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The Fear of Malta

 Pius Mordi 
In the heat of the allegation by Aliko Dangote that international oil companies and NNPCL were denying his refinery access to Nigerian crude oil to buy, some commentators wondered why Dangote did not do his homework and secure a guaranteed regular supply of crude oil from NNPCL and the IOCs before investing almost $20 billion into building what is reputed as the biggest refinery in the world.
 It’s an unusual assumption to make for a project the Nigerian government had repeatedly touted as the final solution to the spectre of importation of refined products that orchestrated the bleeding of the economy through a nebulous oil subsidy regime.
Apart from banking on it, the federal government had also invested public funds into the project.
 Initially put at 20 percent of the stakeholding, Godwin Emefiele, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had claimed on May 22, 2023, when then President Muhammadu Buhari initially commissioned the refinery before its completion that the Dangote Group had paid back 70 percent of the loans it took to construct an oil refinery.
But earlier this July, Dangote himself announced that NNPCL’s shareholding has been whittled down over failure to pay the balance of the value of its stake in June.
 “Now, they only own a 7.2% stake in the refinery,” he declared.
On July 29, 2024, Dangote Refinery’s nightmare was summarily resolved.
President Tinubu unilaterally ordered NNPCL to sell crude oil and in naira to the refinery.
 In addition to committing to supply four of the 15 cargoes of crude oil required yearly at a cost of $13.5 billion, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved that the 450,000 barrels allocated for domestic consumption be offered in Naira to Nigerian refineries, using the Dangote refinery as a pivot.
The reprieve for Dangote came after curious but intriguing layers of false claims were put up by oil industry chiefs from NNPCL to undermine and justify their refusal sell crude oil to the refinery.
After the claim that Dangote’s products were inferior to imported ones fell like a pack of cards with the revelation that the refinery’s laboratory had certified that its own products have superior quality to the ones NNPCL imports, a false narrative was invented.
According to the story promoted by the state oil company, due to operational and technical problems, the refinery was reselling crude oil from the United States and Nigeria.
Stating that it is not authorised for it to resell crude acquired in Nigeria, Anthony Chiejine, Dangote Industries Limited spokesman, urged the public to disregard what he termed as false narratives intended to discredit the refinery.
 Not one to shy away from this sort of war being waged against his conglomerate, Aliko Dangote himself fought back.
He pointedly accused those running Nigeria’s oil industry of mischief for personal interests.
 He alleged some personnel of NNPCL, oil traders and terminals have opened a blending plant in Malta, affirming that the areas of the blending plants are known.
 Pointedly, he said “Some of the terminals, some of the NNPC people and some traders have opened a blending plant somewhere off Malta,” he said.
“We all know these areas. We know what they are doing.”
More than the support Nigerians gave to Dangote in the face of the illogical attempts by NNPCL bigwigs to cripple the refinery, his allegation ruffled feathers.
 Although no names were mentioned, top state operatives queued to exonerate themselves.
 Mele Kyari, Group Managing Director of NNPCL, went a step further to dare Dangote to name the culprits.
The billionaire didn’t have to go that far for the impact was instantaneous.
Even Oando plc which Dangote never mentioned got involved.
 In a tweet amplified by Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu’s spokesman amplified, he said Oando, “Nigeria’s leading indigenous oil firm” debunked rumours that its directors are the owners of an oil blending plant in Malta.
The oil business is denominated in dollars with the chain so complex that Nigeria could have earned incomes across various frontiers.
 The National Shipping Policy enunciated by Ibrahim Babangida’s administration had stipulated that Nigerian-owned ships should be involved in the affreightment of crude oil export.
The policy stipulated that they should be allowed to lift at least 50 percent of crude oil exports.
 Indigenous shipping companies have noted that more than $600 million is spent annually for the transportation of crude oil across the oceans.
Enabling them to be part of it could potentially plough $300 million of that back into the economy.
And given that oil is lifted under Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) terms, more income could have been earned by Nigeria if local insurance companies were involved in the provision of marine insurance cover.
NNPCL rebuffed every move to involve Nigerian companies in the lucrative, but oily business.
 Tinubu’s intervention is timely and appropriate. The only issue is why it took this long for him to call NNPCL top guns to order.
But having started, he should go the whole hog.
Officials in the behemoth’s reputation for their infamous inclination to shield their operations from critical prying eyes of the public, including lawmakers is legendary.
 They definitely misfired in their latest venture to cripple an organisation Nigerians had pinned their hope on getting refined products at a cheaper rate.
 The cartel is powerful, very powerful. They are richer than Nigeria and the government and can go all the way to maintain the status quo.
President Tinubu should sustain the tempo of his intervention and complete the job.
He should get rid of the present crop of managers of the subsidiaries of NNPCL as well as the behemoth itself and open up the company to public scrutiny.
 Will he, can he?
Mr Pius Mordi is a maritime journalist and an Aide to the Delta State governor
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Customs

