Maritime
Reps Disagree Over Jonathan’s Import Policy
The House of Representatives on Tuesday threw out a motion for the reversal of the Federal Government’s latest import policy which has opened the gate for the importation of used cars and other items.
But the House also took the Minister of Finance, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, to task over the implementation of the 2010 budget saying the Executive had a poor showing especially over capital expenditure.
Mr. Gbenga Onigbogi, from Osun State, had raised a motion under Matter of Urgent National Importance calling the attention of his colleagues to President Goodluck Jonathan’s policy of opening the nation’s ports for the importation of hitherto banned products.
The President had recently lifted ban on cars above 10 years and other items such as furniture, textile materials and other sundry items.
Many Nigerians had condemned the decision to open the gate for foreign products arguing that the decision amounted to directly killing local manufacturing industries.
Onigbogi, presenting his motion, said by lifting ban on the items, Jonathan contradicted his resolve to accelerate the process of rejuvenating the nation’s manufacturing sector.
Specifically, he said the textile industry, which accounted for the employment of thousands of Nigerians in the past had become comatose.
Members of the House who supported Onigbogi’s motion include Isah Umaru, Mustapha Aliu, Kayode Idowu, while the motion was opposed by Hon Ndudi Elumelu, Leo Ogor, Darlington Okereke and others.
Supporting the motion, Hon. Kayode Idowu from Osun State stated that the country needs to encourage local production.
He said, “When we look at the economic policy of this country, you will find out that it is not a productive economy. We have to look into encouraging local production in this country.”
Mustapha Aliu, while contributing to the debate, said the productive sectors of the economy that should be absorbing graduates from various universities was being killed with policies such as the latest one on importation.
“We are graduating engineers year-in year-out, but we are not supporting industries to absorb them. We are killing the industries to absorb them.”
Aliu said as a member of the board of the newsprint manufacturing company in Okuiboku, he was aware the company produced 2000 direct jobs and more than 5000 indirect jobs.
He said with the death of the company, all that had become history.
Isah Umaru said government’s intervention in saving the textile industry from total collapse would be meaningless should the government go ahead with its latest policy on importation.
He said, “Just recently the FG intervened to save the textile by commissioning some textile companies in Kaduna. I cannot understand the intention of government by lifting ban on textile materials. To me, it is a policy summersault.”
Opposing the motion, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, Delta, said the country needed the revenues coming from importation to support the local industries.
“We must open our markets for the purpose of ensuring that we increase the revenue that is accrued to this country,” he said
Arguing further, Elumelu said that most people in the country could not afford new cars hence the availability of used cars will enable workers on minimum wage to own cars.
He said, new cars cost as much as N4 million to N6 million. In my federal constituency, we are very poor, not everybody can afford that amount to purchase one vehicle. So, we must open the market and allow the poor to survive.”
He said the country needed the revenues coming from importation to support the local industries. “We must open our market for the purpose of ensuring that we increase the revenue that is accrued to this country.”
Hon. Leo Ogor also said the government is losing revenues through the ban on the importation as he noted that the same banned items still find their ways into the Nigerian market. “Govt is losing revenues,” he stated.
He submitted that a reversal of the policy would not be in the interest of the common man.
Also opposing the motion, Hon. Darlinton Okereke, the ban on the items leads to loss of revenues.
He opposed the motion and said the products come into the country despite the ban with the country recording loses in revenue.
In his reaction to the contributions of those who opposed the motion, Onigbogi said generations yet unborn would not forgive them for the failure to do the right thing saying though importation might appear attractive now, the long term effect would be disastrous.
The House also queried Federal Government’s alleged poor implementation of the 2010 budget as the Minister of Finance, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, came under fire over capital expenditure, depeletion of the foreign reserves and constituency allowances of members.
Those who queried the minister include Minority Whip, Ali Ndume, Hon. Abdul Ningi, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, Jerry Manwe, Tsegbaa Terngu and others.
Admitting lapses in the implementation of the 2010 budget, Aganga assured the lawmakers that the government was serious about making up for the poor implementation in the 2011 budget.
He said, “There will be changes this year in the way capital budgets are implemented.”
The Nigerian Navy Forward Operation Base (FOB), Badagry, says its gallant officers have rescued nine women from the hands of suspected human traffickers.
FOB said the suspects have been handed over to the National Agency for prohibition of Human trafficking in Person (NAPTIP) for prosecution.
This was disclosed to newsmen in a statement by the Base Information Officer, Litunent B. Awodeyi, in Lagos.
Awodeyi said the first interception of the women was during a stop and search operation by the Quick Response Team (QRT) of the Command in a boat traveling to mile 2 and Panshi Jetty in Lagos State were five women between the ages of 19 and 32 were rescued.
