[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Hadiza Bala Usman has knocked the lopsided operations of the Nigeria Customs Service at the seaports as the major cause of gridlock along the port access roads in Apapa.
Hadiza has however charged the Customs high command to automate its clearance processes to reduce human contacts and to also streamline activities of its various units including the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A’ and the Customs Strike Force.
The NPA boss stated this last week at a Stakeholders Consultation on Ease of Shipping and Clearing of Charitable Items, an event organised by the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege in collaboration with Nigerian Shippers Council.
Represented by the Lagos Ports Manager, Mrs Bola Olotu, the NPA boss condemned the multiple checkpoints mounted by Customs officers in form of units along the port corridor, she said that goods that have been dully cleared from the port are being subjected to scrutiny outside the port, thereby causing traffic gridlock.
She called on the Customs service to make good its campaign of sanctioning corrupt officers who sometimes cleared some of the questionable cargoes, she called for appropriate sanctions.
According to her, often time when a container is found wanting, Customs is always quick to arrest the clearing agents and importers without exposing the officers that appended his or her signature on the documents, releasing the cargo
Hadiza said “We kept wondering, every time we talk of none compliance, everything is always blamed on the clearing agents and the importer, but what we are asking is that, somebody signed these import documents at the port, a customs official endorsed the documents to have been in order and the goods exited the port”
“But as soon as the cargo is out of the port, there is another unit stopping people, checking the same documents and compounding the traffic situation, when this happens, the truckers are not willing to proceed in their journey, you would see them parking along the common user areas of port access road”
“Often times, when you ask them to please move, if it is an night, they wold tell you that they are prone to attacks or they would tell you they are trying to clear themselves with the next customs unit which is still ahead”
“The Customs service actually gave us explanation why they had to do that, according to them, the FOU is actually to ensure that everything is in order, they also have the strike force team”
“We now asked a question, can’t they start looking at harmonising some of these units, if there is automation, all units of the Customs would get to know what is being cleared out of the port and who signed the documents out” she said
She NPA boss appealed for the procurement of scanning machines to ease cargo examination at the Nigerian ports, even as she lamented that Nigeria cannot continue to carry out one hundred examination of consignment at the port.
“We need scanners at our ports, it would reduce some of the challenges, if we have scanners, we wouldn’t have to conduct much physical examinations and exposing Customs officers to having interface direct with those importing cargoes” she said
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Police Command in Edo said on Wednesday said that it has arrested a police inspector, who allegedly shot a civilian, Richard Odia to death in Benin in February.
This Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, made the disclosure in a statement in Benin.
Nwabuzor said the state Commissioner of Police, Lawan Jimeta, had directed an immediate orderly room trial of the inspector.
He explained that the police inspector was serving in Delta Command where he was attached to the Department of Operations and was on special duty to 301 Construction Company, Asaba.
The command’s spokesman said the policeman was on escort duty from Asaba to Benin when he shot and killed the deceased.
He also said that the incident happened on Feb. 11 at about 7.00 p.m.
According to Nwabuzor, the police personnel, shot and seriously wounded the deceased with an AK-47 rifle at a road construction site at Asagba boundary on Benin-Auchi expressway, after a misunderstanding.
“The deceased was immediately rushed to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), where he unfortunately died on Feb. 12.
“The Commissioner of Police, Lawan Jimeta, hereby condoles with the family and friends of late Richard Odia on his untimely death and assures them that justice will prevail in this case.
“He has also appealed to them to remain calm and law-abiding as the command under his leadership, holds high premium on human lives.
“He has however, invited any one who witnessed the incident to come and give evidence during the trial because without witnesses, the aim of conducting the orderly room trial will be defeated,” he stated
[dropcap]D[/dropcap]elta State Governor, Sen. (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa on Monday commended the Nigeria army for their cooperation with other security agencies in tackling security challenges in the state.
The Governor stated this in Asaba during the official inauguration of the Headquarters 63 Brigade, Nigeria Army.
63 Brigade Nigeria Army HQs Complex in Asaba, Delta State
He commended the Nigerian Army engineering corps for their efforts at transforming the Brigade Headquarters.
He also urged the army and other security agencies to intensify efforts in resolving frequent dispute between farmers and herders across the state.
“I must truly thank the Chief of Army Staff for bringing this Brigade to Delta. We used to be supervised by the Brigade in Benin and we were excited when we heard of the approval for a Brigade in Asaba.
