NEWS
Customs Finds Arms, Ammunition in ‘Tokumbo’ Car at Tin Can Port
From Anthony Nwachukwu, Lagos
The Tin Can Island Port Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service
(NCS) said its operatives at the Five-star Logistics Terminal
discovered a pistol with magazine in a Toyota Camry car at the exit
point over the weekend.
In a statement, the Command Public Relations Officer, Mr.
Ejesieme, added that “consequently, and in line with our standard
operating procedure (SOP), the DSS, police and other security agencies
were invited to the scene. ”
Thereafter, the exhibits were taken to the command’s enforcement
unit for safe custody pending a formal report to the NCS headquarters
on Monday for further directives.
Meanwhile, the Area Controller, Compt. Musa Abdullahi, has directed
immediate investigation into the incident to unravel those behind it
and truncate their supply chain.
He reiterated the agency’s advice to importers and agents to desist
from offensive imports, particularly items on the absolute prohibition
list, because of the dire consequences.
In another development, the NCS Ogun I Command has denied claims
that arms were being smuggled into the country through the state as
reportedly alleged by the Chairman of NANS JCC, Damilola Simeon
Kehinde, and National President of NAOSS, Ogunrombi Gbemileke.
In a statement by the Public Relations Officer, Hammed Oloyode, the
command described the allegation as misleading and likely to create
unnecessary tension in the state and country, adding that the command
had never allowed the smuggling of arms and ammunition into the
country in whatever form, and will never do so.
According to the statement, the command has since fortified the
numerous illegal routes through which contrabands were being smuggled
into the country by aggressive patrols, and has stepped up its
anti-smuggling operations to checkmate the nefarious activities of
enemies of the state.
“Other allegations of smuggling taking place during the daytime is
only in the imagination of the fabricator of that story,” the
statement claimed. “The tightened security architecture in the state
today by customs and other security agencies will not permit smuggling
of contrabands and other prohibited items at night time, not to talk
of during the day.”
The command disclosed that since January, it has seized over 1,500
different contrabands and prohibited items, including 46,491 bags of
foreign parboiled rice, used vehicles, used shoes and clothing and
tomato paste, as well as export-bound sativa (Indian hemp) and
petroleum products since January.
It urged the “students, their sponsors and collaborators” to focus
on their studies to become better citizens tomorrow, and to channel
their energies into educating their fellow members in the different
communities on the dangers of smuggling, “instead of being used for
blackmail of government institution(s).
Niger Government has established the state Price Control and Monitoring Board, approved by Gov. Umaru Bago to ensure fair pricing and consumer protection.
Alh. Abubakar Usman, Secretary to the Niger Government (SSG), inaugurated members of the board on Thursday in Minna.
The eight-member board has Alh.
Hussaini Ahmed, a former Permanent Secretary as the chairman.Usman noted that the inauguration of the board marked a significant step in the state’s commitment to ensuring fair pricing and consumer protection.
He said that the board was expected to control and stabilise prices of essential commodities and eradicate or reduce to the barest minimum, hoarding of essential commodities across the state.
He said that board would also handle issues that may arise as a result of enforcement and penalty for contravention of guidelines among several others.
“The board will be responsible for the distribution, monitoring and evaluation of essential commodities and keep price under continuous surveillance.
“They will also interpret price movement and relate them to other development in the State’s economy,” Usman said.
He said the board was expected to interface with relevant stakeholders such as local government chairmen, traditional institutions and councilors and well as market organisations to ensure the success of their mandate.
The SSG enjoined members of board to bring their wealth of experience and expertise in economics, consumer affairs and market dynamics to bear in their assignment.
He said that their appointment underscored the government’s dedication to maintaining economic stability and safeguarding the interests of both consumers and businesses in the state.
In his remarks, the board chairman, Ahmed, assured that the board would interface with relevant stakeholders within and outside the state in order to bring succour to the populace.
Other members of the board include Hamza Bello, Permanent Secretary, Investment, Aliyu Abubakar, Permanent Secretary, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Garba Abdullahi, from Ministry of Basic Education.
Also on the board are Adamu Maikasuwa, Ministry of Agriculture, DCP Aminu Garba, Nigeria Police, Niger Command, Aminu Ladan, Chairman, Chanchaga Local Government Area and Usman Liman, retired Statistician-General as Secretary of the Board. (NAN)
The Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), has shared N1.298 trillion among the Federal Government, states, and the Local Government Councils (LGCs) for September.
This is according to a communique issued at the end of FAAC meeting for October held on Thursday in Abuja.
The communiqué was made available to newsmen by Bawa Mokwa, the Director, Press and Public Relations, Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (OAGF).
According to the communiqué, N1.
298 trillion total distributable revenue comprised distributable statutory revenue of N124.716 billion, and distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N543.518 billion.It also comprised Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) revenue of N18.
445 billion, Exchange Difference revenue of N462.191 billion and Augmentation of N150.000 billion.It said that a total revenue of N2.258 trillion was available in the month of September.
“Total deduction for cost of collection was N80.993 billion, while total transfers, interventions and refunds was N878.946 billion,” it said.
According to the communiqué, gross statutory revenue of N1.043 trillion was received in September 2024, which was lower than the sum of N1.221 trillion received in August by N177.426 billion.
It said that gross revenue of N583.675 billion was available from VAT in September, higher than the N573.341 billion available in the month of August by N10.334 billion.
“From the N1.298 trillion total distributable revenue, the Federal Government received a total sum of N424.867 billion, and the state governments received a total sum of N453.724 billion.
“The LGCs received a total sum of N329.864 billion and a total sum of N90.415 billion (13 per cent of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting states as derivation revenue,” it said.
On the N124.716 billion statutory revenue, the communiqué said that the Federal Government received N43.037 billion and the state governments received N21.829 billion, while the LGCs received N16.829 billion.
It said that the sum of N43.021 billion (13 per cent of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting states as derivation revenue.
“From the N543.518 billion VAT revenue, the Federal Government received N81.528 billion, the state governments received N271.759 billion and the LGCs received N190.231 billion,” it said.
It said that in September, Oil and Gas Royalty, Excise Duty, EMTL and CET Levies increased considerably while VAT and Import Duty increased marginally.
It added that Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), Companies Income Tax (CIT) and others recorded significant decreases. (NAN)
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has reiterated the importance of strict adherence to traffic laws, emphasising the prohibition of commercial motorcycles on highways and other restricted routes.
Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, the General Manager, said this in a statement on Thursday, signed by Mr Taofiq Adebayo, Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, LASTMA.
Bakare-Oki said that non-compliance with the regulations not only jeopardised the safety of the riders but also endangered the lives of other road users.
The statement came following the death of a motorcycle rider going against traffic on Carter Bridge, due to a collision with a fast-moving vehicle.
Bakare-Oki noted that the deceased, reportedly traveling from Ebute Ero, collided head-on with a fast-moving vehicle as it ascended Carter Bridge from Ilubirin.
“The forceful impact of the collision led to the immediate death of the motorcyclist while the vehicle driver ran away.
“Personnel from the LASTMA promptly arrived at the scene of the accident and swiftly alerted officers from the Central Police Station at Adeniji Adele and Shemo.
“Together, they coordinated efforts to retrieve the lifeless body of the rider, while LASTMA officials handed over the motorcycle to security authorities for further investigation,” he said.
The LASTMA boss extended his heartfelt sympathy to the family of the deceased.
“LASTMA remains committed to upholding public safety and is intensifying its efforts to minimise the occurrence of such tragic incidents on Lagos roads,” he said. (NAN)
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