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FG suspends 25% penalty on improperly imported vehicles

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FG suspends 25% penalty on improperly imported vehicles

The Nigeria Customs Service said it was directed by the Minister of Economy and Coordinating Minister of Finance, Mr Wale Edun, to suspend the 25 per cent penalty on improperly imported vehicles.

The service’s National Public Relations Officer of the service, Abdullahi Maiwada, announced this in a statement on Friday.

According Online reports that the Federal Government recently announced a 90-day window to regularise import duties on specific categories of vehicles.

The service, while announcing the development, said an import duty and a 25 per cent penalty shall be paid in tandem with the import guidelines, procedures, and documentation requirements for used vehicles under the Destination Inspection Scheme in Nigeria (2013) and the NCS Act 2023.

However, giving an update on the development, Maiwada added that the service has also been directed to be initiated within three months, a window for the regularisation of import duties on specific categories of vehicles.

The statement read in parts, “The Nigeria Customs Service, under the directives of the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, has initiated a 90-day window, effective from 4th March 2024 to 5th July 2024, for the regularisation of import duties on specific categories of vehicles..

“To ease economic hardship and encourage compliance, the Honourable Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy has approved the suspension of the 25 per cent penalty previously imposed in addition to import duty on improperly imported vehicles.”

The NCS spokesperson urged stakeholders to make use of the opportunity.

“Stakeholders, including vehicle owners, importers, and agents, are encouraged to seize this opportunity to regularise import duty payments within the designated 90-day timeframe,” Maiwada said.

Nigeria’s debt hit N97.34tn in Q4 2023 – DMO

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Nigeria’s debt hit N97.34tn in Q4 2023 – DMO

The Debt Management Office of Nigeria has revealed that Nigeria’s public debt surged to N97.34trn ($108bn) as of the fourth quarter of 2023.

DMO disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Friday.

Public debt is one of the ways for a country to get extra funds for economic development. This way, a country can plan and undergo bigger projects that can aid its development.

The statement partly read, “Nigeria’s Public Debt Stock as of December 31, 2023, was N97.34tn or $108.229bn.

“This amount comprises the Domestic and External Debt Stocks of the Federal Government of Nigeria, the 36 States Governments and the Federal Capital Territory.”

The document revealed that this amount indicates an increase of N89.43tn over the comparative figure for September 2023 which was largely due to new domestic borrowing to partly finance the deficit in the 2024 Appropriation Act and disbursements by multilateral and bilateral lenders.

It noted that, at N59.12trn, Total Domestic Debt accounted for 61 per cent of the Total Public Debt Stock, while External Debt at N1438.22trn accounted for the balance of 39 per cent.

“Consistent with the debt management strategy, Nigeria’s External Debt Stock was skewed in favour of loans from multilateral (49.77 per cent) and bilateral lenders (14.02 per cent ) or a total of 63.79 per cent which are mostly concessional and semi-concessional,” the document added.

The DMO says it has continued to employ the best practices in public debt management and is committed to shore up the country’s revenue.

“Whilst the DMO continues to employ best practices in public debt management, the recent and ongoing efforts of the fiscal authorities to shore up revenue will support debt sustainability,” it stated.

Meanwhile, in December 2023, Nigeria’s total public debt rose marginally by 0.61 per cent quarter-on-quarter to N87.91trn in the third quarter of 2023.

Military kills 106 terrorists, apprehends 103

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Military kills 106 terrorists, apprehends 103

The Defence Headquarters says that troops have neutralised 106 terrorists and arrested 103 in different operations nationwide in the last one week. The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, said this while giving an update on the operations in a statement on Friday in Abuja. Buba said the troops also apprehended 22 perpetrators

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Pro-Wike lawmakers override Fubara, enact service commission law

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Pro-Wike lawmakers override Fubara, enact service commission law

The face-off between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly took a new twist on Friday as the majority of the lawmakers enacted a new law without the governor’s assent.

The new law is the Rivers State House of Assembly Service Commission Amendment Law.

Of the 27 lawmakers said to be loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, 24 who were present during the emergency plenary on Friday overrode the Governor.

This followed an observation by the House Majority Leader, Hon Major Jack, that the Rivers State House of Assembly Service Commission amendment law, which was sent to the Governor on February 19, 2024 had yet to be assented to by Governor Fubara.