“I thank God for the provision of funds for the realisation this Brigade and I thank you for the support because the operationalisaion of this Brigade will help us to achieve greater peace in Delta.
“We have a had a very warm relationship with your officers here and that of the 6 Division.
“As a state we take security matters very seriously even as we meet twice a month.
“Your officers have cooperated with other sister security agencies and that has helped us in achieving the peace we enjoy in the state.
“Delta is peaceful today, though we have had few incidences that makes us sad but with all hands on deck we will surmount all the security challenges.
“We will continue to support the army and other security agencies in the state as much as our finances can carry.
“We still have security challenges such as farmers-herders clashes and kidnapping which obviously was going down but we still have a lot of work to do even though we are already working hard and we do hope that the cooperation we have in the past will continue,” he added
Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai said the establishment of the 63 Brigade Nigeria Army is not a coincidence but well thought out in view of the strategic role of the state in the economy ot the country.
He said he was glad to have personally come for the inauguration of the headquarters which was provided by the Delta State Government.
“Let me express my profound appreciation to the Governor of Delta, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa for the donation of this headquarters.
“The establishment of this headquarters is the first critical step in the full operationalisaion of the Brigade.
“I am aware of the critical support of the government and people of Delta to the success of this Brigade and such support had engendered good civil-military relations in the state.
“Your donation and funding of this headquarters has shown that there is good understanding of the role of security to the development of any state,” he said
He commended the state government for the provision of vehicles to the Brigade assuring that the army will continue to reciprocate the kind gestures of the state government by ensuring adequate security of the state.
General Officer Commanding, 6 Division Nigeria Army, Maj. Gen. Felix Abugo thanked Governor Okowa for the support to the Brigade and the Division.
Highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of Certificate of Occupancy of the Brigade Headquarters Complex to the Chief of Army Staff and a guided tour of the complex.
[dropcap]L[/dropcap]ocal government and public primary schools retirees on the aegis of Concerned Delta State Local Government Contributory Retirees have passionately appealed to the Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa to release substantial amount of money from about 5.9 billion naira unremitted contributory deductions presently in the State Government’s coffer to the State Bureau of Local Government Pensions to enable the agency pay outstanding arrears of pensions owed to them.
A statement signed by Messrs Mode Augustine, Sir Henry Tukpe, Allensgate Agbanobi and Onwundijo Christopher on behalf of the retirees recalled that the perennial problems associated with the old pension scheme (Defined Benefit) led to the establishment of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) with the main objectives to: assisting employees save in order to cater for their livelihood during old age, ensure that pensioners were not subjected to untold sufferings after retirement and ensure that every person who has worked in either public or private sector received his or her retirement benefit as when due.
According to the statement, Rule 1.2.1 of the Pension Act provides that an employee could access his or her Retirement Savings Account (RSA) when such a person ceases to make further contribution into the RSA as a result of mandatory retirement.
“What then could be the reason(s) for denying retirees in the local government including public primary schools teachers in Delta State access to the funds they contributed from their salaries after over five years of retirement?” They asked.
They appealed to Governor Okowa to save them from untold hardship, pains and tears they are passing through while waiting endlessly to collect their pension.
“Most of us have no other means of livelihood apart from salaries that were stopped following our retirement. The situation has become unbearable as some of us are on medications, others living in rented apartments, while many are struggling to pay children school fees.
“We urge the governor to consider, approve and direct the Local Government Pension Bureau to issue necessary documents that will enable us access the money we contributed to our Pension Funds Administrators (PFAs) pending the payment of the Accrued Rights from the State as was already being applied to deceased employees/retirees in the State.
“On the alternative, put the retirees on pensions pending when the gratuity is paid as it is being done in Edo State.” They further pleaded.
ALSO READ:Okowa To NYSC DG, Make Entrepreneurship Programme Compulsory For Corps Members
Meanwhile, a human rights activist and legal practitioner, Ikimi Oghenejabor Esq has, in a letter addressed to 15 pensions managers demanded that the retirees be allowed unfettered access to utilize their contribution in their Retirement Savings Accounts (RSA) and requested the employer of the retirees to pay the outstanding contribution into the retirees’ individual RSA forthwith.
The human rights activists called on the National Pension Commission to prevail on the Delta State Government being employer of the local government and public primary schools retirees “to remit forthwith the contribution in their individual RSA or be sanctioned accordingly, warning that should the demands be ignored, “we shall not hesitate to approach any of the High Court in Delta State for an order of Mandamus and claim damages at large against you.”
