TheNewsGuru

Tag: Ban

  • FG to extend ban on vehicle through land borders by 90days

    FG to extend ban on vehicle through land borders by 90days

    Indications emerge that the Federal Government might be considering pleas by various interest groups for an extension in the implementation date of its ban on vehicle through land borders by a grace period of ninety days.

    In response to a petition written by the National Council of Managing Director of Licensed Customs Agents, (NCMDLCA) asking the government to extend the period before implementing the policy, Mr. Ibrahim Abdul, an Assistant Director in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation said that the government was considering the extension.

    The letter with reference number ECD/P/251/T/111/232 and dated 25th January, 2017, Abdul said the issue of extension has been forwarded to both the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Nigeria Customs Service.

    The letter reads in part: “I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated 12th of January, 2017 in respect of the above subject and inform you that the issues raised therein have been forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Nigeria Customs Service for consideration and necessary action”.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the National Council of Managing Director of Licensed Customs Agents, had written to the Presidency saying that the ban of vehicles through land borders was against international trade laws.

    In a petition, the council said that the laws of the World Trade Organisation, WTO, stipulates that trade regulations and amendments with regards to restriction and reversal of Fiscal Policy on Trade, must be subject to process of consultation by trading public and transparency in the timing, so as to accommodate the challenges that maybe associated with the directive/regulation.

    The convention according to the Council also stipulates that each contracting party shall provide opportunities and an appropriate time period to traders and other interested parties to comment on the proposed introduction or amendment of laws and regulations of general application related to the movement, release, and restriction of transit goods.

    He also said that the restriction of vehicles through the land borders came at a very short notice, which contravenes the convention and global best practice on reasonable information across the international community, carrier, and shippers, traders etc., that are directly affected by the decision.

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls that the Federal Government had through the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS on December 5, 2016 ordered the ban on importation of vehicles into the country through land borders.

    The ban according to the government takes effect from January 1, 2017.

  • FG likely to reverse CBN’s forex ban on 41 items – Customs

    The Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service, Assistant Comptroller-General Monday Abueh, has said that the Federal Government may reverse the foreign exchange restriction placed on 41 items imported into the country.

    Abueh disclosed this in Ibadan during his familiarisation tour of Oyo/Osun Commands as part of his visits to Customs formations under his jurisdiction.

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls that the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN had on July, 2015, restricted 41 items, including vegetable oil, poultry products, cosmetics, plastic and rubber products, among others, from access to foreign exchange.

    The apex bank said the country had the capacity to produce those items locally.

    Abueh said that when government’s policies were rolled out, they were in the interest of the people, adding that Nigeria could not be enriching other countries by allowing some banned items into the country.

    He advised officers to be fully sensitised about implementing government’s policies anywhere they were posted to serve.

    Abueh urged officers to ensure non-passage of rice and vehicles into the country.

    He said that smugglers might try to make Oyo and other land borders their alternative routes since security at Idiroko and Seme was tight for them.

    The zonal coordinator said that the Comptroller-General, Retired Col. Hameed Ali, and the Customs Management had redeployed officers to land borders’ commands to ensure that nothing escaped through all the routes in the areas.

    He also urged officers to learn excise operations to assist in cargo clearance.

    Abueh said his visit was meant to remind officers about the Federal Government’s polices as well as the directive given by the comptroller-general to ensure security and protection of lives in the country.

    He said, “Officers should be mindful of their duties and responsibilities as you embark on your primary assignment.

    “If you are careless in your duties and if you are caught, you will be held responsible for your action.”

    The assistant comptroller-general urged officers to ensure collection of duties on general goods coming through the borders.

    According to him, the language in the service nowadays is for officers to be knowledgeable about the operations of the service.

    Abueh urged officers to be willing to learn further, adding that without doing this, such officers would be having problems with operations.

    He, however, commended officers and men in Oyo/Osun command for being on top of their operations as they recorded tremendous seizures.

    He said, “The numerous seizures had indicated that smuggling in this axis are high. That is why I am here to convey the comptroller-general’s message to officers to continue doing the good job.

    “Officers should ensure 100 per cent examination before approving document for delivery of consignment, because any mistake after clearance will not be acceptable by the service.”

    After inspecting the command’s warehouse, the zonal coordinator discovered that the warehouse was full with seizures of rice, vegetable oil, used tyres, second-hand vehicles and other items.