Tin Can Customs hits 1 trillion naira revenue harvest 

as PTML customs generates N288.3 billion in 11 months 
Funso OLOJO
For the first time in the history of the Tin Can Customs command of the Nigeria Customs command, the command has hit a trillion naira revenue haul, thus joining the Apapa Customs command in the exclusive club of trillion naira leaguers.
According to Comptroller Dera Nnadi, the Area Controller of the command, the second highest revenue yeilding command grossed the sum of One Trillion, Forty Six Billion, Four Hundred and Ninety Six Million, Five Hundred and Ninety Three Thousand, One Hundred and Three Naira Sixty Kobo (1,046,496,593,103.60) as at November 7th, 2024.
Nnadi, who was excited by the record revenue, dedicated the rare feat to the  Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR and his management team.
“The Command acknowledges the specific roles of the DCG Tariff and Trade and the DCG ICT /Modernization for their contributions too.
“Aware that a secured border will translate to more revenue at the seaports, we also appreciate the support of the DCG Enforcement, Investigation & Inspection in enforcing compliance among our stakeholders leading to the increased revenue in the Command.
“While we celebrate our esteemed stakeholders who embraced our reforms and complied with Customs extant laws and guidelines, those who did not are regretting their loss and the pain of non compliance”
In addition, the command intercepted and seized 16 containers of  illicit substances, unregistered pharmaceutical products and other items seized by the Command.
“Summary of drug importation activities at Tincan Island Port:
Total Containers: 16 containers were discharged from May 17 to October 23, 2024.
Drugs Imported:
Codeine-based products: Numerous shipments of cough syrups with codeine; Barcadin with Codeine, Broncleer with Codeine, and DSP with Codeine for throat and chesty cough (100ml, 200 bottles per carton).
“Tapentadol & Carisoprodol: 420 cartons of Royal 225 (Tapentadol HVCL 125mg and Carisoprodol BP 100mg).
Benzhexol Tablets: 200 cartons of 5mg Benzhexol Tablets (Brand: Trodal).
“Cannabis Indica: 77 packets (38.5kg), 532 packets (265.025kg), and 75 packets (37.5kg).
“Diclofenac Sodium Tablets: Really Extra brand (50mg, 100 packs per carton).
Other goods: Ceiling fans, Deluxe Chilli Cutters, stainless steel blenders, BiomalArtesunate Injection.
“Vessels of Importation:
SpilKartika (Hapag Lloyd, voyage No. 2417W)
Volana (Hapag Lloyd, voyage Nos. 2416W, 2421W)
Maliako (Hapag Lloyd, voyage No. 2421W)
WadiBani Khalid (Hapag Lloyd, voyage Nos. 2423W)
MSC Sweden VI and MSC Katyayni NY427A.
“Countries of Origin:
India (Barcadin, Diclofenac Tablets, Benzhexol, CSP with Codeine)
United Kingdom (BiomalArtesunate Injection)
Canada (Cannabis Indica).
“These containers were inspected by multiple enforcement agencies including Customs, NDLEA, and NAFDAC.
“Recall that on October 2, 2024, the Tincan Island Port Command officially handed over 684 packets of Cannabis Indica, weighing a total of 341.025 kg, with an estimated street value of ₦682,050,000.00.
“These narcotics were discovered in three 40ft containers Nos: MSMU 518030/2, MSMU 602957/0, and FSCU 927461/3), as part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen interagency collaboration and coordination.
 “Consequently, we are handing over an additional 13 Containers of Unregistered pharmaceutical products to NAFDAC.
 “Total Duty Paid Value for the 16 containers is approximately N37, 000,000,000.00 (Thirty Seven Billion Naira Only) with details as follows:
“Tramadol – 920 cartons in 2x40FT containers worth N23B
Codeine – 1,894,600 bottles in 11x40FT containers worth N13B
Cannabis Indica- 341kg in 3X40 containers worth  N682M
“The Command in particular and the Service in general will deploy all necessary resources and strategies at our disposal and in collaboration with local and foreign partner security and regulatory agencies to check the menace of illegal importation of unregistered pharmaceutical products into the country.
“We are more than committed to deliver on this mandate.
