… Says Kwankwaso presidency will reopen borders, revive eastern ports
Ahead of Saturday’s presidential election in the country, the founder of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Dr. Boniface Aniebonam has urged maritime industry stakeholders including importers, exporters, freight forwarders and other port users to support and vote for the party’s presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to address the numerous ills plaguing the industry.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Thursday where he unveiled the Presidential flag bearer 20-point agenda for the development of the maritime industry in the first one year if elected at the polls on Saturday, Aniebonam said NNPP emanated from the maritime sector, hence Kwankwaso remains the best candidate to unbundle the industry from slavery.
He said, “As the founder of NNPP, I hereby advise every stakeholder in the maritime industry to understand that NNPP is our own and if we want to unbundle ourselves from the slavery in our industry, then this is the opportunity for us to elect our own to enable us resolve our constraints. I therefore urge you all to go out in mass to vote for Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as the President of Nigeria.”
Aniebonam who is also the founder of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) promised that Kwankwaso presidency will reopen all the borders in the country and revive the eastern ports with a view to decongest Lagos ports and its environs.
He assured that the NNPP government will grant partial autonomy for the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), establish the Customs Service Commission and ensure the appointment of Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) from within career officers.
Aniebonam added that Kwankwaso would ensure the removal of CRFFN “from the clutches of the Transportation Ministry to be partially autonomous in line with the Act” establishing it.
He also promised that the NNPP government within one year in office would review the inherent law of waiver clause as contained in the Cabotage Act” and make it to enhance local content in its application.
He listed other areas the Kwankwaso presidency would address to include, “Establishment of commercial shipping and partnership with private operators; the National Maritime Authority must ensure that Nigeria flies flags to mitigate the colossal loss of revenue inherent in freight rates.
“To expunge the licensing regulation and control of freight forwarding practitioners from Customs law pending at the National Assembly.
“Seizure of trade goods must stop forthwith when presented before the Customs at the Examination Bay designated for Customs purpose”
“Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to be returned to the ports and borders to join NDLEA and NAFDAC to perform their statutory duty of quality control of imported goods.
“Establishment of truck terminals in partnership with private operators to service the ports in a call-up system.
“Warri Port, River port of Onitsha, Oguta River port and other ports must be made to function with a view to decongesting Lagos ports and environs.
“Never again shall any goods imported or exported from Nigeria be seized provided it is not banned and or fake product. Customs duty and inherent penalty as surcharge shall prevail.
“The trade policy of 41 items barred from forex by CBN shall be reversed. This is because it is clashing with customs laws as contained in Section 27, 28, 29 of Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA).”
Speaking on the redesign currency, Aniebonam said it was a good policy that will help check vote buying just as he urged Nigerians to exercise patience as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) moves to resolve the cash crunch across the country.
Photo caption:
Founder, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Dr. Boniface Aniebonam (middle) flanked by Chairman BoT, NAGAFF, Chief Chidiebere Enelamah (left) and Legal Adviser of NAGAFF, Barr. Fred Akokhia, at a press briefing in Lagos on Thursday.