    Abueh said the Management of the NCS would request for officials of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control to ascertain the state of the edible items before destroying them to avoid environmental hazards.

    He warned smugglers to desist from unlawful operations and follow due process in clearing goods in order to avoid seizures.

    The Customs Area Controller of Oyo/Ogun, Comptroller Tope Ogunkua, disclosed that the seizures were intercepted over the years.

    Ogunkua said that the command’s warehouse was having dangerous odour due to some items like rice, which had expired in the store.

    He said that the command generated N14.8bn between January and December 2016.

    Ogunkua said that the command’s target for 2016 was N19.3bn but it had a shortfall of N4. 5bn.

    He said that command would not relent in its effort to suppress smuggling to the barest minimum.

     

    NAN

  • FIFA slams worldwide ban on Chris Giwa, four others

    FIFA slams worldwide ban on Chris Giwa, four others

     

    The Federation of International Football Association, FIFA has imposed a worldwide extension to Chris Giwa’s ban.

    The world football governing body, also handed down the same punishment to four other officials, who were involved in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) leadership tussle.

    They are: Muazu Suleyman, Yahaya Adama, Sani Fema and Johnson Effiong.

    “In accordance with art. 136ff of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has decided to extend the five-year ban from taking part in any kind of football-related activity imposed on the five officials to have worldwide effect,” a statement from FIFA read.

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls that Giwa was first banned by the NFF in May 2016 , after they approached a civil court over the leadership tussle – an action that is against the federation’s statutes.

    The five-year sanction was later extended by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

     

  • Thousands protest in London against Trump’s refugee temporary ban

    Thousands protest in London against Trump’s refugee temporary ban

    Thousands of protesters on Saturday demonstrated outside the U.S. Embassy in London against American President Donald Trump over his temporary ban on refugees and nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering U.S.

    The protesters held black banners with blood stains bearing slogans including: “No to Trump. No to War’’; “Trump: Special Relationship? Just Say No’’ against the ban and Trump’s foreign policy.

    Trump had a week ago signed an order putting a four-month hold on entrance of refugees into the U.S. and temporarily barred travellers from Syria and six other Muslim-majority countries.

    However, on Friday, a Seattle federal judge on Friday put a nationwide block on U.S. President Donald Trump’s week-old executive order that had temporarily barred refugees and nationals from seven countries from entering U.S.

    The judge’s temporary restraining order represents a major setback for Trump’s action.

    The White House said late Friday that it believed the ban to be “lawful and appropriate” and that the U.S. Department of Justice would file an emergency appeal.

    Early Saturday morning, Trump criticised the ruling, warning of big trouble if a country could not control its borders.

    However, many in Britons were angry about the measure, which they saw as discriminatory, and the time it took for Prime Minister Theresa May’s Government to criticise it.

  • Forex scarcity: CBN unfazed, says ban on 41 items irreversible

    Forex scarcity: CBN unfazed, says ban on 41 items irreversible

    The Central Bank of Nigeria,CBN has rejected calls by the Organised Private Sector, OPS and other stakeholders to reverse its foreign exchange ban on 41 goods which the apex bank insisted the country can produce.

    The CBN noted that rather than life the ban, it would perfect plans to support the various sectors which can provide the goods needed to rely less on foreign ones.

    The apex bank’s decision was made known by its Acting Director, Corporate Communications, Mr. Isaac Okoroafor.

    Okoroafor noted that despite criticisms, CBN would not drop the policy nor bow to “self-serving” interests.

    In his words: “We have observed with great concern the continued and unwarranted attack on our policies by a group of Nigerians, whose real interests, findings have shown, are anything near altruistic, but rather self-serving and unpatriotic.”

    He said while the CBN respected Nigerians’ or stakeholders’ views, it found it curious that some interests have remained persistent in misinforming the public, with the aim of discrediting the genuine management of the economy.

    “Indeed, self-centered individuals, who have failed to assail our patriotic position, have resorted to the sponsorship of serial propaganda to misinform and mislead the public on the objectives of our policies,” he said.

    He said some unpatriotic elements were pushing for a reversal of the policy aimed at conserving forex, stimulating agriculture and manufacturing, and promoting exports.

    Okoroafor blamed the economic challenges on the past practice of frittering away huge oil earnings.