The leader stated, “Mr Speaker, I draw the notice of this House that since then, 30 days have elapsed. Let me go to the Constitution Section 100 (4) where a Bill is presented to the Governor for assent he shall within 30 days thereof signify that he assents or withholds assent.

“Mr. Speaker, having given this letter to the governor, I’m bringing it to the notice of this house that the 30 days have elapsed.”

Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, then called for a debate, and members of the Assembly argued that Section 100 (5) be invoked so that the House can override the governor.

Following the voting, the speaker stated, “Those that voted for, 24, against, nil, abstention, nil. By this voting, 24 members are far and above two-thirds, and what this means is that we have surpassed the constitutional requirements for overriding the assent of the governor.

“By this, the Rivers State House of Assembly Service Commission is hereby passed, and the assent of the governor is no longer required for it to be law in this state.”

This is the second time the Pro-Wike lawmakers will override the state governor.

In January, the House enacted four laws after they said the governor declined his assent to them.

The implication of this law is that the House of Assembly now has the powers to appoint a Chairman and members of the Assembly Service Commission, even as it places the Clerk at par with the State Head of Service, and places the Deputy Clerk and Secretary of the Assembly Service Commission at par with Permanent Secretaries in the State Civil Service.

Opposition lawmakers kick against extension of Rivers council chairmen’s tenure

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Opposition lawmakers kick against extension of Rivers council chairmen’s tenure

Opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives, represented by the Coalition of United Political Parties, expressed their strong disapproval on Friday of the actions by certain lawmakers who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State.

These lawmakers allegedly extended the tenure of the 23 chairmen of local governments, whose tenure is set to end in a few weeks, which the opposition lawmakers view as an act of impunity.

CUPP Spokesman, Ikenga Ugochinyere, who spoke on behalf of the federal lawmakers at a press briefing in Abuja, condemned the plan by the embattled members of the River State House of Assembly to override Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s veto without sending the controversial bill to the governor for assent.

Ugochinyere, who described the passage of the controversial legislation as a recipe for chaos and lawlessness, added that the purported tenure elongation of the Rivers State Local Government Chairmen is “legislative rascality and a coup against democracy that is dead on arrival.”

This is just as he described the development as an “invitation to anarchy and an attempt to sabotage the presidential peace accord signed by the embattled lawmakers with legitimacy questions.”

He also called on the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission to immediately conduct bye-election for the replacement of the lawmakers who defected from the PDP to the APC in breach of the provisions of the Electoral Act and 1999 Constitution (as amended).

He said, “Assuming without conceding that the Rivers House of Assembly sent the law to the Governor, the Governor has 30 days within which to assent to the law or withhold his assent and it can only be at the expiration of the 30 days that the House of Assembly can adjudge that the Governor has withheld assent and not earlier.

“Illegally extending the tenure of Local Government Chairmen just a few weeks to the expiration of their tenure is an abuse of the legislative process that cannot be enforced. It is the height of legislative rascality and a coup against democracy that is dead on arrival.

“These Rivers Assembly men are truly acting like people who do not hold the sacred mandate of the people. Otherwise, they should have known that this plot is a deliberate invitation to anarchy and an inglorious attempt to sabotage the Presidential Peace Accord. We hereby call on the President to call them to order to avert the total breakdown of law and order in the State.”

He further noted that, “About two months ago, the same group of members with questionable mandate purported to have amended the same Local Government Law. Less than two months later, they are purporting to amend it again. They are now clearly playing Ping-Pong with Rivers State laws.”

Navy gets new spokesman

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Navy gets new spokesman

The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, has appointed Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu as the spokesperson for the service.

Adams -Aliu who is the son of a former editor with The Daily Times took over from Rear Admiral Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan.

A statement on Friday by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Rear Admiral J.D. Akpan, stated that the former spokesperson had been redeployed to Headquarters Naval Training Command as the Chief Staff Officer.

The statement partly read, “The CNS has approved the appointment of a new Director of Naval Information and official spokesperson for the Nigerian Navy in the person of Commodore Adams-Aliu

“On Friday, March 22, 2024, Commodore Adams-Aliu took over from Rear Admiral Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan who has been redeployed to Headquarters Naval Training Command as the Chief Staff Officer.

“Commodore Adams-Aliu was born into the family of Sir & Lady Adams Aliu.
Notably, Sir Adams-Aliu is a veteran journalist who worked extensively as an editor with the Daily Times of Nigeria, thus young Aiwuyor was exposed to the inner workings of the journalism profession early in life and developed a flair for public speaking and media relations.