[dropcap]I[/dropcap]rked by the spate of piracy especially in the printing industry, the Nigeria Copyright Commission, NCC, and the police, have vowed to fight piracy.
Making the vow when the Anambra State branch of the Society of Printing Practitioners of Nigeria, SPPN, led by its state Chairman,Mr. Ethel Obidinso, paid him a courtesy visit in his Onitsha office, the NCC state Director /Coordinator, Mr. Emeka Ogbonnaya, reiterated the resolve of the Federal Government to protect printed materials from pirates.He said that, “the law permits NCC to determine how one’s work is to be used and protected” adding that, “nobody has the right to interfere in one’s book unless the person has the consent or authority of the owner, if not it is piracy”.
He reminded them that, “if your business is legitimate, we will work with you but when we have problem is where an organization believes in doing some things wrong”
He stressed the need for sensitization of printers to avoid being punished out of ignorance.
“Some people ask why government is interested in protecting people’s interest, this answer is simple, it is for the society benefit. We are what we are today because we are using other people’s materials to build our knowledge and whatever you do you have to reap from it. This will give you the zeal to continue.
If government does not interfere by way of protecting people’s interest/work, we would not have the opportunity to use some of these
written works. It is for people to have hope in what they are doing”
“In literary, if somebody expands money and energy to put something in order, at the end of the day the society will reap, there is need to protect it for the zeal to continue”
He commended the printers association for the role they play to the society stating that, “in line of distribution of books, without the printers, you can have the talents but their view has to be expressed to be seen by the printers. Printers are the chain in expression of these ideas”
In his response, the state SPPN chairman, Mr Obidinso, traced the history of SPPN adding that it was registered as part of Institute of Printing of Nigeria, IOPN. “IOPN used to operate when it came into amalgamation which was formed in 2007 and their responsility included, regulating, building and controlling who is to operate, and who is not to operate and areas of operation and publication”
He told the NCC Director that part of their visit was to help fight piracy and regulate the printing work.
“We are here so that in one way or the other work hand in hand so that every body will be acquainted with information, because a lot of people don’t know about NCC”
The Secretary of the SPPN, Casmir Emeka Igboanyika, in his speech said that the importance of the copyright organisation to the body would not be over emphasized stating that, “this Union and visit will pave way for many openings that will bring sanity into the profession of printing. Before you write a book, before a book will be approved, before you know it, the book is already everywhere, you will not reap anything” he revealed.
The Onitsha unit chairman of SPPN, Okey Akaneme, had in his speech earlier stated that the visit was aimed at knowing where the NCC office is located and, “ensuring sanity in people practising printing and our suppliers who go about supplying fake materials” warning that anybody breaching the law would be made to face the wrath of the law.
Welcoming them in his office, the Onitsha Police Area Commander, Mr. John Obuagbaka, said, “we need to work together, it is my duty to provide security to protect you and we in other hand need your services, it is also my responsibility to respond, which ever way you have challenges either in the business, family, you should let us know so that we extend our helping hands”, he said.
He also urged them to be conscious of what the law said and thanked them for robbing minds together.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he presidency has released the statement below telling Nigerians not to panic over the coronavirus.
Grassroots Publishers online reported how Nigeria announced its first coronavirus case last week. An Italian who arrived in Nigeria last week was diagnosed with the disease and has been quarantined.
The disease has caused about 3,000 deaths globally, the majority in China where the disease originated from.
In a statement by his spokesperson, Garba Shehu, Mr Buhari urged Nigerians “not to panic about the news of this first case of Covid-19 in our country, as undue alarm would do us more harm than good.”
Read the full statement below.
President Muhammadu Buhari notes with sadness, the recent confirmation of a case of Covid-19 infection in Lagos, Nigeria.
This was despite the ardent efforts of the government regarding preparedness and response measures put in place in our country’s borders and beyond.
President Buhari, however, commends the Federal Ministry of Health and other relevant agencies whose diligence and efficiency enabled the case to be detected, diagnosed and isolated quickly, even while swift measures were taken to identify and follow up on those with whom the index patient came into contact.
The president commends the responses of the Federal Ministry of Health and Governments of Lagos and Ogun States as well as other relevant agencies to the reported incident and calls for vigilance on the part of all citizens and responsible government agencies.
President Buhari urges Nigerians not to panic about the news of this first case of Covid-19 in our country, as undue alarm would do us more harm than good.
