Headlines

Amaechi, Saraki feud deepens

Amaechi ,Saraki

—–as Minister of state shuns maritime events.

Eyewitness reporter

The smouldering animosity between the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and his Minister of State, Gbemisola Saraki, may have taken a turn for the worse as the two principal heads of the Transportation ministry are allegedly avoiding joint attendance at maritime events.

Impeccable sources whispered to our reporter that the festering feud became noticeable when Saraki began to boycott events in the industry with her boss.

It was further learnt that the boycott of events in the industry by the Minister of state may be a subtle protest against the apparent arrogation by Amaechi of official duties of the junior Minister which has led to the redundancy of Saraki.

It would be recalled that in 2019 when Saraki joined the cabinet as the Minister of State for Transportation, Amaechi, as the supervising Minister, delineated the duties of the two heads of the ministry to avoid any possible clash of interests.

At one of the public functions held in Lagos in 2019 at the beginning of his second term in office as the minister of Transportation, Amaechi publicly declared that while he would focus his attention on railways due to the enormity of the project and its importance to the national economy, Saraki will be in charge of the maritime industry with his occasional supervision, especially as it concerns maritime security.

Ameachi had then acknowledged that he had abandoned the maritime industry for the rail sector when he first served as transportation minister from 2015 to 2019 but said his minister of state will fill the gap during his second term in office.

“In my first term as minister, I completely abandoned the maritime sector to the heads of agencies.

“This term around, that won’t be happening again as I have instructed that the Hon. Minister of Transportation for State should personally supervise the maritime agencies, while I just oversee what is happening.

“There are two things I discussed with Mr. President that I will be focusing on in this second term as Minister, and they are maritime security and the single window project.

“I have assured the government that by the end of 2020, we should have the single window at our maritime sector.

However, throughout 2019 and the better part of 2021, Amaechi kept this agreement as he left Saraki to take charge of events in the maritime industry.

Sources claimed that towards the end of last year and since the beginning of 2022, Amaechi may have reneged on the gentleman’s agreement between him and his minister of state.

“During this period, the Minister took over the functions hitherto reserved for the Minister of state.

”This development seems to have irked Saraki who felt the Minister was trying to make her reductant.

“That was when she started to boycott functions at the maritime industry where she and her principal are likely to meet” a source who was in the know confided in our reporter.

The absence of the minister of State at major maritime events became noticeable during landmark events such as NIMASA’s unveiling of wreck removal in 2021, the World Maritime Day, 2021, and lately, the inspection of the Lekki deep seaport by President Muhammadu Buhari last week.

It could also be recalled that Amaechi had made a couple of visits to the Lekki deep seaport, even on a Sunday, before the presidential visit, none of which Saraki attended.

Concerned maritime stakeholders claimed that the recent action of Ameachi, who is widely regarded as the ”Lion of the Niger Delta” may appear as bossy to Gbemisola Saraki, who is also a strong-willed woman.

“The two Ministers are of strong-willed personalities who don’t brood nonsense.

“We all know the political antecedents of Amaechi who has a domineering posture.

“

” Gbemi is also made of sterner stuff given her role in the “Otoge” political tsunami in Kwara which eventually swept off Bukola Saraki, her blood brother, from the political dominance in Kwara politics, a role which earned her the present position in the present dispensation.

“So, I don’t see how Amaechi, who has domineering posture could lord it over Gbemi, who is equally a woman of strong character, without skirmishes” a knowledgeable analyst declared.

However, all efforts to get the reactions of Eric Ojikwe, Director of Press, Ministry of Transportation, hit the brick wall as he ignored all the calls and messages to his mobile phone.

Related Topics:Amaechi featured Saraki feud

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Customs

Tinubu celebrates Adeniyi on his 59th birthday

–lists his achievements

Funso OLOJO

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has joined millions of well wishers across the globe to celebrate Adewale Adeniyi, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi as he turns 59 years on Sunday, January 19th, 2025.

In his birthday message made available through his Special Adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu lauded the innovative and inspiring leadership of Adeniyi which he noted has impacted greatly on the image and performance of the service.

While listing the achievements of the customs in terms of revenue generation, trade facilitation, automation and digitization of the service, anti- smuggling activities as well as bolstered staff morale under the dexterious guidance of Adeniyi, President Tinubu wished him divine wisdom, robust health, and continued strength as he serves the nation.