The statement further said four women were also rescued by QRT two days later in a boat along Tongeji Island in Badagry, with the ages of victims ranging from 19 to 24 years.
Awodeyi said the rescued suspects were under investigation in line with the 2016 Harmonised Standard Procedures on arrest.
Although the names of the suspects were not made public by FOB, it insisted that the operation reflects Navy’s dedication to combating human trafficking and ensuring a secure maritime environment in line with the Chief of Naval Staff’s strategic directive 2023 and 2026.
The directive, Awodeyi said, is aimed at promoting safety in Nigeria’s waters and the Gulf of Guinea (GOG).
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), led by its President-General, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, has announced plans to embark on a nationwide strike, if the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) fails to pay nine months of salary arrears owed its employees.
Adeyanju said the affected workers are members of MWUN, and accused CRFFN management of neglecting its financial responsibilities.
MWUN in a statement by its Head of Media, Comrade John Kennedy Ikemefuna, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the actions of the CRFFN’s Acting Registrar.
The statement noted that MWUN had exhausted all available options for negotiation, including issuing several ultimatums, but that the efforts were ignored by the management of CRFFN.
“The most recent attempt at mediation occurred in Abuja on September 18, 2024, yet no progress was made in resolving the matter”, it said.
The statement criticised CRFFN for disregarding a crucial resolution reached during the mediation meetings.
According to Ikemefuna, one of the resolutions stipulated that when funds become available to the CRFFN, the payment of employees’ salaries should be prioritis ed.
The statement further noted that CRFFN diverted available funds to conduct what it described as a “kangaroo” training programme for select staff members, leaving the issue of unpaid salaries unaddressed.
“This is a clear violation of the agreements reached”, it emphasised.
The Union said CRFFN’s actions have deepened the financial challenges faced by its members, hence MWUN expressed disappointment that, despite their willingness to cooperate with the CRFFN management, the regulatory body has continued to act in a manner that undermines the rights and welfare of its members.
The workers union, therefore, insisted that it would no longer tolerate the perceived impunity of the CRFFN and declared that if the outstanding nine months salary arrears are not paid, it would have no choice but to initiate a total withdrawal of its members from services.
“This action would impact key sectors of Nigeria’s maritime industry, including the Nigerian Ports Authority, dock labour, shipping and freight forwarding agencies, as well as seamen working across all ports, jetties, terminals, and oil and gas platforms”, Ikemefuna stated.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Command, has thwarted a smuggling attempt of N1.1billion illicit drugs in four containers at Apapa Port.
The four seized containers were filled with narcotics valued at N1,183,915,500.
The Command’s Area Controller, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, disclosed this to newsmen through its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abubakar Usman.
The seizure involved 236,783 bottles of cough syrups containing codeine and Barcadin, packed in a total of 2,174 cartons from two terminals under the command’s jurisdiction.
Three other seizures were made at APM Terminals, while one was intercepted at Kachicares Bonded Terminal.
Comptroller Olomu explained that, “On October 11, 2024, during a joint inspection of a 1×40 container, number MRKU0377493, our officers discovered prohibited CSP cough syrup—34,800 bottles packed into 174 cartons, each containing 200 bottles.
“The shipment was expired at the time of interception”.
The statement said on the same day, another 1×40 container, number TGBU8886020, was found with 39,700 bottles of DSP cough syrup, packed in cartons containing 100 bottles each.
Additionally, a third container (TCKU6800526) examined on October 15, 2024, at APMT Terminal, labelled as containing essential goods, revealed 19 cartons of concealed CSJ cough syrup for throat and chest with codeine, packed in 200 bottles per carton.
Another major seizure was recorded on October 15, 2024, at Kachicares Resources Terminal: A 1×40FT container, number SUDU8579006, declared as containing kitchen wares, was found with a concealed stash of Barcadin cough syrup in 1,584 cartons, along with 83 loose bottles.
Comptroller Olomu described the seizures as part of the NCS’ zero-tolerance policy toward smuggling.
Apapa Command, he said, “is committed to efficient trade facilitation while maintaining strict controls on revenue collection and anti-smuggling activities.
”I urge those engaged in illegal trade to avoid Apapa Port. Our vigilant officers, using intelligence, technology, and experience, are poised to detect and intercept any smuggling attempts”.
He insisted that Codeine abuse has been linked to severe side effects, including drowsiness, confusion, and increased susceptibility to criminal behaviors.
“The Nigerian government banned the importation of codeine-containing cough syrups in 2018 after widespread misuse among youth”, he noted.
The Comptroller said further investigations are underway to identify and apprehend the individuals behind the smuggling attempts.