Instead, Nigerians should strictly observe the advisories disseminated by the Ministry of Health, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and the World Health Organisation (WHO), on the best way to prevent infection.
This information is being broadcast in all available media by the Federal Ministry of Information.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Supreme Court, on Monday, shifts hearing of the application seeking to restore Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the Governor of Imo State, till Tuesday.
A seven-man panel of Justices of the court led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Tanko Muhammad, adjourned the matter at the instance of Ihedioha’s lawyer, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, who pleaded for time to respond to court processes he said was served on him by governor Hope Uzodinma and the All Progressive Congress, APC, in the courtroom.
“My lords this matter was adjourned for hearing, but we were just served in the courtroom with a process from the 1st and 2nd Respondents/Appellants.
If it is convenient to your lordships, permit us to come back tomorrow (Tuesday) so that we can look at this process”, Agabi told the apex court panel after the case was called up.
On their part, counsel to Uzodinma and the APC, Mr Damian Dodo, SAN, said his clients were ready for the hearing to proceed.
He said: ” The application was only served because we received their own process on Friday, so today is the earliest date for us to serve them.
“We are ready to go on,” he added.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, through its lawyer, Mr. Taminu Inuwa, SAN, said it was also ready.
However, the CJN, in a short ruling, adjourned the matter till Tuesday for hearing.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Grassroots Newspaper Publishers Network , has advised the general public to adhere to personal hygiene and other health guidelines to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the state.
Chief Duke Okirika, the National President, gave the advice at an awareness programme on Coronavirus in Sapele market on Saturday in Delta State.
Okirika stressed the need for usage of hands sanitisers to contain the spread of the virus in the state. According to him, coronavirus can be prevented through regular washing of hands with soap, distancing of oneself from sick people, avoid crowds, make sure you and the people around you take serious good hands hygiene and clean the floors and surfaces with bleach.
He described coronavirus as a family of viruses that causes illness in humans ranging from mild to critical.
“In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections. The most recently discovered coronavirus is codenamed COVID-19.
“The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, dry cough, congested chest and difficulty in breathing at night. Once you have these symptoms, please visit the hospital.
“The symptoms are usually mild and begins gradually. Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don’t feel unwell.
“Most people (about 80 percent) recover from the disease without needing special treatment,’’ she said.
Okirika said that older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness.
“About two per cent of people with the disease have died and mostly in China. People with fever, cough and difficulty breathing should seek medical attention.
“The virus is not yet in Delta and there is no need for panic but our hygiene must be taken seriously,” he said.
He said Grassroots Publishers was committed to ensuring improvement in the standard of healthcare in Nigeria.
“Grassroots Publishers would visit at least 12 states to create awareness about any current health challenge in Nigeria.
[dropcap]C[/dropcap]hief Chekwas Okorie was the former National Chairman of the United Progressive Party (UPP) and its presidential candidate in the 2015 election.
Following the de-registration of the party recently among other 73 political parties by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), UPP collapsed its structures into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In this interview with Sunday Sun, Chief Okorie who may win the award as the longest-standing opposition politician from the Southeast, revealed why his party settled for the APC, why the APC has been struggling to survive in the Southeast, his dream of a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction in 2023 and the call for granting of amnesty to repentant Boko Haram, among other national issues. Excerpt:
Why did you and your party members in United Progressive Party (UPP) settle for the APC, critics say it’s because APC is the ruling party and that you want to remain relevant?
Well, critics are entitled to their opinion, they have a right to think the wrong way and make wrong conclusions. The truth is that it’s a common knowledge, it’s now public knowledge that our party, the United Progressive Party (UPP) is one of the 74 political parties deregistered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), so by that pronouncement, technically we no longer have a political party, more so, that we have decided, not me but the National Executive Committee (NEC) decided that we shall not challenge the INEC decision in court, not because we do not have points to raise in court against the deregistration of UPP, but because we are aware based on previous experience that the course of justice in Nigeria is very slow and since the INEC is determined to see through what it has said rightly or wrongly, the litigation may not end until at the Supreme Court. Being somebody who has led the struggle to save the soul of APGA for eight years, that took me to Supreme Court three times, including interlocutory appeals; it could have been unwise for me to choose the third option. Then secondly, I can claim without any fear of contradiction that I am the longest standing opposition politician in the entire Southeast geo-political zone of not Nigeria. I have been in the opposition long before APGA, I have been in opposition for over three decades and that means I was also in the opposition against the military. The records are all there and I can tell you that opposition is a lonely road especially among the Igbo people and with the vast experience I already have it will, therefore, be politically unwise to move from one opposition party to yet another opposition party. There were mouth-watering offers made to us, In fact, by our deregistration, we became a beautiful bride, but we said to ourselves that we will not be making any progress if we are moving from one opposition party to another. And considering that in 2018 we had opted to support President Muhammadu Buhari in his bid for his second term in the 2019 presidential election unconditionally, it will, therefore, be a logical follow-up to continue along that political trajectory by collapsing our structures into the APC. This is, in a nutshell, the rationale behind our actions.
