By Lucy Ogalue

Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), says it will collaborate with Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) and Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA) to accelerate up Nigeria’s economic growth.

The Acting Controller-General of NCS, Mr Wale Adeniyi made the pledge when NEPZA’s Managing Director, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba and his counterpart from OGFZA, Senator Tijani Kaura visited him on Friday.

Adeniyi, while commending efforts of personnel, promised the Service readiness to partner with both agencies for the good of the country.

According to him, NCS is ever committed to collaborate with necessary Government’s Agencies in the task of ensuring national economic development.

“That is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu led administration.

“So, I will like to express my commitment that we will forge this collaboration, we will work closer and we will get collaborations towards productive results for our economy,” he said.

Earlier, the Managing Director of NEPZA, highlighted the roles of Free Trade Zones in job creation, poverty reduction and national economic development.

Adesugba said for NEPZA and OGFZA to achieve their mandates as agencies saddled with the responsibility of developing the sector, there was the need for effective collaboration with the NIS.

He recalled the recent meeting of stakeholders in the sector in Abuja where they brainstormed on how to reposition the sector for optimal performance.

He said it was resolved that they meet with the NCS on the meeting’s outcome to further seek the way forward in the industry.

“We are very happy that we are going back to our various authorities and we are taking with us the fact that we will be working together.

“It is not going to be business as usual, we are going to be working with very vibrant team of Customs officers.

“And they are going to develop the capacity of all the officers and some of the stakeholders in the processes of the free trade zone to ensure investors are attracted to the freezones in Nigeria rather than go elsewhere.

“We want to work with Nigeria Customs and all other stakeholders that have anything to do with the free zone scheme to ensure that investors have sucour in Nigeria.

“And to ensure we are competitive, limit bureaucracy and the one stop shop part of the scheme actually works and we can’t do these without the Nigeria Customs, so that is why we are here,” he said.

Adesugba used the opportunity to congratulate Adeniyi on his appointment as the Acting Controller-General of NCS, while commending President Tinubu for making the right choice by appointing.

He described the NCS boss as a well trained and experienced Custom officer who rose from the ranks to become the Acting Controller-General.

On his part, the Managing Director of OGFZA, who also congratulated the NCS boss, stressed the need for effective public private sector collaboration towards developing the nation’s Free Trade Zones.

Tijani Kaura said he was impressed by the outcome of the meeting as it showed clear willingness by the Customs to support the free zone.

He expressed optimism that the collaboration would be on the interest of the nation, as well as ensure rapid economic growth and progress for the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a five man Committee was set up at the end of the event to deliberate on ways of possible partnership among the three agencies. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

By Ikenna Uwadileke

Russian President, Vladimir Putin says Russia is reorienting its transport and logistics flows to the Global South, including Africa.

Putin said this at the ongoing 2nd Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Summit in St Petersburg, Russia.

“The North-South transport corridor that we are building is designed to provide Russian products with access to the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean, with further connections via the shortest sea route to the African continent, among other regions.

“Naturally, this corridor can be used in reverse to deliver African goods to Russia,’’ he said.

Putin further said that connecting the North-South transport corridor with Africa, lunching regular freight lines and opening a Russian transport and logistics hub in a port on the eastern shore of Africa “could be a good start of our cooperation’’.

According to him, we consider it extremely important to expand the network of direct flights to Africa and to contribute to the development of the railway network in the continent.

“These are the most important goals of our time that we invite our African friends to tackle together,’’ he said.

The president also expressed Russia’s interest in strengthening ties with regional economic integration associations and structures in Africa.

“For example, we support establishing cooperation between the Eurasian Economic Union – a major integration project and Russia is part of it – and the African Continental Free Trade Area within the African Union.

“We are also ready to share with our African partners our experience in promoting integration between Russian and Belarus within the Union State.

“ We want to show our African partners what we have to offer on the key aspects of integration such as removing barriers within a single market, the operation of free trade areas, coordinating agricultural, industrial policies and in other sectors too.

“I am convinced that this comprehensive cooperation, both in bilateral and multilateral settings, will enable us to expand our economic ties with Africa in terms of both quality and quantity.

“I would also like to draw your attention to the fact that bilateral intergovernmental commissions have proven their worth in promoting economic and humanitarian cooperation,” he said.

While saying that Russia has the commissions with only a third of African countries, Putin said there are 18 of them for 54 countries.

“In this context, we suggest that the interested African countries who have yet to join this format should think about working with us to establish these commissions.

“It goes without saying that we are ready to move in this direction and believe that this would be beneficial.

“We are also ready to expand the network of our trade missions in Africa and have more economic advisors, as well as attaches for agriculture, education, research and ICT,’’ the president said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the summit which started on July 27 will end on July 28.

NAN is one of the media partners of the Russia-Africa Summit 2023 and its Managing Director, Mr Buki Ponle, is also attending the event.  (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Sadiya Hamza

By Kadiri Abdulrahman

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Staff Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited, has declared a profit of ₦16.09 million for the year July 25, 2023.

The outgone President of the society, Mr Moses Uzoagba, said this at the 12th Annual General Meeting (AGM)/Elections of the society on Thursday in Abuja.

Uzoagba said the cooperative was steadfast in the year under review, in spite of the economic trends, adding that it was able to invest wisely.

“I wish, therefore, to report that the cooperative made a surplus of ₦16.09 million after expenses.

“This came about through the commitment of the management committee and members in general,’’ he said.

He said that the management committee of the cooperative society proposed that 10 per cent of the profit, amounting to ₦1.6 million should be set aside as education fund.

According to him, one per cent of the sum amounting to ₦160, 934 will also be set aside as audit fee for the Federal Capital Development Authority.

“That 10 per cent of the profit, amounting to ₦1.609 million be placed on general reserve.

“That the sum of ₦804, 673 being five per cent be set aside as AGM expenses,’’ he said.

Uzoagba said that the management committee also proposed that 69 per cent of the profit totaling ₦11.104 million should be declared a dividend and interest to be shared.

Meanwhile, the cooperative society also elected new officers during the AGM.

Stephen Igiewe emerged unopposed as the President, while John Ojamiren and Adewunmim Agboola emerged unopposed as Secretary-General and Treasurer respectively.

Joseph Ede was elected as the Vice President after scoring 87 votes to defeat Mrs Abiodun Oluleye, who scored 86 votes.

Also elected were Mrs Dorcas Jonah, who scored 63 votes defeated Mike Arokoyo with 58 votes and Jacinta Nwachukwu with 45 votes, to become the Assistant Secretary 2.

Also elected was Adebayo Abdulrasheed, who became Welfare Officer/Public Relations Officer after scoring 88 votes to defeat Fortune Abang who scored 83 votes. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams