News
Two months after, Customs yet to implement waiver on rice, others
Barely two months after the Federal Government directed that the authorities of the Nigeria Customs Services (NCS) to give a 150-day duty-free window to allow the importation of maize, husked brown rice and wheat, the policy implementation is yet to commence, Daily Trust reports.
In July, the Presidential Accelerated and Stabilisation Advancement Plan, had recommended the initiative as part of measures to combat rising food inflation across the country.
During the nationwide protest in early August, the Federal Government had announced that the guidelines for the suspension of customs duty and taxes on imported food items were to commence one week after.
However, checks by our correspondent showed that imported foods which were listed during the announcement are yet to be in the market.
Speaking on why the directive was yet to be implemented, the spokesman of the NCS, Abdullahi Maiwada, stated that the list of those who will benefit from tax exemptions was yet to come from the Ministry of Finance.
Maiwada spoke at NCS’ headquarters in Abuja on Thursday during a joint press briefing of security agencies, organised by the Strategic Communications Inter-agency Policy Committee Office of the National Security Adviser.
He said, “The issue of food security. You made mention of the policy that was announced by Mr. President and we have issued a statement on the guidelines on how to benefit from that policy. Well, I would like to discuss in such a way that the common man would understand how these things work.
“People think that me and you can just go and import rice. No, that is not what the policy is all about. We have policy issues that have a long-term effect. We have the medium-term and we have the short-term effects.
“So, while formulating policies that are related that have a short-term effect, we have to do it in such a way that it will not have adverse effects on long-term policy issues. Our responsibilities as an agency of government, Nigeria Customs Service, is to implement government policies.
“That’s why the statement we issued is based on the guideline issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance. They have issued a guideline on how to achieve, what are the conditions, and what are the requirements for you to benefit from that zero import duty.
“We have three lines, six lines of tariff line with the HS code, harmonized system code, with initially a duty of 35% duty and leave you some of the items and they have all been waived.
“However, the policy stated clearly that you must be a miller, you must be a taxpayer, you must have been into operations for a certain number of years and there will be a quota that will be issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance.
“So, the list of those who benefit from those exemptions will come from the Ministry of Finance and our role as an agency of government is to implement the directives of the government. So we are policy implementers, not formulators.
“So, by the time we get those lists, within the twinkle of an eye, we are going to implement those directives from the Federal Ministry of Finance.”
Police authorities on Tuesday, revealed how a cyber criminal hacked into the system of the Enugu State Government and stole the whooping sum of N1,097,700,300 from its coffers.
The police said it took the swift intervention of the operatives of its departments, National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC), to trace the hacker and recover the stolen money.
The spokesman of the Force, Mr. Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who disclosed this to newsmen in Abuja during a press briefing, gave the name of the suspected hacker as Onuma Osita.
The police image maker told newsmen that the hacker had already been taken into custody while the funds estimated to be $754,977 had been recovered and returned to the state government purse.
Adejobi said, “NPF-NCCC investigated a report by the Enugu State Government against one Onuma Osita who defrauded the Enugu State Government of over N1bn in a procurement fraud.
Solomon Dalung, a former Minister of Youth and Sports, has said that the cabal in the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu government is more dangerous than that of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Dalung stated this during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today.
He said that Tinubu is surrounded with an ambitious and sophisticated cabal, saying the president would suffer the most.
Dalung added that Buhari was a stranger in his own government, because of the cabal which surrounded him.
He stated that Nigerians faced untold hardship, saying he expected the president to be compassionate.
He said, “President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabal was made up of people who were not quite informed, who had little experience in politics, public administration and governance. Their activities were more or less limited to their parochial understanding of power relations and helping themselves with public funds.
“But President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s cabal is made up of a sophisticated and ambitious group of people, who have a long history of power. They are experienced and educated. So, they have sound knowledge of what power is.
“And since they are ambitious set of people, the presidency will suffer more than that of President Muhammadu Buhari, because of their capacity to manipulate power, their capacity to also build either security barricade around the president or block information from getting to the president except what they wanted and those they want to access the president.
“These cabals are masters. Therefore, they may be more dangerous than any cabal in the previous administrations to the best of my knowledge.”
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue has mourned the death of the first Professor of “Zwa Tiv,” (Tiv Language) Prof. Kpamor Orkar.
This is contained in a statement on Tuesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Tersoo Kula in Makurdi.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Orkar was the elder brother of Maj. Gideon Orkar who was sentenced to death by the Ibrahim Babagida military regine for his involvement in a coup plot to unseat him.
Orkar died at a private hospital in Abuja, on Sunday, Jan. 5.
Alia said Orkar would always be remembered for some of the finest Tiv literary publications, authoring several books written in Tiv language.
The governor described the late Orkar as a great community leader, father and builder of many, adding that his influence as a politician and public servant, extended far beyond his immediate family and professional circle.
He said Orkar’s public service, excellence, knowledge, wisdom, guidance, and mentorship has shaped many generations, and would continue to inspire many to strive for excellence.
He prayed to God to console his immediate family, the people of Makurdi Local Government Area and Benue as a whole, and to equally grant Orkar eternal rest.
NAN reports that Orkar was a former councillor representing the Ugondo/ Mbasambo council ward of Gwer gocal government area in 1978.
He was a member of the Benue State House of Assembly representing Yonov District Constituency of Makurdi local government in 1979.
He also served as commissioner for Works and Transport in the former governor Aper Aku’s administration.
Enugu State Government System Hacked, Over N1 Billion Stolen — Police reveals
Cabal in Tinubu gov’t more dangerous than Buhari’s –Dalung
Samuel Anyanwu removed as PDP affirms Ude-Okoye authentic National Secretary
Just in: Terrorists ambush military truck, kill all soldiers on board
Nigerian Dancer, Korra Obidi Attacked with acid, stabbed on stage In UK
Meet Rare Gem 16 Years Old Chiaza, CEO of ‘RUN MARKET PLACE’
-
News15 hours agoRetired military personnel block Finance Ministry
-
News18 hours agoDemocracy in wrong hands: Museveni’s Son, Gen. Kainerugaba, Threatens To Behead Ugandan Opposition Leader Bobi Wine
-
News15 hours agoWith 18,500 arrests, 2.6mkg drugs seized in 2024, our successes justify global support – Marwa+Photos
-
News15 hours agoSAD! 53 killed by earthquake in China’s Tibet region
-
News10 hours agoPDP Angry Over Staff’s Assault on Journalist, Reaffirms Commitment to Press Freedom
-
News18 hours agoFCT minister uncovers company behind Highway Manhole theft , ‘Stolen Items’ Recovered As Investigation Unfolds
-
News19 hours agoEdo govt crackdown on elected Council chairmen: HoR Minority caucus blows hot, says it’s desecration of democracy
-
Foreign24 hours agoUkraine begins surprise offensive attacks in Russia