I asked the question because if you look at your zone, so to speak, the Southeast, the strong perception over there is that the APC and its President, Muhammadu Buhari has not been fair to Ndigbo in terms of political benefits and appointment?
I can tell you that in the area of appointments Ndigbo have not fared better as well as they fared under President Jonathan or the PDP government, but in the area of democratic dividends, what President Muhammadu Buhari has done for the Southeast in less than five years of being in office is far more than what the PDP tried to do because they never did anything in 16 years of being in office. It is even more painful if you remember that at a certain period in this democratic process from 1999 the entire Southeast geo-political zone invested their political capital in the PDP. By that I mean that all the states of the Southeast, all the senators from the Southeast, members of House of Representatives, all the state assemblies, all the local governments in the Southeast all belonged to the PDP, no other geo-political zone invested the totality of their political capital in the PDP like the Southeast, but what did the Southeast get? Share wickedness, outright political wickedness from the PDP because not one project was ever started and completed in the entire Igboland and I want to be proved wrong by anybody. In fact, from 1970 that the war ended till the President Buhari administration came in, not even a cottage industry, a cottage industry which even private people can build was built in the Southeast by the PDP governments even the military government, so much so that the independent power project at Ariaria market which President Buhari started and completed and commissioned when he came to flag-off his campaign in Aba for his second term in office was the very first project ever started and completed in the whole of Southeast from 1970 to the time he commissioned it. Then look at the second Niger Bridge, everybody now know that it is a reality that by 2022 that bridge will be completed with all its grandeur because when you look at it and the design even from your Google, I mean when you Google it, you know it is pleasing, you will see something that will make you happy. Look at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, it was international by nickname only because I have never seen an international airport where an aircraft cannot land and take-off in the night, but by the 31st of March, this year next month following the time-table of this government that airport will be truly international in content and in every ramification. Then we are talking about the road from Enugu to Onitsha express road, Enugu to Port Harcourt express road. I live in the East, I visit Abuja, I travel around the East, the quality of road being done and work is continuous, was never done at any time before now. This is the same president that you said has not done anything, so what is the use that you appoint our sons in all sorts of positions and all that they can show for it is their children attending the most expensive schools abroad? And there is not even a kilometer of road to show for it. If that is what appointments mean, you can go with it and give us democracy dividends. This is my position; no party in Nigeria since I became an adult except the military had hated the Igbo more than the PDP. So, it would have been suicidal, if I had gone to join the PDP, I would have simply died out of betraying myself, it could have been self-betrayal that is why I said it could have been suicidal. But all those that are in the PDP and have justification for being there, good luck to them.
You don’t think that the PDP in 2023 can upturn the political table to take over leadership of the country?
Of course, you know that is not possible (laughs). First of all, let me tell you that the average Igbo man is not cut out for opposition…. PDP is down and out, no redemption.
How?
The support they got from Igbo people in 2019 was the same deceit and propaganda that they were going to march to Aso Rock and win it and many people naively believed that so when they lost and Atiku Abubakar lost by nearly 4 million votes it was done on the Igbo people that the game is over for the PDP. To tell you the Igbo people are not cut out for opposition, look at what happened in Imo State, the moment my good friend Senator Hope Uzodinma won to become governor in less than two weeks, the state assembly that didn’t have a single APC seat now have 26 out of the 27 of the seats there, that is the Igbo man for you. And the only people sustaining the PDP are Igbo people and I will do everything within my power to shutdown PDP in the hearts of Igbo people all over Nigeria by bringing out the facts of PDP wickedness for them to see, know, make comparison and choose wisely. Ndigbo will no longer be deceived when they have the right and true information. Let any PDP man counter me with facts rather than sending Facebook rats to attack me, I don’t care, I deal with facts and I have stuck my neck out for Ndigbo. I am the only person that Ohanaeze gave Ogbaturuenyi Ndigbo (the one that killed an elephant for his people), it was not for nothing, it was for giving Ndigbo political identity. It was the late Justice Ozobu leadership that conferred the title on me in recognition of my founding APGA (All Progressive Grand Alliance), no other person dead or alive has ever been given a title by the national body of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. So, when I speak, I speak with passion, I speak with a certain level of commitment that is self- evident.
