Month: June 2024

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), says it has recorded 74 per cent increase in revenue growth in the last one year.

The Comptroller General (C-G) of the service, Adewale Adeniyi, stated this on Wednesday in Abuja, during a Press briefing on NCS’ achievements in the last one year.

Adeniyi said that the service recorded a total revenue collection of N4.49 Trillion between June 2023 and May 2024, compared to the N2.58 trillion collected during the corresponding period of the previous year.

‘This achievement was underpinned by a sustained increase of 70.13 per cent in average monthly revenue collection, compared to the previous year.

‘ NCS recorded an average monthly revenue collection of N343 billion, compared to the N202 billion monthly average.

‘ Notably, there was a substantial 122.35 per cent increase in revenue collection during the first quarter of 2024, compared to the same period in the previous year,’ he said.

The C-G said these giant strides recorded were as a result of the service’s various str
ategic initiatives, which included the collection of N15 billon by the Revenue Review Performance Recovery exercise.

He explained that N2.79 billion was realised from the 90-day window for the regularisation of documents of uncustomed vehicles.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the NCS in March, granted a 90-day grace period for payment of import duties on improperly imported vehicles, as part of its commitment to facilitating compliance.

He added that N1.5 billion was realised from the decongestion of 1,705 overtime containers and 981 vehicles from the port.

‘It is also worthy of note that on June 13, 2024, NCS recorded a daily All-Time-High of N58.5 billion in revenue collection,’ he said.

Adeniyi also noted that the NCS’ anti-smuggling efforts in the last year resulted in 63 seizures related to animal and wild life products, valued at N566 million, and seven seizures of arms and ammuition made through the ports and borders.

‘ In terms of illicit drugs, a combined total of 127 cases invo
lving narcotics and pharmaceutical products, valued at over N6 billion, were seized.

‘The Service also recorded 724 seizures of 2.93 million litres of PMS (Premium Motor Spirit), that wad being attempted to be smuggled out of the country,’ he said.

He explained that the illegal dealings in petroleum products had remained an issue of great concern to relevant stakeholders, adding however, that the Operation Whirlwind would continue to intercept and disrupt the activities of smugglers.

NAN reports that Operation Whirlwind was recently inaugurated by NCS to combat smuggling of petroleum products to neigbouring countries.

The C-G said as part of its effforts to ensure food security and curb the smuggling of food in and out of the country, the service recorded 1,744 cases of rice and grain seizures, valued at N4.4 billion.

‘These concerted efforts underscore the NCS’s commitment to protecting society and! ensuring national security,’ Adeniyi said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), is determined to smoke out food hoarders as part of its contribution to checking inflation, its Comptroller-General (C-G), Adewale Adeniyi, has stated.

‘The service will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that the business of food hoarders is unprofitable,’ Adeniyi declared in Abuja on Wednesday at a media briefing on achievements in the past one year.

He said that the NCS recorded 1,744 cases of rice and grains seizures valued at N4.4billion, in the efforts to curb smuggling.

‘These concerted efforts underscore the NCS’ commitment to protecting society and ensuring national security,” he said.

He said that in the past one year, one of the leading policy measures it implemented was the transition from the repealed Customs and Excise Act of 2004 to the newly signed Nigeria Customs Service Act of 2023.

He explained that the new act strengthened the modernisation of NCS operations and promoted innovation within the service.

The C-G emphasised that the new act also for
med the basis for several trade facilitation measures currently being pursued by NCS, including the recent transition from Fast Track 2.0 to the Authorised Economic Operators (AEO) concept.

He highlighted that the Advanced Ruling system, which also originated from the act, represented a significant advancement in aligning NCS operations with global best practices.

‘This initiative is now at an advanced stage of implementation,” he said.

He added that Time Release Study was also inaugurated in February to identify and address bottlenecks in the clearance process aimed at easing trade facilitation.

The C-G further noted that it decongested ports and reopened previously inaccessible access roads.

‘In response to the need for dedicated terminals to process export goods, the NCS command at the Port of Lilypond was designated to handle export transactions.

‘Other targeted measures to jointly facilitate trade and enhance revenue collection by the service include implementation of the presidential approval to
decongest the ports area and improve logistics around the port in line with the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.

‘NCS also commenced 24-hour clearance at the Port of Tincan Island, Lagos, in line with the Presidential Directive to enforce 48- hour clearance of goods,” he said.

According to the customs boss, NCS also implemented measures to address national security concerns which include strengthening and reinforcing the Federal Operating Units to pursue, intercept, arrest and dismantle smuggling networks.

He said that new frontiers of interagency cooperation were established with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), finalising arrangements to integrate both systems to minimise the registration of smuggled vehicles.

