Headlines

Feel free, unleash the talents in you

Oluwatoyin Mercy Olojo

Feel free! Love yourself! The role of self-love in truly being free cannot be overemphasized.

It goes beyond the feeling. Man! Woman! When you look in the mirror, who do you see? Do you see only your weaknesses or you can see your strengths too? Do you see just a baby-making factory, a common babysitter, just a breadwinner or you see a nurturer, husbandman, and builder of nations?

Do you see yourself as unworthy or weak? Do you see a trouble maker and gossip or a peacemaker? Do you see your filthy past or your glorious future? It is time to speak who you truly are into existence. This gradually helps you to consciously be who you should be.

You will have to accept yourself before you can have the world accept you. It’s not rocket science, you have to understand a product very well before you can successfully sell the same product to another person except you don’t mind looking silly to people.

You need to permit yourself to be the person God created you to be without apologies or fear. Be unapologetically successful. If Mary was not consecrated enough for the Savior to have come through her, He would have still been born of another virgin.

If she had given excuses to the angel Gabriel when He visited her instead of rejoicing, she might have been replaced. Luke 1:38 says that: “Mary responded, ‘I am the Lord’s servant, May everything you have said about me come true. And then the angel left her”.

If also Elizabeth had allowed strife, she would not have blessed her younger cousin, Mary as in Luke 1:42-45. Realize the power of being you. Understand your uniqueness. You are not just unique for nothing but God’s unique use. Deuteronomy 9:5-6 (KJV) says:

“Not for thy righteousness, or the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations, the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Understand, therefore, that the Lord thy God giveth thee not this land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiff-necked people”

This shows that even though you are special, you are highly replaceable. This is because you are not chosen. After all, you are perfect but that God should be glorified. If God has shown you a place to function, someone else was most likely meant to be there before you but failed God. Would you also do the same?

Do not let yourself shrink. Society might have relegated you to certain roles as a woman especially as a second in command. However, you choose to understand or believe that, it is imperative to note that whoever you have been called by God to be could have been given to a man if he could do it the same way you can do it.

Refuse to be in the background when you’re designed for the spotlight. Be bold to be you; Love yourself, feel free and follow your purpose. True authenticity is being truly you! Hiding in the shadows of someone else for the sake of validation is tantamount to being fake.

Understand your uniqueness and make sure it portrays and glorifies God.

Does your approach to work and relationship with people point to God’s will? Do people see you and thank God? They won’t thank God for you if you are underutilized; they won’t thank God if you shrink or hide.

Learn to differentiate humility from timidity.

Not rising to responsibility is not being humble. Not fulfilling destiny is not being humble. Wouldn’t you rather die empty?

Commitment and consistency cannot be overemphasized as instruments to being free to be you. True success is being committed to who you were created to be. Avoid distractions! Stay on God’s word, be consistent!

“And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62) KJV

There is never a time to look back. A man once said that if looking back was more important, the side mirrors and rearview mirrors of a vehicle will be bigger than its windshields.

Your future is not behind you. It is trapped inside of you; unleash it! It is not about claiming sonship in God, it takes self-discovery. Sit down and ask yourself the value of your purpose to you and what it takes to fulfill it! To be truly free is to manifest God without any restrictions.

These are the days of His power and power is mainly reserved for people in authority. What do you exercise authority over? Are you ready to take charge of your territory for Christ?

Conclusion

The extent to which you can be convinced enough and be at liberty to be you is determined by the extent of God’s Spirit you carry. The Holy Spirit convinces, teaches, and guides you as well as encourages you in the Lord. God’s Spirit in you enables you to do the mind of God; to love as God loves, forgive as He does, and be kind to all mankind.

These are not the days of Esther, Deborah, Mary, or Hannah; these are your days and my days. Unfortunately, our time here on earth is limited and is a strong determinant of our place in eternity. Pending when you discover your place, be free to fit into God’s general purpose for mankind which is to bring Glory to Him, witnessing His love to all mankind.

You can’t be too old to make Heaven. You can only be too old to make an impact or to be who you were created to be. Begin now and regain the freedom to be you as to when you were a child!

Toyin, a motivational speaker, lives in Lagos

Customs

How NPA’ s ETO call- up system hampers seamless export processes at Lilypond Terminal — Customs

Funso OLOJO

The Customs Area Controller of the Lilypond Export Command, Comptroller Ajibola Odusanya, has attributed the persistent delay in export cargo movement at the command to logistics issues associated with the Nigerian Port Authority’s Eto call-up system, rather than any bottlenecks from the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

Eto call- up system is a structured movement of container- laden trucks into the terminals meant to decongest Port access road and facilitate quick goods clearance at the port.

It was developed by the NPA and driven by a private company.

However, Comptroller Odusanya, speaking at a Roundtable with members of Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN),emphasized that while the command has streamlined the export process, lack of available slots for trucks to enter the ports remains a major challenge.

He noted that despite the command’s efforts, numerous containers remain stranded at Lilypond due to the inability of trucks to secure clearance under the Eto system.

He explained that prior to the implementation of a centralized export processing system, multiple customs units across Apapa, Tin Can, PTML, and Lekki ports handled export documentation.

However, in July 2024, the government directed the full centralization of all export processes under the Lilypond Export Command.

This move, driven by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) and backed by agencies such as the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), was aimed at streamlining operations and reducing multiple checkpoints.

Odusanya revealed that between January and December 2024, the command processed exports valued at approximately $1.9 billion, a figure that could have been higher if the consolidation had occurred earlier in the year.

He added that in February 2025 alone, the command facilitated exports worth $225.1 million.

He attributed these successes to inter-agency collaboration, with Customs working alongside the Department of State Services (DSS), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and quarantine services, among others.

Despite the improved export facilitation, Odusanya acknowledged that challenges persist, particularly with the Eto call-up system, which has created logistical constraints.

He explained that export containers often get delayed at Lilypond not due to customs processes but because of congestion at the ports, caused by import containers awaiting clearance.

He pointed out that while Apapa remains the busiest port for exports, the congestion problem is less severe at Tin Can due to the presence of an export processing terminal.

On the issue of the Nigerian Export Proceeds (NXP) form, Odusanya stated that the command has ensured compliance with all regulatory requirements.

He, however, acknowledged exporters’ concerns about the process and assured that Customs is working to facilitate seamless trade while ensuring adherence to financial regulations.

He urged maritime stakeholders, including the media, to continue sensitizing exporters on the ease of processing export goods through Lilypond, emphasizing that the command operates transparently and does not condone extortion.

He reiterated that officers at the entry points are strictly there to verify processed cargo and not to serve as an additional checkpoint.

Odusanya concluded by reaffirming the commitment of the Lilypond Export Command to supporting Nigeria’s growing export sector, ensuring efficiency in cargo movement, and addressing any emerging challenges in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

Economy

Dangote group remits N402.3 billion tax to government coffers in 2024

Gloria Odion

The Pan African Conglomerate, Dangote Industries Limited and its subsidiaries, have disclosed that it paid over N402 billion in taxes in 2024, making it the highest taxpayer in the country.

Dangote’s Chief Branding and Communication Officer, Anthony Chiejina, declared during a meeting with some senior media executives who visited him in his Lagos Office.

He said Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) and its subsidiaries, namely, Dangote Cement, NASCON, Dangote Packaging Limited among others, remitted a total of N402.319billion for the out-gone year as taxes as responsible business enterprises.

Recall that Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) had in late 2024 recognised Dangote group and its subsidiary, Bluestar Shipping as the most tax compliant organizations in the country during its Special Day at the 2024 Lagos International Trade Fair organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).

The Federal Inland Revenue Service is Nigeria’s agency responsible for assessing, collecting and accounting for tax and other revenues accruing to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Chiejina told his visitors that as a responsible business organisation, DIL and its subsidiaries have never shieded away from its obligations either to the government in the form of tax payment at all levels or to host communities in the form of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

According to him, the Group’s corporate strategy has evolved just as its businesses have grown, matured and diversified into new sectors and regions over the last four decades.

He noted that Dangote Group has almost single-handedly taken Nigeria to self-sufficiency in cement and refined petroleum products and is expanding rapidly across Africa.

Dangote Group and its subsidiaries were recognised as number one most compliant in tax payment in the country, just as its subsidiary Dangote Cement, the country’s leading cement manufacturer, at another occasion won three awards at the FMDQ Gold Awards in Lagos as the most active business in the Foreign Exchange market.

Dangote Cement Plc was adjudged as the Largest Commercial Paper Quotation on FMDQ and Single Largest Corporate Debt Issue on FMDQ.

Also, Dangote Industries Ltd also emerged as the “Most active corporate in the foreign exchange market”.

Headlines

NIWA Chairman charges Oyebamiji to phase out wooden boats from Nigeria’s waterways

Funso OLOJO

The newly appointed Chairman of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Hon.Musa Sarkin-Adar, has charged the management team of the Authority led by its Managing Director, Bola Oyebamiji, to phase out wooden boats from Nigeria’s waterways.

Musa Sarkin-Adar, who paid a

familiarization visit to the management team of NIWA in its Abuja liaison office, in a bid to minimize boat mishaps on the waterways.

He believed it would be a lasting legacy for the present leadership of NIWA if accidents could be minimized on the Waterways.

The Chairman’s advice is however in alignment with the NIWA’ s resolve to stamp out wooden and rickety boats on waterways.

However, Musa Sarkin-Adar further encouraged the NIWA team to do more in connecting other states in the water transportation.

He emphasized on the need for the involvement of the private sector in the development of water transportation, as government cannot do it alone.

In his response, Oyebamiji expressed appreciation for the visit and encouraging words of the chairman and pledged the commitment of of NIWA management to make the nation’s waterways safe and secure.

Oyebamiji also commended the efforts of his management team in the development of the Inland Waterways

Transportation sub-sector.

According to him, he is blessed with an experienced and dedicated team which he cannot take the glory alone.

The Chairman’s visit was attended by all the management staff of the Authority.