“Aware that yuletide is around the corner, I wish to reassure all our stakeholders that the Command will partner with those who are compliant to ensure there are no delays in their cargo delivery.
 “Similarly, we are also using this opportunity to inform those who will dare our resolve that we are ready to enforce the requirements of our law.
Meanwhile, the PTML Command also generatesld N288.3b in 11 months which it makes seizures of N28.4 million.
According to the Area Controller of the command, Controller Tenny Mankini Daniyan, the revenue generated during the period under review was 34.8% higher than the N213,914,304,888.11 that was realized from January to October , 2023.
“The Command under the leadership of Comptroller Tenny Mankini Daniyan broke the monthly revenue record in the month of October 2024 with a collection of N44,021,583,356(forty four billion, twenty one million, five hundred and eighty three thousand, three hundred and fifty six naira)
“Comptroller  Daniyan while  describing the October 2024 monthly collection as the highest in the history of the command, expressed confidence in the ability of his officers and men to surpass the record.
“The Customs Area Controller attributed the command’s achievements to a combination of hard work by officers, compliance by port users and cooperation of sister government agencies in the port.
” In the command’s  anti-smuggling efforts , some seizures were made within the period under review and the three suspects who were detained in respect of the seizures have been granted  administrative bail.
“The seized items worth  a total of N28,478,034.76 Duty Paid Value (DPV). Some of the items discovered in a 40ft container, No ACLU9664782 include: 2,598 pieces of used motor tyres, 12 pieces of used washing machines, 6 pieces of used fridges, 8 pieces of used motor radiator, 36 pieces of used Rim cover, 8 pieces of used rug carpets, 2 pieces of used mattresses, 2 pieces of used wash hand basin, 2 bags containing used clothes, shoes and bags.
“Another  40ft container , No ACLU9810594 contained 56 bags of premium parboiled rice (45.4kg each), 18 bags of Rice land parboiled rice (22.68kg each), 15 bags of premium parboiled rice (11.34kg each), 20 bags of premium parboiled rice (4.5kg each), 18 kegs of soybean vegetable oil (15.87kg each).
“Other seizures were : Twelve (12) rounds of 9mm Luger FC Black ammunition and one (1) 9mm Luger live ammunition extracted from one used Mazda CX5 , Ten (10) rounds of NIM FC 30-30 blank ammunition, two (2) rounds of 7.62mm x 39 AK hollow ammunition, Three (3) rounds of WCC NIM Luger 9mm live ammunition and Four (4) rounds of C hollow ammunition extracted from one used Toyota Tacoma, Fifty (50) rounds of 76mm live cartridges and one hundred and nine (109) empty shells of 76mm, 70mm, and other calibres extracted from one used Toyota Tacoma and Fifty-one (1) rounds of 12GA Winchester live cartridges extracted from one used Lexus RX350
“Other seizures made this year include One (1) made in China SIGSAUER 1911 pistol with serial No: UO3130962526 extracted from one used Toyota Sienna One (1) Glock 22 Austria pistol with serial No: KNT003 and thirteen (13) rounds of 9mm hollow ammunition extracted from one used Toyota Tacoma , Five (5) rounds of 12GA live cartridges extracted from one used Toyota Tundra.
“Comptroller Daniyan said ” We must rededicate ourselves to serving our country diligently, firstly as patriotic citizens and as customs officers with mandates to work for the development of our national economy.
” The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, have a lot of confidence in our ability to deliver excellently as officers with capabilities to use modern trade facilitation tools and platforms like the recently launched B’Odogwu platform, which is being deployed first in our command as a pilot area.
“As we work into the yuletide period, seeing to the end of 2024,let us continue sustaining two hours cargo clearance for compliant RoRo consignment, collect maximum revenue without compromising on diligent examination to detect concealment, under valuation and false declaration” the CAC said.
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EFCC opens chemical forensics laboratory in Port Harcourt 

