Headlines

Traffic robbers cash in on Apapa gridlock to terrorise motorists

Eyewitness reporter

The dare- devil traffic robbers have staged a come back to terrorise motorists and commuters who are trapped in the Apapa traffic gridlock that is now gradually returning.

The motorists, who had brief respite when the electronic call up system of the Nigeria Ports Authority(NPA) took off , are now at the mercy of traffic robbers who have now cashed in on the gradual return of traffic on the port access roads.

Most commuters are said to now walk several kilometers to their places of work due to the gradual build up of traffic congestion while hand full of security personnel, including officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, (LASTMA) were barely visible on the road.

According to victims, the traffic robbers returned to the road after many months of absence to rob motorists and passersby of their valuables.

Mr. Muritala Adigun, a motorist, who recently fell victim to this vice, recounted his bitter experience in the hands of the traffic robbers who dispossessed him of his valuables.

“I was stuck in the traffic around Sanya Bus stop along the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway for several hours.

“I ran into it around 4 pm and by 6.30 pm when it was getting dark, three firece-looking guys appeared in between the trucks and pounced on my car, brandishing dangerous weapons and I was alone.

“They demanded money, phones and other valuables from me.

“Fortunately, I hid my phone when I saw it was getting dark. They only managed to empty my wallet with N5, 000, an identity card and complimentary cards.

“After they were done, they hurriedly moved to the car behind me and repeated the same. There was no police presence or any other security personnel.

“The situation is terrible. The government has abandoned the people in this part of the state. We are at God’s mercy. This is callous and irresponsible on the part of the government, very pathetic.”, Mr Adigun lamented.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has said that it was helpless over the gridlock, particularly at the Mile-2 end of the Apapa–Oshodi expressway, adding that the traffic has negatively impacted its revenue generation.

“The port access road has also greatly impacted negatively on our operations.

”At a time, it took four to five days for cargoes released to move from the port to Tin-Can, before they could join the access road.

“But we later discovered that it was a little bit easy for cargoes to go out at the weekend. So, we had to organize our officers to open the gate 24 hours from Friday to Monday, and we discovered that it worked.”, a top customs officer declared

Customs

Group confers “continental” award on Adeniyi over customs’ phenomenal revenue record

Adeniyi, CGC

Funso OLOJO

The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, C.G.C Adewale Bashir Adeniyi, has been nominated and approved to be honoured with “The Continent Man of The Year 2024” Award by Board of Editors and Publishers of Continent magazine.

This resolution was announced by the spokesman of the group, Mr David Oladimeji, at the end of group’s meeting held on Friday, September 13th, 2024 in Abuja.

The meeting was organized by” The Continent “Magazine to deliberate on a personality and organisation deserving of the Award.

The Board’s attention was drawn to the statement made recently by former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (C.B.N) and sitting Governor of Anambra state, Prof Chukwuma Soludo,who told his constituents in Awka that the Customs and F.I.R.S have sustained the nation’s economy from collapse since February this year, when the NNPCL stopped remittance of statutory revenue to the Federation Account for onward disbursements to the three tiers of governments.

Oladimeji said “the Board noted that this is not an easy task to be achieved under the astute and dedicated leadership of C.G.C Adeniyi, considering the fact that the Customs and it’s officers have been perceived by the public as corrupt and fraudulent”

” In a bid to commend and encourage leaders of the customs and F.I.R.S as well as their lieutenants not to rest on their oars, the Board resolved to honour the C.G.C, his Command Controllers and Revenue Collectors who had made significant sacrifices and excelled in their national anti-smuggling, revenue collection assignments with “The Continent Man of The Year” and “Pillars of Nigerian Economy 2024″ Awards”

As plans are geared towards the celebration of the international and national icons at a date to be announced soon, “The Continent” special edition will publish the profile and achievements of the deserving recipients that earned them recognition and honour.

Headlines

NIMASA secures support of Bank of Industry for enhanced capacity building in maritime industry

Funso OLOJO

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has broker a partnership with the Bank of Industry (BOI) to enhance its capacity building effort in the maritime industry.

The Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, represented by the Executive Director of Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Mr. Jibril Abba, made this disclosure during a visit by the Management of the Bank of Industry, led by Executive Director of Large Enterprises, Mrs. Ifeoma Uz’Okpala.

He stated, “In addition to safety, security, and maritime labor, the Agency’s mandate encompasses capacity development aimed at growing the sector.”

He also reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to collaboration as a vital tool for achieving its mandate.

“The aim is to actualize the vision of the Federal Government to reposition the maritime sector, especially with the creation of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy”, he said.

On her part, the Executive Director of Large Enterprises at BOI, Mrs. Uz’Okpala, affirmed the Bank’s readiness to support NIMASA.

She also emphasized the importance of collaboration in implementing a robust capacity-building initiative that will contribute to economic growth in Nigeria.

Bank of Industry Limited is Nigeria’s oldest and largest Development Finance Institution (DFI) currently in operation.

It is owned by the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) Nigeria (94.80%), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) (5.19%) and private shareholders (0.01%)

Headlines

NIMASA secures support of Bank of Industry for enhanced capacity building in maritime industry

Funso OLOJO

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has broker a partnership with the Bank of Industry (BOI) to enhance its capacity building effort in the maritime industry.

He stated, “In addition to safety, security, and maritime labor, the Agency’s mandate encompasses capacity development aimed at growing the sector.”

He also reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to collaboration as a vital tool for achieving its mandate.

“The aim is to actualize the vision of the Federal Government to reposition the maritime sector, especially with the creation of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy”, he said.

On her part, the Executive Director of Large Enterprises at BOI, Mrs. Uz’Okpala, affirmed the Bank’s readiness to support NIMASA.

She also emphasized the importance of collaboration in implementing a robust capacity-building initiative that will contribute to economic growth in Nigeria.

Bank of Industry Limited is Nigeria’s oldest and largest Development Finance Institution (DFI) currently in operation.

It is owned by the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) Nigeria (94.80%), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) (5.19%) and private shareholders (0.01%).