National
Customs pledge to enhance made-in-Nigeria goods export
The Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adeniyi, has pledged to further facilitate exportation of Made-in-Nigeria products as part of the service’s ongoing efforts to catalyse economic growth through manufacturing.
Adeniyi made the pledge at the 53rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Apapa Branch, on Wednesday in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the AGM had as theme: “Trade Facilitation and Revenue Generation: Option for an Import-Dependent Economy”.
Adeniyi said the NCS would support the growth of the manufacturing sector by facilitating the export of locally manufactured goods through the creation of dedicated export lanes.
“We will simplify export procedures to boost the competitiveness of goods made in Nigeria,” the Customs Comptroller General said.
He added that the NCS would also streamline import processes for raw materials by implementing fast-tracked clearance procedures for essential manufacturing inputs.
He said the service would collaborate with stakeholders and would reward compliant manufacturers.
“This will reduce delays, and cost and improve production efficiency only for compliant manufacturers.
“Manufacturers demonstrating consistent compliance will benefit from expedited processes, reduced inspections, and potential inclusion in programmes like the Authorised Economic Operator Scheme,” he said.
The Customs Comptroller-General added that the NCS would develop whistleblowing policies and create an integrated database of manufacturing companies with other agencies to aid proper regulation.
The MAN President, Francis Meshioye, called on the Lagos State Government to reconstruct roads in the industrial cluster, consolidate taxes and merge regulatory agencies to reduce the burdens on manufacturers.
Meshioye urged the Lagos State Government to appoint representatives of the association to government boards to aid in the contextualisation of policies.
“MAN’s advocacy in the past year, including the suspension of manufacturing-averse policies such as the Price Verification System, 10 per cent tax on single-use plastics, and sachet manufacturing drinks, has been impactful.
“And our advocacy resulted in the Federal Government’s approval of the import duty waiver for importation of CNG-powered manufacturing materials.
The Chairman, MAN, Apapa Branch, Mr Raphael Danilola, noted the challenges that manufacturers in the Apapa district faced, including the risk of bad roads.
Danilola noted that some manufacturers had relocated from the Apapa Industrial Cluster due to the impediment of bad roads in the transportation of products.
“Our immediate appeal goes to the Lagos State Government for very urgent intervention, including the rehabilitation of the road networks and drainages within the industrial areas, especially the Amuwo Odofin and Kirikiri Industrial areas with the flooding period in mind,” he said.
Danilola also called on the Lagos State Government to curb the activities of non-state actors, commonly known as Agberos, who, he said, increasingly extorted manufacturers on the pretext of tax collection.
“The non-state actors remain a threat to the survival of manufacturing in Lagos State.
“We enjoin the government to exercise the political will to curb the activities of Agberos who contribute nothing but forcefully extort manufacturers in the state,” he said. (NAN)
Gunmen have abducted some female students of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University in Makurdi, Benue state.
The students, reportedly numbering up to four, were abducted on Tuesday evening at the university’s North Core campus.
The students were said to have been headed for “night class”, a practice of late-night studying in Nigerian campuses.
The gunmen were said to have invaded the hotel area of the campus before abducting the four students.
Some moments after the incident, operatives of the Nigerian army arrived at the school.
Sewuese Anene, Benue police spokesperson, told TheCable on Wednesday that a report received by the police indicated that only two students were kidnapped during the incident.
Anene added that the police have launched an investigation into the matter.
The Markurdi incident is the latest in a series of abductions targeted at Nigeria’s tertiary school students in recent years.
In August 2024, at least 20 medical and dental students were kidnapped in Benue State while travelling to a convention in Enugu.
In September 2023, gunmen abducted approximately 20 students from a university in Zamfara state.
At Greenfield University in Kaduna State, at least 20 students and two staff members were kidnapped in April 2021.
Tragically, five students were killed during captivity before the remaining hostages were released after a month.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Jude Okoye, the elder brother and former manager of Paul and Peter Okoye of the defunct music group, P-Square, on charges of laundering ₦1.38billion, $ 1 million and £34,537.59.
Jude was arraigned alongside his company, Northside Music Ltd, before Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on a seven-count charge
One of the counts read: “That you, Jude Okoye Chigozie and Northside Music Ltd sometime in 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did directly acquire a landed property known as No 5, Tony Eromosele Street Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos worth ₦850,000,000.00 (Eight hundred and fifty million naira) only, which money you knew or reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2) (d) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Another count read: “That you, Jude Okoye Chigozie and Northside Music Ltd sometime in 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did indirectly using bureau de change convert the sum of $1,019,762.87 (One million nineteen thousand, seven hundred and six-two dollars eighty-seven cents), domiciled in Access Bank Plc operated by Northside Music Lid to the naira equivalent and remitted into various bank accounts with the intention of concealing that the said fund form part of the proceeds of an unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2)(a) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.
In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, Larry Peters Aso, applied for a date for hearing as well as for the remand of the defendant in the correctional facility pending trial.
The defendant’s counsel, Inibehe Effiong, informed the court of a pending bail application. He asked for a short date for the hearing. Effiong also asked that the defendant be remanded in the EFCC’s custody pending the hearing of the application.
Aso objected to the request for the defendant to be remanded in the EFCC custody. He argued that the EFCC custody was already congested with suspects awaiting arraignment. He urged the court to remand the defendant to the correctional facility since he had taken his plea.
Justice Owoeye adjourned the matter till February 28 for bail hearing and April 14 for trial.
He also ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Ikoyi correctional facility.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested Kogi-born political activist and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Austin Okai, in Abuja.
The arrest, which took place on Wednesday morning, was reportedly carried out on the directive of Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.
Video footage obtained by Elanza shows heavily armed security operatives storming Okai’s residence in the Federal Capital Territory before taking him away.
While no official reason has been given for his arrest, sources suggest it may be connected to his outspoken criticism of the Kogi State government.
Okai, a well-known opposition figure, has frequently condemned the administration’s policies and governance.
His wife, speaking to reporters, claimed that the DSS operatives did not present an arrest warrant before detaining him.
“They came to arrest him at our home in Abuja without a warrant,” she said.
“They ransacked our house, forced their way inside, and took him away. I asked for a warrant, but they had none.”
She further alleged that Okai’s personal gadgets were confiscated during the operation.
As of the time of this report, the DSS has not issued any official statement regarding Okai’s detention.