Do you share the view that the APC is simply struggling for survival in the Southeast?
Well, the APC came under a barrage of very vicious propaganda mounted against it and the president in the Southeast and among Ndigbo all over the country, but noticeable improvement occurred in 2019 when some of us joined to promote the party in the Southeast except for Anambra State that gave the president six per cent, Imo, Abia and Ebonyi states gave the president over and above the minimum 25 per cent required to win election. Enugu came close, but it didn’t quite make 25 per cent, so that is an improvement from the average five per cent that was given to President Buhari in 2015. Now with me fully involved and others we are marching into Anambra to deliver the governorship to APC in Anambra in 2021. I will be fully involved in that effort with all my associates and others. And that will be the beginning of sweeping across the entire Igbo land and by 2023 President Buhari must have done his beat well by the grace of God and we shall insist even before then that it will make for the finale healing of the wounds of the war if an Igbo man is given the opportunity to become president in 2023. And we have to make that point not by force, not by flexing muscles, but by diplomacy, by showing commitment, by political sagacity, by engagement, by building bridges, etc, all this we will do, not by wishful thinking and we will also impress it on the president that he will be writing his name in gold if he gives efficacy to that aspiration of the Igbo people and it will now bring the type of unity that Nigeria has been clamouring to have. The prospects are very bright. If I didn’t see how bright the prospects are I wouldn’t waste my time.
But does it not bother you that despite the big names in the party (APC) from the Southeast, ministerial appointees as well as other political appointments, the party is yet to get its bearing right. What other things do you suspect is wrong?
Well, I don’t want to criticize anybody, I mean those that you have in mind, but all I know is that we shall all join hands together to improve on the situation as it is now. I have just arrived and I have been trying to reach out to all those people you have in mind, I have spoken to many of them one-on-one, even those that you don’t have in your mind I have been getting in touch, but take it from me that there will be a radical change for the better. Let me just tell you that the PDP is on a free fall, and is not even a major contender in the Southeast. Everybody who knows my interest in having an Igbo man become president will know that I will also pursue that agenda with all the connections I have across the country, most of whom I am meeting in APC. So, there is no cause for alarm, the prospect is even brighter now.
The security challenge in the land seems to have gone so bad that the House of Representatives is calling for the sack or resignation of Security Chiefs. What is your take on it?
Well, on the issue of Serving Chiefs, I can say that none of us can claim to know more than the president who is the Commander-in-Chief, concerning the Service Chiefs whether they are performing or not. Yes, we have our various feeling that there is a need for more creative and fresh ideas. But to me the answer to insecurity in the country outside of the war situation which only the army can confront because insurgency in the Northeast, there is a war going on there, there is no better way to describe it. On the issue of security, I have never minced words over the years, even when I contested for the presidency of this country in 2015, I continued to emphasize the need for state police and community policing. Even the brand of the community policing that we are trying to do is not enough, it is still like beating around the bush. They know what a state and community police mean and what we need is just the political will; once we have that done this insecurity issue will be addressed to a very large extent. Nigeria is too large for a central police command, everybody knows that, but we don’t want to accept the truth and we lack the political will to do what is right in that area. But in the case of insurgency, I believe there is so much of the military hardware acquired especially the air power is much more impressive now than before and with greater motivation of our troops, I believe that the president’s assurance that in very due course the remnants of the insurgents should be routed is achievable, but the overall nobody sleeps with his two eyes closed and the answer is state police and community policing, that is where I stand.
Some people are advocating that amnesty should be extended to the repentant Boko Haram members…?
