Author: Saint Augustine

The Nigeria Customs Service has expressed readiness to collaborate with the Nigerian Copyright Commission, NCC to combat piracy of intellectual and creative property in Nigeria. This was made known by the Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, on Tuesday, when receiving members of the Commission at the Customs Corporate Headquarters, Abuja. The CGC, welcoming the delegation to his office, announced that their collaboration would create opportunities for the two parties to establish a significant legacy that will end the menace of piracy in the country. He explained that the Nigeria Customs Service had concluded plans to collaborate with…

Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo has presented a budget proposal of Four Hundred and Ten Billion, One Hundred and Thirty Two Million, Two Hundred and Twenty Five Thousand, Two Hundred and Seventy Two Naira (N410,132, 225, 272) for the 2024 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly.  The budget which is 57.8 percent higher than the 2023 budget is focused on infrastructure development, education, and healthcare. Key highlights of the budget include; a N96.2 billion allocation for recurrent expenditure, accounting for 23.46 percent of the total budget, N313.9 billion allocation for capital expenditure, accounting for 76.54 percent…

The Nigerian Indigenous Shipowners Association, NISA has said that in contemplating the effectiveness of the Cabotage Act for Nigerian indigenous ship owners, it is imperative to adopt a multi-faceted approach to realize its full potential. The President of the association, Otunba Sola Adewumi who made this assertion in a position paper he presented at the stakeholders roundtable engagement organized by the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in Lagos yesterday, maintained that the complete eradication of waivers under the Cabotage regime was crucial. This action, Adewumi said, would significantly bolster the opportunities for Nigerian shipowners, fostering a more competitive environment…

…Assures all taxpayers of level playing field The Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, Dr. Zacchaeus Adedeji has reiterated the desire of the federal government to raise tax to GDP ratio to 18 percent in the next three years without having to impose additional taxes. Adedeji who disclosed this in a keynote address with the theme, “Effects Of The Federal Government’s Tax Reforms On The Economy”, delivered at the 2023 Annual Workshop, Awards and Recognition organized by the Commerce and Industry Correspondents’ Association of Nigeria, CICAN in Lagos on Tuesday, observed that that this would be achieved through the…

…Mulls PPP model to transform maritime sector The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola has said that the ministry’s decision to consider the re-establishment of a National Shipping Line, through a strategic Public-Private Partnership, PPP arrangement is borne out of the desire to capture a substantial share of the estimated $10 billion annual ship charter market within the country. Oyetola who stated this in his keynote address delivered at the Stakeholders Roundtable Engagement On Advancing Sustainable Development In Nigeria’s Maritne and Blue Economy held in Lagos today, explained that the initiative would not seek to impede the…

The Director General of the Sea Empowerment Research Centre, Mr. Uchechukwu Francis Aniezechukwu was last Friday inducted as an Associate of the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators, NICARB. The colourful induction ceremony which climaxed the two days national conference of the institute was held between 15th and 17th November, 2023 with the theme, “Repositioning Arbitration And ADR Practice In Africa: Unlocking The Continent’s Dispute Resolution Potentials.” The national conference which played host to eminent learned silks, successful legal practitioners and other exemplary professionals seamlessly demystified topical issues on the practice of Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR within the African…

The Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, received a delegation from the African Regional Technical Assistance Center, AFRITAC West 2, on Monday at the Nigeria Customs Service Headquarters in Abuja.  AFRITAC West 2, a collaboration between the International Monetary Fund, IMF, recipient countries, and various bilateral and multilateral partners, is dedicated to providing technical assistance and training to nations including Cape Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. Addressing the delegation, the CGC expressed his commitment to enhancing the capacity of Customs officers through training. He emphasized the importance of not limiting this opportunity to Nigeria alone,…

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, and the Nigerian Navy have inaugurated a Committee to establish ways in which the synergy between both organs of government can be channeled into creating a welcoming environment for investment in the Blue Economy. The Flag Officer Commanding, FOC Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Mustapha Hassan, who inaugurated the 8-Man Committee charged them to come up with policies to create a welcoming maritime environment for investment in the Nigerian Blue Economy. Membership of the 8-Man Committee includes on the Navy side, Rear Admiral Mustapha Hassan, FOC, Western Naval Command; Cdre K.O. Oguntuga,…

SIFAX Group Chairman, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi has won the Zik Prize Award for Entrepreneurial Leadership. At the ceremony held on Sunday, the organisers lauded the SIFAX Group boss’s business acumen, tenacity and grit which has translated into a success strategy for the Group’s businesses and by extension the Nigerian economy. According to Prof. Pat Utomi, Head of Selection Committee for Zik Prize Award, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi has redefined business enterprise in Nigeria. He said: “Afolabi is the Chairman of SIFAX Group, a leading business behemoth with diversified interests in maritime, aviation, oil & gas, haulage and logistics, tourism, hospitality and…

By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu The Anambra State Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, High Chief Ifeatu Obi-Okoye, recently at his office domiciled inside APGA Regional Secretariat, Awka, received the National Executive Members of Anambra Mandate For Good Governance, AMFGG led by Chief Emmanuel Ogugua and the members, Board of Trustees, BoT of the Organization led by Chief Cyprian Okereke. Receiving the group, the APGA Boss thanked them for the visit, saying that he was not unaware of the support and contributions of the association towards achieving Governor Soludo’s mantra of liveable and prosperous homeland, adding that having identified with…