    “Our decisions on forex management are prompted by the challenge posed by the level of depletion of the country’s reserves, arising from issues, such as drastic reduction in oil earnings, speculative attacks and round tripping,” he explained.

    According to him, the pressure on the foreign reserves has persisted due to huge reduction in monthly foreign earnings, which fell from over $3.2 billion monthly in 2013 to below $500 million last year, when the demand for the US dollar, particularly by importers, continued to rise.

    Despite the challenges, the CBN has continued to ensure that there is liquidity and transparency in the forex market, while checking inflation, and promoting productivity in critical sectors of the economy, Okoroafor said.

    However, the Organised Private Sector (OPS) members are not swayed by CBN’s position. Describing the policy as worrisome, they insisted that the apex bank’s unorthodox forex allocation system would continue to hamper growth.

    The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Direc-tor-General, Mr. Muda Yusuf, said, in on a monitored radio programme in Lagos, that it was worrisome that the CBN had remained silent on some forex-related issues that were affecting the economy.

    He listed them to include acute illiquidity, inflow impediments and too tight regulations on movement of funds.

    Others, he said, were the effects of the forex policy on non-oil exports, its disincentive to foreign direct investments and the negative impact of the policy on portfolio inflows.

    “Others are adverse effects on remittances by airlines, foreign investors’ dividends and profits; adverse effects on Diaspora remittances and the effects on investors’ confidence,” Yusuf said.

    Yusuf however called on the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo who is head of the nation’s economic team to help prevail on the CBN to make an urgent review of its ‘unfavourable’ forex policies before Nigeria loses all its willing investors to other countries with more friendly business policies.

  • Why I banned nationals of 7 Islamic countries from the US – Trump

    …says

    President also placed a 6 months ban on Iraqi immigrants in 2011

    Ban not targeted at Muslims

    President Donald Trump of the United States has said the the executive order banning citizens of seven countries from entering the US was not targeted at Muslims but curbing terrorism which is fast becoming rooted in the US and the world at large.

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls that President Trump had while announcing the erection of a wall along the US-Mexico border, declared a ban on the nationals of Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen from entering the United States.

    Trump noted that the policy was similar to the one implemented by his predecessor, Barack Obama in 2011.

    Read full statement below…

    “America is a proud nation of immigrants and we will continue to show compassion to those fleeing oppression, but we will do so while protecting our own citizens and border. America has always been the land of the free and home of the brave.

    “We will keep it free and keep it safe, as the media knows, but refuses to say. My policy is similar to what President Obama did in 2011 when he banned visas for refugees from Iraq for six months. The seven countries named in the Executive Order are the same countries previously identified by the Obama administration as sources of terror. To be clear, this is not a Muslim ban, as the media is falsely reporting.

    “This is not about religion – this is about terror and keeping our country safe. There are over 40 different countries worldwide that are majority Muslim that are not affected by this order. We will again be issuing visas to all countries once we are sure we have reviewed and implemented the most secure policies over the next 90 days.

    “I have tremendous feeling for the people involved in this horrific humanitarian crisis in Syria. My first priority will always be to protect and serve our country, but as President I will find ways to help all those who are suffering.”

    See screenshot of President Trump’s statement below:

     

  • NASS can’t reverse FG’s decision on ban of vehicles through land borders – Group

    NASS can’t reverse FG’s decision on ban of vehicles through land borders – Group

    The National Council of Managing Director of Licensed Customs Agents, (NCMDLCA) has said the National Assembly cannot reverse the decision of the Federal Government to ban vehicles coming in the nation through land borders.

    The National President of the Council, Mr. Lucky Amiwero revealed this while speaking to newsmen. Amiwero noted that the National Assembly can only appeal the ban since it is an executive order from the presidency rather than giving a counter order to have the ban reversed.

    Amiwero said the matter can be resolved if both the executive and legislative come together in the interest of Nigerians to review the policy.

    He said until the government review the tariffs on trade, the country will keep losing cargo traffic to ports of neighbouring countries.

    Recall that the Senate last week called on the Federal Government to suspend the enforcement of ban on importation of vehicles through land borders.

    However, the Nigeria Customs Service has said there is no going back on the FG’s ban which according to the NCS has been effective since January 1 this year.