“Adams-Aliu attended Shepherd Hill Primary School and Kings College Lagos before proceeding to the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1995, where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry in 1999 and was commissioned into the Nigerian Navy in the year 2000 as a member of 47 Regular Course.”

The statement said Adams-Aliu attended several professional courses including the Captain Career Course at United States Army Infantry School, Atlanta, from 2007 to 2008.

“He also attended the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, for the Junior and Senior Staff Courses in 2004 and 2010 respectively. Adams-Aliu later graduated from the Naval War College Nigeria in 2018 and the United States Naval War College in 2019.

“Adams-Aliu commenced his naval career, serving as Watch Keeping Officer onboard various Nigerian Navy Ships from the year 2000 to 2004. He also served as a military observer in the United Nations Mission in Liberia from 2011 – 2012.

“He was the Officer in Charge of the Nigerian Navy Ship BENIN and Squadron Commander of SHALDAG Boat squadron from 2013 to 2014 and between 2016 and 2018, he was the Pioneer Commanding Officer, Nigerian Navy Ship KARADUWA, the second Nigerian Navy (indigenously) built Seaward Defence Boat (SDBII),” the statement added.

FirstNews writes CDS, seeks abducted editor’s whereabouts

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FirstNews writes CDS, seeks abducted editor’s whereabouts

The management of FirstNews has written the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Chris Musa, demanding to know the whereabouts of its editor, Segun Olatunji.

Olatunji, a former Kaduna State correspondent of The According, was kidnapped in his Lagos home in Iyana Odo, Abule Egba area of Lagos on March 16.

He was said to have been whisked away by 10 armed men, and to date, nothing has been heard of his whereabouts.

The letter followed the continuous disappearance of Olatunji several days after he was abducted in Lagos.

In the letter titled, “Arrest and Detention of Mr Segun Olatunji, Editor FirstNews” and signed by the publisher, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the news outfit, among other things, appealed to the CDS to help them ascertain the exact location of the journalist.

“As a responsible and law-abiding media organisation, we are requesting that you help us ascertain the whereabouts of our editor, if truly he is in your custody, grant his family, doctor and lawyers access to him, make known to us his offence, if he had committed one and charge him to court if the offence is grievous, so he can have the opportunity to defend himself,” the letter read in part.

The letter also narrated how Olatunji was whisked away and the initial alarm raised about him being abducted, based on the account of his wife, who was an eyewitness of the incident.

It read, “On Friday, March 15, 2024, the wife of our editor, Segun Olatunji, contacted us over a strange development. In the account of the story narrated by her, some armed men, numbering 10, (two in military uniform), stormed their residence at No. 12, Dauda Oriyomi Street, Iyana Odo along Joke Ayo in Abule Egba area of Lagos State and whisked him away.

“Not stating the reason for their actions and where they were taking him to, it was emotionally conjectured that it was a case of abduction by the military.

“This prompted the initial alarm that Segun Olatunji had been abducted. Thus, many media outlets published the story of his abduction by the military. This was aimed at drawing the attention of security agencies and the government to act swiftly.

“However, days after the incident and with no information from those behind his abduction, we were left with no choice but to request his family to lodge a formal complaint to the police in order for them to commence a thorough investigation into the incident. We also reached out to the Nigerian Guild of Editors and the Nigeria Union of Journalists to weigh in and demand the release of our editor.

“As at the time of writing this letter, the whereabouts of Segun Olatunji is still unknown, thus putting his family in great discomfort, especially as regards his safety and health conditions as an ulcer and asthmatic patient.”

The management of FirstNews said it had been part of the healthy relationship that the present administration of President Bola Tinubu has maintained with the media since it came on board and hope that the robust relationship which extended to the military would continue.

The organisation also used the letter to commiserate with the military over the killings of its officers and soldiers in Okuama, Delta State.

Delta Police arrest three teenagers for faking friend’s kidnapping

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Delta Police arrest three teenagers for faking friend’s kidnapping

The Delta State Police Command has arrested three teenagers for staging the kidnapping of one of their friends and extorting N700,000.

This was made known in a statement shared by the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, on his X account on Friday.