‘The service also commenced engagement with critical stakeholders like the Health Federation of Nigeria (HFN), with the support of the Federal Ministry of Finance, to facilitate the clearance of medical goods.

‘This collaboration aims to ultimately reduce challenges and costs, making these
services more affordable for Nigerians and specifically targeting the Presidential Priority Areas on healthcare,” he said.

He said that NCS was recently ranked by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) among the top five Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

The assessment was conducted among 36 MDAs, with NCS achieving a perfect score of 100 per cent, marking 81.5 per cent increase from its previous average scores of 18.45 per cent between 2020 and 2022, and 18.53 per cent in 2023.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Mr Mersole Mellejor, the Philippines Ambassador to Nigeria said both countries shared mutually beneficial relations, especially in trade and people-to-people partnerships since 1962.

The envoy said this at the Diplomatic Reception held to mark the 126th Anniversary of the Philippines’ Independence on Wednesday in Abuja.

The ambassador said the occasion was symbolic of strengthening relations between Nigeria and the Philippines for more than six decades.

According to him, although the countries may be located on two different continents, with no fewer than 18 hours of flight time between them, relations between the two have been robust.

‘Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1962, the two countries have signed bilateral agreements and are in the process of concluding more, to generate concrete mutually beneficial outcomes.

‘At the political level, the Philippines and Nigeria have a regular Joint Commission Meeting between our respective Ministries of Foreign Affairs.

‘This year, we are resuming t
o hold another edition. The joint commission meeting was suspended due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

‘We have a respectable level of bilateral trade reaching more than a million US dollars at its highest in 2020 and a steady flow of tourists from both sides.

‘The most concrete manifestation of our relations has always been our people. At its peak before the global financial crisis in 2009, there were an estimated 8,000 Filipinos in Nigeria.’

‘Mostly professionals in various capacities, in the oil and industrial states, factories in many parts of Nigeria, and more importantly, in the services sectors.

‘Now, estimated to be around 3,000, the number is rising again as we emerge from the global pandemic. We certainly thank Nigeria for welcoming and hosting our nationals,” Mellejor said

Speaking on educational exchange, Mellejor said the Philippines had hosted more than 10,000 Nigerians studying in various higher institutions in his country.

On governance, he said, ‘There are many areas in which both countr
ies can work continually to strengthen democratic governance and law enforcement.

‘Meanwhile, the Philippines hosts some 10,000 Nigerians, the majority of whom are studying in various tertiary institutions in the country.

‘I was told that the number was even higher in the 90’s. The graduates even have an association here in Nigeria called the Philippine Graduates in Nigeria, or PHILGRAN.

‘There is also a good number of Nigerians pursuing productive careers in the Philippines – perhaps in the medical and the entertainment industry,” he said.

The ambassador also seeks Nigeria’s support for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council for the 2027-2028 June elections of 2026 expected to be held in New York.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the highpoint of the event was the cultural dance performance by a Filipino group and a song from a Nigerian artist.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Prof. Peter Akah, a professor of Pharmacology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, has organised a free healthcare services to over 1,000 residents of Okporo Community in Orlu Local Government Area of the state.

Akah, former acting Vice Chancellor, Imo State University, who hails from the community, also inaugurated a Clinic in the area.

He said that the project was initiated to address the health challenges of the vulnerable members of Umunyem-Umuebele Village in Okporo Community, especially the aged, women and children.

‘Sincerely, if I had 20 calls in a day, 18 of them ask for money to buy drugs, not even food. I know how much it is to pay for consultancy, let alone hospital bills and I can imagine what people in the village go through,’ Akah said.

According to him, many of the villagers are moving around with malaria and typhoid, prostate cancer, ulcer, diabetes and partial stroke without proper medical attention.

Reacting to the development, the President of the town’s union, Chief John Egolu, thanked Ak
ah for the health outreach and establishment of a clinic in the area.

‘A visit to the facility shows that there are beds and full theatre for surgery and there is a promise that more equipment would be brought, subsequently.

‘This vision of our dear son, Prof. Akah, is that which will in no small measure help our people, especially by getting healthcare services closer to them,’ he said.

A 67-year-old stroke patient, Mr Charles Okechukwu, said the gesture was ‘God sent to help the less privileged in the community. We have never seen this type of medical care in our village.’

Another beneficiary of the health mission, Mrs Fidelia Ibemike, 89, said the health facility had brought healthcare services closer to the people.

Ibemike said that the facility would reduce the sufferings usually encountered in traveling to other communities for medical treatment.

