General News
Confusion over Appointment of New Customs Boss
There is confusion among stakeholders in the shipping industry in Nigeria on whether or not to appoint a new Comptroller General for the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
Ships & Ports Daily, a maritime newspaper, had reported on Tuesday that the Federal Government had clarified and ready to announce the appointment of M. Mohammed, assistant controller general of Customs as the new Customs chief to replace Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko
However, Ships And Ports wrote, “Any moment from now, the Federal Government will formally announce the appointment of Yobe State born M. Mohammed as the new Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), SHIPS & PORTS DAILY can authoritatively report”.
The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), in a press statement endorsed by Prince Obums Anene, head of Special Duties (NAGAFF) Headquarters, said that the civil service rule and tenureship of persons in the Public Sector cannot be changed because of an individual.
“Tenureship of civil Servants are 35 years in service and/or 60years of age unless if a person have served in a position of Director for 8 years. Aside from these rules, it is only the President of the Federation that can determine those that can manage his delegated powers to act on his behalf. The most important thing is that it is only God that decides who wears the Crown.
“It is the view of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) that Interested parties should lobby Mr. President as an Angel of God on Earth to offer them the position of CGC without distracting government programmes and activities” the statement read.
In spite Ships and Ports had revealed that, “a sources at the Presidency informed that Mohammed, who is presently one of the about a dozen Assistant Comptrollers-General in the Service, will be succeeding Alhaji Dikko Inde Abdullahi, who attained four years in office as Comptroller-General of Customs on Sunday, August 18, 2013, NAGAFF said, “At the moment, we have only one CGC who has been hoisting the Flag of Nigeria both at Local and International Arena. Except a bias mind and enemy of the present administration, it is an act of sabotage for anybody or group of persons to advise or lobby Mr. President to change a winning leader when he has not attained 35 years in service or 60 years of age”.
Dikko, seemingly had his last major public outing in the position at the formal launching of the Nigeria Trade Hub (NTH) Portal and the Nigeria Import, Export and Transit Process Manual held in Abuja during the week.
NAGAFF however, identified that there is no doubt the post of the Comptroller-General of Customs is strategic to the economy of Nigeria.
The Nigeria Customs Service is believed to be the second in ranking on matters of revenue collection with other ancillary functions thereto. With this in mind, it is a place of pride for the interest most stakeholders are showing in that regard. The fact remains that other than politics, the position of the Comptroller-General of Customs is not different from any other civil servant of the Federation.
General News
Nigeria Recovers $52.88m in Assets Linked to Former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke
Federal government has received $52.88m recovered Galactica assets linked to a former Minister of Petroleum Diezani Alison-Madueke from the USA.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi disclosed this at the formal signing ceremony of the asset agreement between Nigeria and the United States of America in Abuja on Friday, January 10.
While speaking at the ceremony, Fagbemi explained that $50m of the recovered assets will be deployed through the World Bank to the development of the rural electrification project and the remaining $2m will be deployed to the International Institute of Justice to expand the Justice system and also counter corruption.
Speaking further, Fagbemi noted that the asset return marks a milestone in the ongoing collaboration between Nigeria and the United States in combating corruption and upholding the rule of law
He said the event is also a significant effort by President Bola Tinubu to address the issue of corruption.
Meanwhile, in his remarks, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria Richard Mills called for the monitoring and effectively utilizing the recovered assets by the Ministry of Justice to benefit Nigerians.
Diezani served as Minister under the Goodluck Jonathan administration.
General News
TikTok Announces Plans to Cease Operations in the U.S. by January 19, 2025
TikTok has officially announced plans to cease its operations in the United States by January 19, 2025.
“Absent such relief, the Act will take effect on January 19, 2025,” TikTok said in a Dec. 9 legal filing. “That would shut down TikTok—one of the Nation’s most popular speech platforms for its more than 170 million domestic monthly users on the eve of a presidential inauguration.”
Last year, President Joe Biden signed into law, a legislation to remove TikTok from U.S. app stores and prohibit internet providers across the nation from allowing access to the platform if ByteDance cannot sell to an American company by Jan. 19.
The legislation was put in place amid concerns of China possibly using TikTok to spy on U.S. residents.
In response, TikTok filed an emergency motion for an injunction to stop the ban from taking effect, arguing that it violates the First Amendment and will generate “substantial losses,” per legal documents.
The Supreme Court is slated to hear oral arguments on Jan. 10 over whether or not the law should be upheld.
Meanwhile, several entrepreneurs have launched a bid to purchase TikTok, including Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary.
“This isn’t just about buying TikTok’s U.S. assets,” he wrote in a Jan. 6 message on X, formerly Twitter. “It’s about something much bigger: protecting the privacy of 170 million American users.”
O’Leary continued, “It’s about empowering creators and small businesses. And it’s about building a platform that prioritizes PEOPLE over algorithms. TikTok has immense potential, not just as a tool for creators but as a driver of meaningful economic and social impact.”
However, O’Leary said he’ll likely need an assist from President-elect Donald Trump, who will be sworn into office on Jan. 20.
“Trump will be who we have to work with to close the deal in the months ahead,” he explained during a Jan. 6 appearance on Fox News’ The Story with Martha MacCallum, per The Wrap. “So, I wanted to let him know—as well as others in his cabinet—that we’re doing this, and we’re going to need their help.”
General News
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