He wrote, “These three suspects are friends all 17 years old. They conspired and faked the kidnap of one of their friends in Agbor, called the parent of one of them, and demanded a ransom. They were arrested after collecting a ransom of N700,000.

“Make our boys dey calm down o. Short cut to success leads to a short life. Imagine a 17-year-old who knows how to fake kidnap just to collect money from the parent.

“The sad part is that the parents will start running up and down for them to evade justice. Justice must be served.”

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from According.

Contact: [email protected]

Pray for God’s intervention, Naval chief urges Nigerians

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Pray for God’s intervention, Naval chief urges Nigerians

The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice, Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, has called on Nigerians to pray for peace unity and progress in the face of the myriad of challenges facing the country.

He said the country was passing through daunting challenges, both economic and security, and called on both Christians and Muslims to pray for God’s intervention.

The According reports that apart from the insecurity confronting the nation, Nigeria faces challenges like the parlous state of the economy and the high cost of living among others.

Speaking during the Iftar organised by the  Nigerian Navy Islamic Directorate on  Friday in Abuja, Ogalla said with the many socio-economic challenges bedeviling the country, there is a need for citizens to be steadfast in seeking Allah’s intervention.

He said, “The nation is facing daunting challenges, particularly from the security and economic aspect of our nationhood. In addition to working hard to overcome these challenges, we believe that man, being a spiritual being, will also need prayers. This year’s Ramadan also coincided with the Lenten period for the Christians. This emphasizes the oneness of all religions, particularly Islam and Christianity.

“We must jointly continue to pray for God Almighty to intervene in our situation.”

He said President Bola Tinubu was living no stone unturned to better the lots of the citizens.

Ogalla said, “The President is doing all humanly possible to see a turn around in the country, and those of us who are his field officers are also equally ready to do all that is humanly possible.

“I want to join our Muslim brothers and sisters to continue to pray for peace and security of this nation” .

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from According.

Contact: [email protected]

Rivers CJ frees 24 inmates

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Rivers CJ frees 24 inmates

The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Chibuzor-Amadi, on Friday, freed 24 inmates from the Port Harcourt Maximum Custodial Centre.

Justice Chibuzor-Amadi said the goal delivery exercise underscores the dedication of the court that individuals have the right to be integrated into society and become law-abiding citizens.

He stated this during a goal delivery at the correctional centre on Friday, saying he is empowered by law to conduct the exercise on inmates as part of efforts to decongest correctional facilities in the state.

He, however, blamed a lack of proper process in trying the inmates and activities of the police in the prolonged stay of the inmates at the correctional centre and the consequent overcrowding.

The CJ stated that correctional centres should neither be warehouses for the forgotten nor breeding ground for hardened criminals.

“Rather, they should be institutions for transformation where individuals can reflect on their actions, learn from their mistakes, and receive the necessary tools and support for their rehabilitation,” he explained.

Justice Chibuzor-Amadi added, “We are here in compliance with the Criminal Justice Release from Custody Special Provision Act Cap 40 Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2024 and Section 34 Sub 1 of the Rivers State Administration and Criminal Justice Law No 7 of 2015 to conduct this goal delivery at this Port Harcourt Correctional Centre.

“Today, we have the chance to offer compassion, restore the dignity, and extend a hand of hope to those who have erred in the past but deserve to have a change for the future.”

He called on stakeholders, including security agencies, to ensure collaboration in justice delivering, saying the goal delivery exercise cannot take away the principles of the nation’s justice system which includes fairness, integrity and equality before the law.

He added, “Every individual appearing before us today deserves to be treated with dignity and respect regardless of the kind of offence he is alleged to have committed.

“However, let us not forget that there are those who are victims of the crime those we are about to release have committed. It is our duty to ensure that justice is served for those victims also. Providing them with the closure and healing they deserve.

“Restorating justice programme can play a crucial role in this process by encouraging dialogue and reconciliation between victims and offenders. Promoting understanding and facilitating healing for all the parties involved.”

While noting that the pardon should not be misunderstood that people should not be punished for their actions, he advised the released inmates to become a better people in the society as they reunite with their families and society.

In his goodwill message, the state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Felix Lawrence, commended the state judiciary for its continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongestion of the facilities.

Twenty-four inmates who have been in correctional centre between seven and 15 years were granted pardon by the Chief Judge in the presence of representatives of state Ministry of Justice, Nigeria Bar Association, the International Federation of Female Lawyers and human rights groups.

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