The Eyewitness Reporter

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), Mr.  Ola Olukoyede, on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, commissioned  a Chemical Forensics Laboratory in its Port Harcourt Directorate, Rivers State.

The lab is meant to enhance and fast-track the commission’s oil and gas investigations and strengthen its Extractive Industry Fraud  Section.

The Laboratory, which took two years to build, would enable the EFCC to conduct comprehensive analysis of  petroleum products and crude oil samples for investigative and prosecutorial activities

Olukoyede described the project as a significant milestone in the history of the Commission in its journey towards advancing transparency and accountability in the oil and gas sector.

“We celebrate a significant milestone in the Commission’s journey towards advancing transparency and accountability in the oil and gas sector”, he said.

He explained that the Commission,  over the years, was relying on external agencies like the Nigeria National Petroleum Company, NNPC and Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, for its product and sample analyses which often caused delays in critical oil and gas-related investigations.

He expressed appreciation to the MacArthur Foundation for funding the project and strengthening the fight against corruption in Nigeria, as well as the Centre for Democracy and Development, CDD for  supervising and guiding the project from inception to its completion.

“I extend my deepest gratitude to the MacArthur Foundation for their unwavering commitment to strengthening anti-corruption institutions in Nigeria, and to our implementing partners, CDD, for guiding this project from inception to this important milestone”, he said.

The Head, Programs, CDD, Mary Okpe in her remarks stated that the support for the project was not only to enhance the technical capabilities of the EFCC alone, but also to serve as a beacon of progress for all anti-corruption agencies within the country.

She further added that the facility will empower investigative bodies with essential resources to conduct more accurate, scientific analyses in their cases and foster a culture of evidence-based accountability.

Port Harcourt’s Acting Zonal Director,  Assistant Commander of the EFCC,  ACE1 Adebayo Adeniyi, also expressed appreciation to  MacArthur Foundation and CDD  “for believing in our mission and for empowering us with the tools needed to serve the Nigerian people and the world at large”.

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Marine and Blue Economy sector holds better prospects for Nigerian youths– Oyetola 

Funso OLOJO 

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has advised Nigerian youths to take advantage of the countless opportunities in the sector as they have better prospects.

Oyetola made this call on Wednesday, November 6th, 2024 at  the 2024 International Conference, titled, ‘Advancing Entrepreneurship Education and Practice for Sustainable Development in Africa,”

The event was organized by the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Development Studies (IFEDS), Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State.

The Minister, represented by the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Abubakar Dantsoho, said that the blue economy sector promises a wealth of benefits for the growing youth population of Nigeria.

Oyetola highlighted the opportunities in the blue economy to constitute a spectrum of economic activities which include maritime shipping, the construction and repair of ships, port infrastructure and services, coastal tourism, fisheries and aquaculture, and generation of renewable energy offshore.

“Others are seabed mining; underwater cabling; marine biotechnology (in support of the pharmaceutical and chemical sectors); maritime education, research, and consultancy services; protection and restoration of marine habitats; water desalination and waste disposal.

He, however, called on academic institutions across the country to work together with the government to harness the numerous potential inherent in the nation’s ocean and coastal resources

“The Marine and Blue Economy represents a blue gold mine of entrepreneurial opportunities for African entrepreneurs and researchers.

“By harnessing innovation, embracing sustainability, and fostering collaboration between government, academia, and the private sector, we can create a thriving marine and blue economy that contributes significantly to Nigeria’s sustainable development.

“The Marine and Blue Economy represents a frontier of immense potential for Nigeria and indeed, all of Africa.

” It is a sector that, if harnessed correctly, can drive innovation, create jobs, and contribute significantly to our national and continental GDP”, the Minister said.

The minister, further stated that the blue economy sector promises a wealth of benefits for the growing youth population of the beloved nation.

According to him, the sector offered scope for innovation, sustainable growth, and fruitful entrepreneurial paths, saying the economic prospects offered by our blue economy are substantial and remarkable.

Other dignitaries at the Conference were the Vice Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Professor Adebayo Someone Banire, Director-General, National Maritime Administration and Safety Agency(NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola and Dr. Richard Akinola, the Chief of Staff to the Minister.

Nigeria has an expansive coastline of 853 kilometers along the Atlantic Ocean and a maritime area of 46,000 square kilometers within the Gulf of Guinea.

 Its marine resources are both vast and varied. Our exclusive economic zone spans over 200 nautical miles, achieving a recent extension of 16,300 square kilometers – approximately five times the size of Lagos State.

“Additionally, Nigeria features an extensive resource of inland waterways, with the potential to support an intra-regional trade sphere through a length of 10,000 kilometers.

“Strategically situated navigational routes link Africa with North and South America, Europe, and Asia, making the maritime sector a crucial catalyst of our nation’s economy.

“Thus, the blue economy sector promises a wealth of benefits for the growing youth population of our beloved nation, offering scope for innovation, sustainable growth, and fruitful entrepreneurial paths. The economic prospects offered by our blue economy are substantial and remarkable.”

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