(Cut’s in) No, no, no. Any person who is suggesting that is not being reasonable, it defiles every logic. Look at Niger Republic, they just executed recently, just last week 10 Boko Haram insurgents who came and killed their over 30 citizens. They got them, tried them quickly and got them executed and here you are talking about giving amnesty. You see the Boko Haram has been classified by the Nigerian government and the international community as a terrorist organisation and it has been further classified by the USA as the 4th most dangerous terrorist organisation in the world. To begin to say that any person coming out of that hard life that has reduced human life to nothingness will be granted amnesty is a great disservice to national unity and it will be unfair to the soul and spirit of all of those that were unjustly killed, innocent children, women, and men, some were slaughtered in a rather gruesome manner, some had their executions dramatized and recorded in a video clip distributed to the public in the social media platforms in a manner that so many people convulse on watching such gruesome decapitation of human persons. And people who committed that kind of atrocity are being considered for some comfort, honestly whoever that is advocating for it, but the good thing is that it is not an executive bill, that is just the comforting thing on my side because I would have been thoroughly embarrassed if the government that I am supporting so vehemently is contemplating that in any form or manner, but it’s a private member bill and I advise that it should be withdrawn immediately because it’s not only an embarrassment, it is scandalous not only to us in Nigeria, but also to the international community.
Comptroller Mohammed Uba Garba ,The Coordinator, Joint Border Operation Drill
[dropcap]C[/dropcap]omptroller Mohammed Uba Garba, the Former Controller, Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone A, Ikeja, Seme Border now the present acting Zonal Coordinator, Border Drills, sector 3, who by any matrix, can be called an anti-smuggling czar, has taken battle to the Smugglers den at Kwara immediately he assumed office. He vowed to stop smugglers from operating at North Central Zone, because he knows that smugglers are economic saboteurs who are bent on circumventing the law.
This anti-smuggling czar whose antecedents are record breaking at Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone A, Ikeja, Seme Border Command, when it comes to Customs operations wondered aloud that while a good number of well meaning Nigerians are appreciative of government efforts to rid the nation of corruption in all its ramifications, some smugglers are unrepentantly bent on circumventing the lofty mission for their selfish interest.
Those who think that Muhammed Uba Garba, a former Comptroller, Seme Command, and now acting Zonal Coordinator, Border Drills, sector 3, comprising of the six states in the acting Zonal Coordinator, Border Drills, sector 3: Kwara, Niger, Kogi, Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau states, would fail in the national assignment like his predecessor, Dahiru Musa, an Assistant Comptroller General, ACG, of Customs, would be disappointed.
People have every reason to worry that he might face an uphill task cutting the wings of the smugglers in the region. This is because of the difficult terrain in some of the Border Communities, particular, Chikanda , in Baruten , local government Area , of Kkwara state.They also cited the Ilesha Baruba, Yashkira, and Okuta axis in the same Baruten local government , as well as the Kaiama –Jebba-Mokwa-Wawa –Babanna-Kotangora axis of Niger and the Otukpa, Adikpo-Ugbema axis of Benue states respectively .
Unkwon to them , Muhammed was not a neophyte in anti-smuggling operations. Close associates said anti-smuggling operations runs in his blood. They noted that pursuing smugglers in their hideouts has has become part of him since he joined Customs in the late ‘80s. He was said to have led a patrol Team , as a Cadet in Adamawa state Customs Command. His records as a Comptroller at Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone C, Owerri, Imo state, FOU, Zone A, iKeja, Lagos state and Seme Command, described as Africa busiest border speaks volume.
He knew he cannot afford to fail with the confidence reposed on him by Hameed Ali, a retired Army Colonel and Comptroller General, NCS, who had deployed him from Seme Command to Head the Border Drills , sector 3, described as a leveler. This is because there are are internal saboteurs who have their local Collaborators who have a way of roping their superiors into trouble. Note that Aminu Dahiru, the former ACG, was already having his own troubles, for allegedly passing of some trucks of Contrabands. The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association, IPMAN, PDT, the Nation Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW,and the memebers of Commercial Drivers Association were said to have been the major Customers of the smugglers.
As a prelude to ensuring that these group of people who patronise the services of the smugglers to fly vehicles or cross foreign parboiled rice and other illicit goods from the Benin Republic into the Nigerian market withdraw from doing so, the Border Drills sector 3, Coordinator , was said to have invited their leaders to Ilorin, the sector operational base, for a meeting,.
He was said to have sensitized them about the dangers of smuggling and its adverse effect to the economy. Insiders confirmed that he had solicited their support in order to cut the wings of the dare-devil smugglers. They may have gotten the message right as they took it to their members, urging them to support the government effort in the fight against smugglers. The Border Drills, sector 3, Coordinator, may have reached out to the various groups to avoid taking them unawares with the renewed anti-smuggling war in the region.