  • FG to enforce ban on importation of dirty fuel by July 1

    …Says it will suspend exportation of rosewood from Nigeria to other countries effective from December 31, 2016

    The Federal Government has set a dateline for the ban on importation of dirty fuel with high surphuric content from Europe to Nigeria to begin from July 1, 2017.

    The government also announced that beginning from December 31, 2016, it would suspend the exportation of rosewood from Nigeria to other countries in a bid to address the increasing level of deforestation across the nation.

    This is as stated by the Minister of Environment, Mrs. Amina Mohammed at an event organised by the ministry in Abuja on Friday to mark her one year in office.

    Recall that on December 1, 2016, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire agreed to introduce strict standards to ensure cleaner, low sulphur diesel fuels and vehicle emission standards, effectively cutting off Europe’s West African market to export its dirty fuels.

    Mohammed stated that the Federal Government had decided that the sulphur in fuels imported into the country should be reduced from 3,000 parts per million to 50 parts per million, as this would result in major air quality benefits in Nigerian cities and would allow the country to set modern vehicle standards.

    In her words: “From July 1, 2017, we will commence the enforcement of the 50ppm sulphur in fuel. And the July deadline is on all fuels, your diesel, petrol and kerosene. Everybody knows that this is going to take some efforts, which is why we gave the six months’ notice. What is more important is that we are working with the refineries on a long-term approach.

    “Some of the new refineries that are coming into position in Nigeria are coming in at 10ppm; South Africa is 15ppm. But for us, it is a West African problem and we hope that we can lead in West Africa by reducing it. So, there is no reason why we can’t do that.”

    On deforestation and the suspension of rosewood export, the minister stated that over a million trees were being cut down per day in the country without any alternative in terms of afforestation.

    According to her, the suspension on exports of rosewood would last for three months, beginning from December 31, 2016.

    She stated further: “On the suspension of wood export as a result of deforestation, let me make it clear that first of all, it is a suspension on rosewood and any semi-processed rosewood that goes out. For it goes out in thousands of containers. So, what we are saying is that we do not see any alternative to replenishing what is going out hugely.

    “It is not that this is the worst part of deforestation; the use of trees as fuel is one, the logging is another, which is illegal in most cases, but we must find alternatives. So, we say suspension because we intend to continue to see better performance when we want to deal with the export of semi-processed wood.

    “This involves factories, young people, trade revenues and more. We don’t want to stop it in a way, but we don’t what to do it at the cost of taking down all our forest cover in this country. Which was why we had enough consultation before the date of December 31, 2016 was arrived at,” the minister said.

     

  • FG to impose ban on importation of 2-stroke engines in Q1 2017– NESREA

    The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has said the Federal Government will enforce ban on importation of two-stroke engines and vehicles without emission reduction technology into the country.

    Dr Lawrence Anukam, the Director-General of the agency disclosed this on Thursday in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.

    He said that emission releases from vehicles could be about 60 per cent of air pollution in the country.

    He said that the agency had collaborated with Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs), Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs), Federal Road Safety Commission, (FRSC), Nigeria Police and other relevant agencies across the country.

    He said that the collaboration was to test vehicles for excessive emission and to ensure air quality in the country.

    He said that government would be launching Vehicular Emission Control Programme in the first quarter of 2017.

    Anukam said that governments with other relevant organisations were committed to ensuring that the launching of the programme would be successful.

    He explained that the programme would also involve experts from international organisations, adding that the efforts would ensure effectiveness of the programme.

    “We are still working on the launching of the programme; this is to ensure that every mechanism and plans are properly arranged.

    “A lot of work are going on and we are hoping that in the first quarter of 2017, we are going to formally launch the programme.

    “Vehicular emission is an issue that we are seriously committed to ensure for proper lasting solution, we will follow it up; to ensure that everything is put into consideration.

    “We just have to launch the programme, it has been a long time and we need to do the formal launching of the programme.

    “The importance of the programme is to ensure proper monitoring and evaluation of vehicles on the roads,’’ he said.

    Anukam said that the government was concerned about air pollution from human activities and one of such was vehicular emissions.

    He added that emission could lead to harmful gases and dust into the atmosphere.

    “Vehicular emission had caused severe environmental hazards in our environment such as acid rain, global warming, depletion of the ozone layer and has led to climate change,’’ he said.

    The DG however urged Nigerians to always maintain their vehicles and obey environmental laws and regulations to promote environmental health.