“Under his guidance, the agency has witnessed significant progress through the steady digitalisation and automation of its operations, a renewed commitment to professionalism, and an uplift in officers’ morale, enhancing high performance.

“His leadership has enabled the NCS to surpass revenue targets substantially and bolstered trade facilitation, yielding widespread positive effects on the national economy.

“President Tinubu applauds the innovative anti-smuggling strategies initiated by the Customs Chief.

“These strategies encompass equipping the youth with new skills for alternative livelihood opportunities, fostering engagements with traditional institutions, and nurturing a culture of effective communication and mutual respect.

“The President recognises the Comptroller-General’s other notable achievements, including the remarkable seizures of arms and ammunition and the revitalisation of the Comptroller-General’s Annual Conference, which aims to assess and enhance the agency’s operations.

“President Tinubu affirms that Adeniyi’s extensive experience of over 30 years in service and adaptability to change has greatly enriched the Customs Service.

“The President offers prayers for divine wisdom, robust health, and continued strength for Comptroller-General Adeniyi as he serves the nation.

Headlines

EFCC discovers Yahoo training school in Benin city

-arrests 25 students undergoing training in cybercrimes

Funso OLOJO

The operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) has on Thursday January 16th, 2025, uncovered a Yahoo academy in Benin city, Edo State, where young Nigerians are undergoing training in the act of internet fraud.

During the raid, the anti- graft agency arrested 25 suspected internet fraudsters in the cybercrimes training centre

The suspects’ arrest at their hideout was triggered by credible intelligence that indicated the apartment being used as a yahoo academy or training school for internet-related fraud and other fraudulent activities.

Items recovered from the suspects include six exotic cars, laptops and phones.

The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

Customs

Onyeka, Tin Can CAC, set to pursue revenue generation aggressively

— vows to surpass 1 trillion naira revenue record

Funso OLOJO

The Area Controller of the Tin Can island command of the Nigeria customs service, Comptroller Frank Onyeka, has set an ambitious goal of meeting and surpassing the one trillion naira revenue mark achieved last year by his predecessor, ACG Dera Nnadi.

It would be recalled that the command was given a revenue target of N1.4 trillion in 2024 while it realized a little about N1.226 trillion ,an unprecedented record that was never achieved in the history of the command.

Meanwhile, Comptroller Onyeka, has vowed to sustain the revenue momentum as he would aggressively pursue revenue collection.

Speaking while playing host to the Executive council of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria(MARAN) which paid him a courtesy visit in his office on Friday, January 17th, 2025, the Customs chief disclosed his strategy to carry out his assignment.

According to him, he would facilitate legitimate trade, ensure 100 percent examination of all imports while he would energise his men and officers to key into his vision.

“I’ll facilitate trade, but it has to be legitimate trade. That’s what I feel I should do in the strict sense.

“You know, I’m coming from the aspect of revenue. So, it is my prayer and my hope to meet my target and surpass it.

“But principally, what I am going to fight is the ability to do this job without examination.

“I have appealed to my officers, whatever it is they have to do, let them see the containers, once we’ve examined them, everything should be on cruise control because if you examine, you’ll now know if it’s supposed to go out or not.

“I’ve involved Customs Intelligence Unit, CIU, I’ve involved Valuation Unit, I’ve spoken to all relevant Units and it’s my prayer, by the grace of God, that all of us will be on the same page to make sure that the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is brought to fruition” he noted.

He was full of gratitude to the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi , for the confidence reposed in him and vowed never to disappoint him.

“I also appreciate the fact that our indefatigable Comptroller General Of Customs, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi to whom I’m very grateful.

“He needs to be made to know that he didn’t make any mistake for him to have brought me here.

“I am very grateful to him and his management team, and I need to make him proud” he enthused.

Comptroller Onyeka also vowed to build on the foundation that has been laid by his predecessor, Assistant Comptroller General Dera Nnadi.

“In anti-smuggling, he did well. In revenue generation, he did superbly well, same goes for infrastructure development.

“His Public Relations was top-notch, which I’m going to leverage.

“He was fortunate to have what I consider a very fantastic rapport with the media because that’s his background. I intend to leverage that. I intend to do better in that aspect” he added.

Earlier, in his address, the President of MARAN, Mr Godfrey Bivbere expressed the willingness of the association to partner with the CAC and the Command to achieve the target ahead of the command.

He reiterated the firm resolution of the association to accord Comptroller Onyeka the same support accorded to his predecessor.