Uba Leads Operatives And Journalists On Inspection Of Seized Goods
It was therefore, not very surprising that when Muhammed and his men embarked on the complete lock down of the Border Communities and the , close monitoring of the Lokoja – Abuja – Lagos Express way of Kogi state, IPMAN , and the other groups in the region threw their weight behind them. This is why Muhammed could beat his chest that smuggling of petroleum products, foreign par boiled rice, flying of vehicles across the borders have been minimized in Kwara and other states in the region over the last two months.
Giving an insider information, he noted that those who have tried to test the will of the sector 3, Border Drill operatives would never forget their experience in a hurry as they had lost both their goods and money. The Commercial Driver who could not hide his feelings lamented that the ‘’fear of the Border Drills sector 3, Zonal Coordinator is the beginning of wisdom in Ilorin’’. According to him , many Commercial Drivers rivers, whose major business in the state is to carry smuggled foreign parboiled rice and other illicit goods including petroleum products, have been thrown out of business while some are still struggling to recover their detained vehicles.
The anti-smuggling war in the five Border Communities in Baruten local government and its environs have become very worrisome that the people were said to have cried out that Muhammed has destroyed their major source of income which is smuggling. Between January and now, an elated Border Drills sector 3, Zonal Coordinator, has confirmed that they impounded 57 vehicles of various brands and 1,355 ‘’50’’keg bags of foreign par boiled rice.
Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari, had banned the importation of rice and vehicles through the land borders into the Nigerian market on January 1, 2017. It was the first step adopted by the Katsina born Nigerian President towards the partial closure of the Borders with the neighboring countries of Benin Republic, Niger and the Central African country of Cameroon on August, 26, 2019.
There are indications that the Border Drills sector 3 Team leaders who had been forced to go all out for the smugglers in their hide outs in their various locations in the Border Communities by the Zonal Coordinator also made other Contraband seizures ranging from long single barrel guns, cartridges, Cutlasses, Knives , Vegetable oil, Petrol, Engine oil, Textiles, Bales of second hand clothing, to Motorcycles, popular, in the Border Communities as Bajaj. The’ Bajaj’, according to sources, is the major means of conveyance of rice from the Benin side of the Communities into the Nigerian market. One Bajaj, the source said could carry as much as 10 bags of ‘’50’’ bags of the Asian country of Thailand parboiled rice without payment of duties. an indication that the Bajaj owners could easily smuggle a ship load of rice through unapproved routes into the country through the Border Communities in the north central region alone..
Attempts by a smuggler to cross 20 bags of dried yam flour to Benin was said to have been nipped on board by one of the patrol Teams who promptly intercepted it and transferred to the sector premises at Ilorin.
Given the Objective of the Border Drills Operation, popular, Operation Swift Response, OSR, to reduce banditry, human trafficking, smuggling, enhance production of locally manufactured goods and production agricultural products, particular, rice as well as tackling the country’s security challenge and reduce the taste for consumption of foreign goods, the sector 3 Border Drills personnel were said to have moved into action.
In taking the decision to close the Borders with the two neighbouring West African and one Central African countries, the government was optimistic that it would improve the country revenue generation from non-oil Imports and exports as importers who had abandoned Nigeria ports s to the ports of Cotnou, Bollore in Benin, and other ports in the region would be forced to relocate back to the country to take delivery of their cargoes .
Take for instance, the Duty Paid Value, DPV, of the Contraband goods that were said to have been seized by sector 3 Border Drills, so far, was put at about N135 million. Indeed, this is money that could have entered into private pockets if the goods had entered into the Nigerian market. The Beninese Customs may not have been worried about what happened to the transit goods as long as the importers agent had paid the duties and other charges into the government coffers and taken delivery of his or her cargo..
Maritime watchers believe that if the Katsina State born Nigerian President bows to pressure from other African Leaders to re-open the Borders, he will not relax the ban on the importation of rice through the and border, an indication that the Border Drills Operation would not be disbanded.
Already, the President has stopped Godwin Emefiele, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, governor , from giving out Foreign Exchange to importers of rice and other Food items in order to make the country self sufficient in food production which will the Border Drills personnel more job to do as the rice smugglers that want change tactics to flood the Nigeria market with foreign rice to compete with the local production.]
Meanwhile , the Katsina state born Nigerian President has told those that cares to listen that the closed borders across the country would be reopened based on the report of the tripartite Committee comprising of Nigria, Benin and Niger. He noted that he had also discussed with Marc Christian Kabore, President of Burkina Faso state, who is Heading on the Border Closure set up at the instance of the African Union, AU.
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