She said that many aged persons have died in their homes because they lacked the money to seek medical attention.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

An Epidemiologist, Dr Japhet Olugbogi, has warned Nigerians against using mixture of carbonated drink and seasoning cubes as prevention and treatment measures for cholera disease.

Olugbogi, former Head of NMA Lagos COVID-19 response and Medical Officer of Health at Ifelodun LCDA, gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.

He gave the warning in response to several social media posts touting the use of Coca-Cola and Maggi combination as a prevention and treatment for cholera.

Olugbogi said the mixture was not a medical solution, noting that toxicology tests from the combination might be harmful for the health and well-being of individuals.

‘That combination I believe is more expensive than using Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS). Why would anybody want to substitute ORS for Maggi and Coca-Cola?.

‘That’s alarming. ORS is a solution that’s tested, proven and trusted to treat cholera or diarrhea or gastroenteritis disease.

‘If somebody has hypoglycemia (low sugar
), of course, the individual can be given Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Sprite, Miranda or Fanta or any of those carbonated drinks but in measured doses.

‘Combining Coca-Cola with Maggi for cholera treatment is not a medical solution,’ he said.

The public health expert emphasised that cholera could be easily treated through prompt administration of ORS or preparing the salt and sugar solution to help individuals.

He recalled that during the COVID-19 and Ebola outbreak, some people promoted using salt water to bathe as a cure for the diseases, stressing that it was a hoax that caused complications and death to some individuals.

Olugbogi cautioned the public against practicing things seen online, stressing that health advisory from physicians and health regulators should be strictly adhered to, to ensure health safety.

On preventive measures against cholera, Olugbogi advised that people washed their hands with soap and running water, before and after eating, and after using the toilet.

‘Washing our hands with soap an
d water alone is a huge step in controlling and preventing this viral outbreak.

‘Apart from that, people should ensure they keep their waste safely in containers away from flies because flies pick up germs and bacteria from the waste or fecal matter and drop them when they perch on food items.

‘We should also dispose of refuse properly, maintaining good hygienic practices is critical to reduce transmission of cholera,’ he said.

He advised that vegetables and fruits should be washed thoroughly before consuming them and water boiled before drinking.

Olugbogi advised that proper washing of utensils such as spoons, cups, plates, glass cups, mugs, before eating with them.

‘Cholera is transmitted from contaminated hand to mouth; so, if we can clean our hands, utensils and any item containing things that we put in our mouth, then we can prevent cholera from spreading,’ he said.

Data from Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) show that Nigeria recorded no fewer than 1,141 suspected and 65 confirmed cases o
f cholera, resulting in over 30 deaths from Jan. 1 to June 11, 2024 in 30 states, NAN reports.

Lagos State on June 11, alerted residents that the state had recorded an excess report of severe gastroenteritis cases leading to 60 hospitalisations and five deaths mainly from patients presenting late with extreme dehydration.

The state’s Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, on June 15, disclosed that laboratory tests confirmed that the outbreak was due to cholera with the identified strain being highly aggressive and contagious, with potential for widespread transmission.

As at June 20, Lagos cholera outbreak had increased to 21 fatalities and 401 infections from multiple LGAs in the state.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Rotary Club Ogba, in partnership with Rotary Foundation, has commissioned its District’s Grant Project by donating a Bubble Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (bcPAP) system to the Pediatric Unit of Airbase Hospital, Ikeja.

The event which held on Wednesday was part of the club’s commitment to supporting humanitarian causes.

Chief Babajide Awesu, President, Rotary Club Ogba, said that the donation was a testament to the club’s dedication to supporting lives.

Awesu said that the club was proud to make a difference in the lives of others, and that the equipment would undoubtedly save many young lives.

He said this was not the first time the club had supported the hospital, having previously donated essential equipment which had been effectively utilised.

Group Capt. Adebayo Bello, representative of the Commander of the 661 Nigeria Air Force Hospital, expressed his gratitude for the donation.

He said that the bcPAP system was worth millions of naira and exactly what the pediatric unit needed at this t
ime.

‘This equipment will greatly enhance our ability to provide quality care to our young patients, and we are deeply grateful to the Rotary Club Ogba for their generosity,’ Bello said.

Also, Dr Eden Igbage, a Consultant Pediatrician, expressed her joy and appreciation for the support.

Igbage said that the donation was a timely intervention for the hospital.

‘We are thrilled to have partners like the Rotary Club Ogba who share our commitment to providing excellent healthcare services,’ she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bcPAP system is designed to aid the respiratory system of babies, and its donation is a significant boost to the hospital’s pediatric unit.

The Rotary Club has a long history of engaging in projects that support human life, with numerous initiatives undertaken regularly in schools, villages, and hospitals to promote human development.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria