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Rivers Mot And Vehicle Enumeration

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The seriousness of correct statistics, data or databank in development activities, appraisals and projections has remained a strong point the world over. It is a matter that  is totally beyond compromise in every part of the globe, where men and women of integrity and transparent purpose in leadership positions have vowed to move their people forward. The truth is that there is really nothing a government that truly means well for its people could do in the area of democratic planning and development, without the availability of accurate records and data on the different economic activities of its people.  For a government to realise any worthwhile revenue in taxation, the importance of correct census figures of its men, women and children as well as private and corporate business operators and activities must be given the attention it deserves. This is applicable to election matters, and the number of primary, secondary and tertiary educational institutions to be built in different parts of a state. These issues cannot be dealt with in the absence of development statistics. The same scenario also applies to the unemployment status of a state or nation vis – a – vis available employment opportunities and the usually critical need to create more job chances.

Indeed, a situation where those in positions of authority work without any form of statistics or data on the development needs of their people in the areas of election, taxation and general infrastructural development is a fundamental explanation why development efforts have remained in a state of total disarray, over the years in parts of  Nigeria and indeed the underdeveloped world. Hence, correct data provision and its uncompromised application to development policies and programmes of government is as critical as it is indispensable, if Nigerians must not continue to live in conditions of underdevelopment. The Rivers State Ministry of Transport (MOT) Commercial Vehicle Enumeration or Registration exercise is one of the development-prone efforts of the present administration expected to achieve a correct data of all categories of commercial vehicles in the state. The importance of such data cannot be over-emphasised in transport related-development initiatives of government. The pressure of vehicles on available infrastructure such as roads and parks in the state even makes the exercise more imperative. It would also assist government in embarking on appropriate expansion of transport infrastructures in the states for the good of the people.

At the end of the day, the data so collected from the exercise could be used to know how many vehicles operate in different parts of Port Harcourt and the entire state as well as the true identity of their owners and operators up to where they live as well as their villages, communities and states. Such data would definitely make it difficult for criminals to take to commercial vehicle business in Rivers State.

It would also enhance transport related tax computations and reduce the problems of tax evation because transportation is one single business activity that appears to have the largest operators, who for many years have remained elusive when the state is in need of their correct statistics for development plans and projections. Moreover, such data could also enable govermnent to eventually make touting become extinct in the state. This is because, if the state has correct data on transport operators in the different zones of the state capital and other parts of the state, there would be no need for any agency of government to employ the task force element in its tax activities in the sector. In an overall sense, the data collection process would make every other dealings with transporters in the state a lot easier in the years to come. Transport operators should therefore be strongly reminded that the era of task- forcing and touting is gradually being phased out in Rivers State, because the task -force system in our tax programmes has done more harm than good to the image of state governments across the country.

And it should be pointed out that when the idea of Commercial Vehicle Enumeration was mooted by the state Transport Ministry, no time was wasted in taking into cognizance the fact that stakeholders such as the National Union of Road Transport Workers must key into the advantages of the exercise for the right impact to be made. With time, the stakeholders talks with the Ministry on the enumeration programme also positively progressed to the need of installing world class taxi roof lights on all taxis, not only in Port Harcourt but the entire state. Beyond the obvious improvement of the aesthetics of the state capital arising from the presence of many taxis with bright roof lights, particularly at night, it would also enable commuters to easily identify a taxi from a distance to flag it down if they need to board one. In the spirit of participatory democracy, the issue of pricing for the registration exercise and the taxi roof light was also openly and actively debated with the unions taking the usual firm stand in the interest of their members”. At the end of the talkshop, an amicable agreement was reached on when both programmes of the state Transport Ministry in conjunction with the National Union of Road Transport Workers and other stakeholders should commence, as well as what should reasonably be paid by each category of commercial vehicle operators for the registration and taxi roof light.

Additionally, the stakeholders at the instance of the ministry also further agreed that all payments be paid into a government designated bank account, contrary to any form of raw cash transactions, which it was noted breeds corruption. Drawing from this people-oriented scenario of public policy implementation as being canvassed. by the present administration, there is no reason whatsoever why any responsible commercial transport operator in Port Harcourt, and indeed the entire state, should not willingly key into the programme of repositioning the fortunes of the transport industry in the state. The state Transport Ministry as the regulator of the industry in the state has also begun.” an intensive media campaign to further enlighten commercial vehicle operators in the state on the importance of the MOT Vehicle Enumeration Exercise and Taxi Roof Light initiative. Coming from such atmosphere of mutual understanding, oneness and trust between the Ministry of Transport and the unions, among other stakeholders, on how to achieve for the state one of the best transport situations in the country, the onus is now squarely on the operators not to drag the state behind and become a cog in the wheel of progress in the transport sector.

It is also well deserving, that the leadership of the National Union of Road Workers and other stakeholders in the industry particularly in Rivers State be commended for their total support and commitment to the laudable efforts of the present administration to provide an efficient, effective and affordable as well as beautiful transport reform programmes for the state. We commend all commercial vehicle operators who have willingly gone to the state Ministry of Transport Office, at Moscow Road, to pay for the registration and the taxi roof light as law abiding citizens, while those who are yet to comply should follow their good example. So far, the ministry, in alliance with the National Union of Road Transport Workers, has established a total of ten commercial vehicle registration centres in Port Harcourt and its environs to make the process easy for commercial vehicle operators in the state. The appeal, therefore, is that they should do well to live up to their promise of sustaining the tempo of co-operation with the state Ministry of Transport to move the transport industry in Rivers State to the next level, for the good of the operators and best corporate image for the government and people of the state.

Onyije is Press Secretary to Rivers State Commissioner for Transport

Dike Onyije

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Shipowners Seek NIMASA Officials’ Prosecution Over N50bn Floating Dock Scandal

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Shipowners in Nigeria have called for the prosecution of officials of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) over the failed ?50 billion floating dock project.
This call follows years of inactivity and mounting concerns about the dock’s operational status which has remained idle for years despite huge investments in it.
The floating dock, acquired over a decade ago with the promise of reducing the cost of dry-docking Nigerian vessels abroad, has instead become a liability, incurring massive port charges while remaining non-operational.
Stakeholders in the maritime industry are now demanding accountability, describing the situation as an economic sabotage that has cost the nation billions of naira.
In a chat with our correspondent, a prominent shipowner, Otunba Sola Adewunmi, stated that the entire transaction was fraudulent from the onset.
He lamented that instead of being used for the benefit of Nigerian shipowners, the floating dock has become a symbol of government waste and mismanagement.
“The floating dock acquired by NIMASA was just a joint wastage. Normally, it was just funding for something that we didn’t really need.
“It has been draining the government’s purse all this while. We have wasted so much money on that dock. They will tell you tomorrow that they have found a solution, but nothing happens.
“Go and investigate how much the government is losing. They are paying heavy charges every month for an asset that has never worked”, he said.
Shipowners have expressed outrage over the continuous financial burden imposed on them, blaming the government for failing to create an enabling environment for indigenous operators.
Also, the current DG of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, while meeting with Journalists few months after his appointment in August 2024 had assured that the agency is working on putting the N50 billion modular floating dock to good use.
Mobereola, who spoke during a chart with the media in Lagos, said the management team had visited the site of the floating dock at the Continental Shipyard, Apapa, as part of the efforts to put the facility into good use.
He said: “The initial plan for the floating dock was not the right one. We are going to put the Modular Floating Dock to very good use so that once it’s in operation, it will benefit the economy, seafarers, and NIMASA itself.
“We need to place the modular floating dock in an appropriate location. It is just a matter of time. We will soon get that done”.
Despite these assurances, the floating dock has remained largely inactive, leading to widespread skepticism among industry players.
Speaking further, Otunba Sola Adewunmi said “The time for excuses is over. NIMASA must either operationalize the floating dock immediately, or face legal consequences for their negligence and mismanagement”.
He emphasized that those responsible for the floating dock’s failure must be held accountable, insisting that criminal prosecution was the only way to deter future financial recklessness.
“If those behind this scam were tried and sent to prison, it would serve as a deterrent. But in Nigeria, absurdity thrives because there are no consequences.
“This is a crime against the Nigerian people. The officials who sanctioned this deal should be arrested, tried, and jailed for economic sabotage”, he declared.
Speaking also, another experienced shipowner and Chief Executive Officer of Peacegate, a maritime services provider, Prince Ayorinde Adedoyin, described the floating dock debacle as part of a larger systemic failure where Nigerian authorities refuse to support local shipowners while enabling foreign interests to dominate the sector.

He stressed that the level of wastefulness surrounding the project was unacceptable and called for a full-scale investigation into the acquisition and management of the facility.

“This floating dock issue has been ongoing for about 10 years. Every year, there’s a new excuse. They move it to Marina, then they move it somewhere else.

“This is part of what we call wastefulness. It’s a disgrace. Between NIMASA and NPA, they couldn’t find a way to put the floating dock in use?

“They couldn’t build a docking pit for it? Instead, they allow it to remain idle while Nigerians suffer. This is taxpayer money—our money—being wasted”, he fumed.

He further explained that the failure to operationalize the dock has resulted in unnecessary financial burdens for shipowners, citing his personal experience of having to dry-dock one of his vessels in Cameroon, initially quoted at $180,000 but eventually costing close to $500,000 due to corruption and mismanagement in foreign dockyards.

“This is what Nigerian shipowners go through. Meanwhile, our own floating dock is rotting away because of the greed of a few people”, he added.

The shipowners also accused the government of deliberately frustrating the development of local capacity in the maritime industry.

They stated how Nigerian shipowners struggle with high-interest rates on loans while foreign vessel operators enjoy lower rates and government incentives.

“Foreign vessel owners have a field day in Nigeria. They get loans at 3% interest rates, while Nigerian shipowners are forced to borrow at over 30% interest.

“How can we compete? The government gave a bailout to the airline industry, but nothing for maritime. Meanwhile, shipowners are going bankrupt, and jobs are being lost”, Ayorinde said.

He also alleged that certain officials were benefiting from the floating dock’s continued non-utilization through port charges, legal battles, and consultancy fees, while Nigerian shipowners continued to suffer.

NIMASA has remained largely silent on the issue, with no concrete plans to operationalize the dock despite years of public outcry.

While the agency has occasionally made statements about finding a permanent home for the facility, industry stakeholders view these as empty promises.

“The only thing they know how to do is set up committees and hold endless meetings. No real action.

“If this dock was in the hands of a private company, it would have been operational years ago. But government officials have turned it into a cash cow for their own personal gain”, Ayorinde concluded.

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Maritime Journalists Confer Iconic Award On Customs CG

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The Comptroller General (CG) of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has been conferred with Nigerian Maritime Journalists Iconic Maritime Award with a special commendation for his excellent performance since he assumed office as CGC .
Adeniyi was also hailed for convincing the Federal Government to suspend the implementation of the 4% Free-on-Board (FOB) value on imports into the country.
Speaking at the ceremony for the presentation of “Iconic Maritime Personality of the Year Award 2024” to the CGC by Nigerian Maritime Journalists in Lagos, Thursday, a maritime icon and former National President of Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Prince Olayiwola Shittu, said the suspension is a relief to importers and Customs agents.
Calling CGC Adeniyi and the CG of licensed Customs agents and freight forwarders, Shittu, who was the Chairman of the occasion, noted that the CGC was instrumental to his success when he was the National President of ANLCA as he used to guide him through advice.
He congratulated the CGC for the well deserved award coming from maritime journalists, who, he noted, are the watchdogs of the sector.
The Chairman, Customs Consultative Council, Alhaji Hakeem Olanrewaju, eulogized the qualities of CGC Adeniyi and congratulated him for being celebrated by the maritime press with the award of Iconic Maritime Personality of the Year 2024.
Olanrewaju called the attention of Customs licensed agents to the fact that things have changed and enjoined his colleagues in the freight forwarding business to have attitudinal change.
The Vice President, ANLCA, Prince Olusegun Oduntan, commended the CGC for being a grassroots leader who listens to the people, an attitude, he said, that has brought a positive change.
He promised that his association will continue to partner with Nigeria Customs under the CGC’s leadership.
In his own speech, the National President, Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON), Otunba Frank Ogunojemite, described the CGC as a downright good man and a natural leader.
He stated that the CGC was his class captain in the university and later the President of the department, adding that he was a sports enthusiast who later became the leader of Man ‘o’ War.
Describing him as extremely patriotic and very humble, he said the CGC has been keeping his old friends without looking at his present status.

Speaking on behalf of the maritime journalists, Mr. Oke Ibeke, commended CGC Adeniyi for his “superlative performance” which has changed the narrative in Customs.

Ibeke commended the CGC for delivering on his mandate in areas of revenue collection, anti-smuggling activities, trade facilitation and others.

He noted that this was the first time journalists from various media houses covering a sector would agree jointly to honour a Chief Executive Officer of an agency.

Ibeke noted that the unusual agreement was not for sycophancy “but to give honour to a man who is a game changer”.

He expressed the belief that President Bola Tinubu must have seen in the CGC special qualities of an accomplished administrator before making him the CGC, adding that he has not disappointed the President for once.

Emphasizing that Customs is key to the economic development of any nation, Ibeke called on the Federal Government to give the Service more power and political support to be able to deliver better on its mandate.

 

 

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NCS Hands Over Intercepted Arms To NCCSALW

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The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has handed over 1,599 assorted arms and 2,298 live cartridges to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW).
The arms, seized in 2018 in three containers at the Tin Can Island Port, were formally handed over to the NCCSALW on Thursday, 13 February 2025, at the headquarters of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, Ikeja, Lagos.
The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, stated that the handover ceremony demonstrates the NCS’s commitment to protecting national borders and maintaining public safety.
“We will spare no resource in hunting down, exposing, and prosecuting anyone who attempts to compromise our national security through arms trafficking”, he said.
The CGC also commended the professionalism and courage of officers involved in the seizures and the Forensic Unit for their role in securing convictions.
He assured the public of the Service’s commitment to protecting legitimate trade while ensuring national security.
“We stand ready to deploy our full arsenal of intelligence and enforcement capabilities to protect legitimate trade as we ensure Nigeria’s security interests remain paramount”, he added.
The Director-General of NCCSALW, DIG Johnson Babatunde (Rtd), received the items on behalf of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
He assured that the weapons would be handled in accordance with international conventions.
“Nigeria is a signatory to the ECOWAS Convention, and we will not do anything short of international best practice”, he said.
He urged all stakeholders to remain vigilant and to continue collaborating to ensure the country remains resilient against the scourge of illicit weaponry.

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