the people where developmental projects must be carried out to complement the state government.

He urged the chairmen to work harder in their various local governments to complement the good work of Governor Biodun Oyebanji.

According to him, the governor has been working tirelessly to fulfil his electoral promises, and need the support of the c
hairmen for the people to enjoy dividends of democracy.

‘I enjoin the local government chairmen to initiate and execute developmental projects to promote development in their communities.

‘The chairmen must interact with the community people, share ideas with them on their needs and initiate projects that will meet their needs.

‘They should also initiate good projects and ideas that can attract the approval of the governor to release funds,’ he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Rotary Club Ogba, in partnership with Rotary Foundation, has commissioned its District’s Grant Project by donating a Bubble Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (bcPAP) system to the Pediatric Unit of Airbase Hospital, Ikeja.

The event which held on Wednesday was part of the club’s commitment to supporting humanitarian causes.

Chief Babajide Awesu, President, Rotary Club Ogba, said that the donation was a testament to the club’s dedication to supporting lives.

Awesu said that the club was proud to make a difference in the lives of others, and that the equipment would undoubtedly save many young lives.

He said this was not the first time the club had supported the hospital, having previously donated essential equipment which had been effectively utilised.

Group Capt. Adebayo Bello, representative of the Commander of the 661 Nigeria Air Force Hospital, expressed his gratitude for the donation.

He said that the bcPAP system was worth millions of naira and exactly what the pediatric unit needed at this t
ime.

‘This equipment will greatly enhance our ability to provide quality care to our young patients, and we are deeply grateful to the Rotary Club Ogba for their generosity,’ Bello said.

Also, Dr Eden Igbage, a Consultant Pediatrician, expressed her joy and appreciation for the support.

Igbage said that the donation was a timely intervention for the hospital.

‘We are thrilled to have partners like the Rotary Club Ogba who share our commitment to providing excellent healthcare services,’ she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bcPAP system is designed to aid the respiratory system of babies, and its donation is a significant boost to the hospital’s pediatric unit.

The Rotary Club has a long history of engaging in projects that support human life, with numerous initiatives undertaken regularly in schools, villages, and hospitals to promote human development.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has formally inducted 605 new members into the profession, emphasising the importance of professionalism and an end to quackery in Public Relations (PR) profession.

This was the focus at the Diamond Anniversary Special Induction of the institute in Abuja on Thursday.

The President of NIPR, Dr Ike Neliaku, said that eliminating quackery in the PR profession was to ensure that only qualified and properly trained individuals speak for their organisations, whether government or private.

This, he said would enhance the credibility and effectiveness of the practice.

Neliaku noted that relationship was the hallmark of public relations, hence the need for the new inductees to maintain the highest standards of professional conduct and integrity.

He emphasised that members should avoid practices or behaviors that could harm the reputation of the Institute or the PR profession.

Neliaku stressed the importance of adhering to the highest standards of accuracy and tru
th in all professional activities.

He urged members to respect core values and uphold the ethical principles that underpin the profession.

The NIPR boss highlighted the critical role of maintaining public trust and credibility, reminding members that their actions reflected not only on themselves but also on the entire profession.

Prof. Emmanuel Dandaura, Vice-Chairman, NIPR Governing Board, underscored the importance of the event, noting its adaptation to contemporary needs and its alignment with the institute’s diamond anniversary celebrations.

Dandaura highlighted several key aspects of 2024 Hybrid Induction Format which for the first time allowed greater participation, while reflecting modern event-hosting practices.

According to him, the Diamond Anniversary of NIPR held special significance as it coincided with the 60th anniversary of the institute which added historical weight to the proceedings.

‘A total of 605 new members were inducted, with 353 joining online and 198 attending in person. This r
eflects the institute’s significant growth and expanded reach.

‘Highlights of our anniversary celebration is a seminar on Public Relations, Value Orientation, and Economic Transformation, aimed at professional development.

‘We will also be hosting a Dinner and Recognition; an evening event chaired by General Yakubu Gowon, honoring distinguished icons in the field,’ Dandaura said.

He also said that the activities were designed to celebrate the NIPR’s contributions to national development over the past 60 years, while also fostering professional growth and public engagement in the field of public relations.

Mr Ali Muhammad Ali, Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), expressed delight at participating in the event and celebrating the 60th anniversary of the institute.

Ali described the occasion as a milestone and emphasised the importance of celebrating 60 years of the institute’s impactful existence.

He commended the institute for its growth and influence over the past six decades, noting
its substantial contributions to shaping public communication narratives.

Ali commended everyone involved in making the celebration a success, emphasising NAN’s alignment with the NIPR in upholding factual reporting as a cornerstone of their mission.

The NAN MD underscored the agency’s commitment to maintaining credibility and authenticity in its reporting, amidst the prevalence of fake news in today’s digital age.

Alhaji Mohammed Malagi, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, noted the dual responsibility of the newly inducted members of the NIPR.

Malagi who was represented by Mr Baba Ndace, the Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), stressed the importance of speaking positively and forcefully about the country.

He acknowledged the challenges faced by Nigeria, as recognised by the President and Commander-in-Chief, Bola Tinubu but highlighted ongoing efforts to address the challenges.

Malagi urged the inductees not to contribute to negative narratives about the nation, asserting tha
t while no country was perfect, Nigeria’s beauty and potential should be the focal points.

He underscored the critical role of the new NIPR members in collaborating with the Ministry of Information to restore trust in public discourse.

He mentioned that one of the ministry’s primary goals has been to rebuild public confidence in communication, fostering trust in institutions and media outlets.

Malagi called on the inductees to take pride in their nation and contribute to its positive image, stating that the NIPR is a platform for mentorship and professional growth.

Goodwill messages were given by representatives of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, President, Nigerian Union of Journalists, Mr Chris Isiguzo, Chairman, House Committee on Public Affairs, Rep. Rotimi Akintunde.

Others are the Nigerian Television Authority, Africa Independent Television among others.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria