Author: Saint Augustine

The immediate past Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Sunday described as untrue allegation that a substantial part($600m) of the $1bn Chinese loan obtained for railway projects, was diverted. Okonjo-Iweala, in a statement by her Media Adviser, Mr. Paul Nwabuikwu, also explained that contrary to the allegation, the Kano-Lagos rail project was not part of the project listed for funding from the Chinese loan. President Muhammadu Buhari had last Monday queried the Ministry of Finance for alleged diversion of foreign loans obtained for rail projects by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. Specifically, the President was seeking clarification…

The National President, National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Mr. Lucky Amiwero has called for proper investigation of the Nigeria Customs Service on the state of Destination inspection Scheme, the 1% Free-on-Board (FOB) collection, the movement of collection with other headings not approved and a total reform of the Service with a professional as the head for effective service delivery. Amiwero who made this known in a letter he addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari dated 25thJuly, 2015 and entitled,” The complete collapse of the Destination Inspection Scheme (DIS) after the handover to Nigeria Customs Service and…

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it had made seizure worth N45, 470,441 (Forty-Five Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand, Four Hundred and Forty-one Naira) in the week five of the Operation “Hawk Descend”, According to the National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Mr. Wale Adeniyi, the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seized goods was the highest recorded since the launch of the operation last month. A breakdown of the seizures showed that Ogun Command made a total seizure of 6, 565 cartons with the DPV of N2, 937, 441. 00, Federal Operations Unit(FOU) Zone A, Ikeja made…

A new Public Relations Officer had been appointed for the Seme Border Command of the Nigeria Customs Service. He is Superintendent of Customs (SC) Selechang Taupyen who hails from Lantang North Local Government Area of Plateau State. Taupyen holds a National Diploma (COAL), Higher National Diploma (ABU), Post Graduate Diploma (ATBU) and Masters of Science Degree (MSC). He joined the Nigeria Customs Service in the year 1992 and served at various Customs Area Commands    and was the Customs Public Relations Officer for Adamawa/Taraba Command from 2009-2012. Mr. Taupyen took over from Mr. Ajao Afiz who is now to deputize…

The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has said that the Nigeria Customs Service had granted its members its (customs) operating license urging members to take advantage of the development to secure compliance in cargo clearance out of the customs ports and approved borders stations. The Chairman Board of Trustees of NAGAFF, Mr. Chidiebere Enelamah who disclosed this in a press release he issued in Lagos recently, a copy of which was made available to Primetime Reporters, said that the development was part of the efforts NAGAFF and the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria…

Following the re-instatement of the sacked Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mallam Habib Abdullahi by President Muhammadu Buhari last week, the Chairman of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) Apapa Chapter, Dr. Fred Nnam Ajuzie has called for the sack of all heads of government agencies and parastatals in the maritime sector. Speaking to newsmen in Lagos, Ajuzie advocated for the sack of all the heads of government agencies in the maritime sector that worked under the former President Goodluck Jonathan arguing that, “everything about the last administration was wrong thus the reason Nigerians…

The Managing Director, Cowry Asset Management Limited, Mr. Johnson Chukwu has given reasons why the Nigeria’s currency, the Naira appreciated against the United States Dollar after months of depreciation. Speaking with Primetime Reporters in Lagos last week, Chukwu attributed the development to couple of policy actions taken by the apex bank, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) one of which he said was the prohibition of the lodgment of cash dollar into domiciliary account. He pointed out that with that, there was a lot of cash dollar liquidity adding that the CBN further boosted the dollar liquidity in the system…

The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has expressed its displeasure over the inability of its members and their principals to open Form M for importation of goods coming into the country. The National Publicity Secretary of ANLCA, Dr. Kayode Farinto who made this known while briefing the newsmen on the outcome of the association’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting yesterday in Lagos stated that the development was against the directive of the President. Farinto argued that even if the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) wanted to enthrone a disciplined monetary policy, the laid down procedures must be followed…

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has restated its commitment to Search and Rescue (SAR) operations in the nation’s maritime domain. The Deputy Director/Head Public Relations NIMASA, Hajia Lami Tumaka who made this known in a press statement she issued on Wednesday in Lagos and made available to Primetime Reporters disclosed that the agency was part of the team that participated in the search and rescue operations of the crashed Bristow helicopter at the Oworoshoki end of the Lagos Lagoon on Wednesday that lasted several hours alongside other Government Agencies, where six of the twelve passengers on board…

President Muhammadu Buhari has terminated the appointment of the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Alhaji Sanusi Ado Bayero. The termination of Alhaji Bayero’s appointment is with immediate effect. A statement by the presidential spokesperson, Mr. Femi Adesina directed Bayero to hand over the management of the NPA and all government property in his possession to Mr. Habibu Abdullahi who has been reinstated as Managing Director of the NPA by President Buhari. The President also wished Bayero well in his future endeavours. Abdullahi who had since retired from the services of NPA was first appointed NPA Managing Director…