The United Kingdom (UK) Monday simplified trading rules and cut tariffs on products from developing countries, including Nigeria, saving businesses and consumers millions of pounds a year. The UK’s new post-Brexit Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) scheme, which implementation began yesterday, according to a statement by the British Deputy High Commission in Nigeria, covers 65 countries, including Nigeria. It said with the new scheme, over 99% of goods exported from Nigeria would automatically be eligible for duty-free access to the UK. It added that Nigeria would receive enhanced preferential access for almost 3,000 products. The scheme was designed to benefit developing countries looking to diversify and increase exports, driving their prosperity and reducing their need for aid. “4.5% removed on cocoa paste, 26.5% removed on fruit juices, and 14% removed on prepared tomatoes”, the statement said. The scheme, according to the statement, removes or reduces tariffs and simplifies trading rules so that more products qualify for the scheme, making it more generous than the EU scheme the UK was previously a member of. The scheme will benefit developing countries looking to diversify and increase exports, driving their prosperity and creating jobs. Minister for International Trade Nigel Huddleston who launched the scheme while on a visit to Ethiopia’s largest industrial business park, Bole Lemi, said, “This DCTS scheme is a brilliant example of the UK taking advantage of its status as an independent trading nation and I am excited to see it implemented today.” Speaking on the launch, UK Deputy British High Commissioner in Lagos, Ben Llewellyn-Jones said, “Nigeria is one of the UK’s most important partners in Africa and the UK government is committed to working with Nigerian businesses and exporters to boost trade between our two great nations. The UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme harnesses the power of trade to help Nigeria and other emerging economies grow and prosper. “One major benefit of this new UK trading scheme is that it abolishes tariffs on over 3000 everyday products that Nigeria currently exports including cocoa, cotton, plantain, flowers, fertilisers, tomatoes, frozen shrimps and sesame. The overarching aim of the new scheme is to grow trade with developing countries, boosting the economy and supporting jobs in those countries, as well as in ours.”

  Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing an Igbo son as one of the Service Chiefs, saying good things are ahead. With the appointment, the pan-Igbo socio-political organisation said, Tinubu has good plans for the country and would carry everyone along. Tinubu had on Monday sacked Service Chiefs and announced their replacements. The National President of the Igbo group, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, in a statement on Tuesday, said Tinubu had taken a bold step towards national healing as he promised the citizens. He said, “For eight years, we cried, we shouted on top of our voices that no Igbo man is among the top security echelon of the country but former President Muhammadu Buhari turned deaf ears. “He made sure that Ndigbo were totally subjugated under his administration. However, just within a few days in power, President Tinubu has demonstrated total readiness to right those wrongs.” Okwu said the appointment of Ogalla from Enugu State “is a clear testimony to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s desire to reunite the country. The immediate past administration handed over to him a very fragmented country like never before. “However, Mr President’s actions so far have given hope to Nigerians that good things are ahead. This also came a few days after our own Frank Mba, another proud Igbo son, was promoted from AIG to DIG of police.” He urged Ndigbo to give the Tinubu government maximum support, stressing that, “we are certain he has good plans for the country and will carry everyone along.”

  The Federal Government, on Monday, said six new companies have received approval to import petroleum products into Nigeria. The Managing Director of Nigeria Mainstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDRA), Farouk Ahmed made this disclosure to state correspondents at the Presidential Villa. Farouk stated that apart from the approved six, several companies applied for permit to import petroleum in due course. Ahmed also debunked insinuation that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) had given approval to Dangote Group to import petroleum, saying that the company has no powers to give such approval. The managing director further noted that there are several companies that applied for fuel importation permit and anyone can apply for importation to get access to the port as the authority is open to all those interested in importing. Ahmed said, “There are six companies who said they want to import fuel in July. Of course, all the others may import in December in November, or anytime but those who expressed interest to bring in fuel in July there were six of them as of this morning. “The beauty of it is that there are interests which means that they have been able to have access to foreign exchange in order to import. “Now, as we go along, of course, we’ll be briefing you on the progress or the achievements so far, but the important thing is that NNPC has 30 days fuel sufficiency, so we do not anticipate any gap in supply or in distribution.” Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has taken steps to stop ship owners from withdrawing their vessels over what they see as excessive back charges. The Special Adviser to the President on Revenue, Zacchaeus Adedeji, who led government officials in an interactive session with shipping stakeholders at the State House, warned that Nigeria cannot afford not to have vessels move in and out of the country. Reports had suggested that at least two ship owners said they were keeping their vessels away from Nigeria after a series of multimillion dollar tax bills were sent out, seeking to recover back unpaid duties from 2010 to 2019. Briefing State House correspondents after a meeting today with stakeholders, Adedeji allayed fears within the oil and gas sector, spelling out the agreement reached to avert vessel withdrawal so as not to disrupt the flow of products. The presidential aide assured that a technical committee has been set up to resolve the issues in contention. He noted that no vessel would be arrested or detained as the committee works to reconcile the back taxes.

  The Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has accused former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, of being the behind suspended Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele’s participation in the APC presidential primary to scuttle Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s ambition. The claim was disclosed in a letter written to the President on Monday titled, “Attempts by Senator Ovie Omo-Agege to scuttle presidential ambition of President Bola Tinubu through recruitment of Mr Godwin Emefiele, anti-Tinubu campaign stance and anti-party activities.” The letter, which was made available to The PUNCH, was signed by state APC Secretary, Inana Michael; Delta North Chairman, Tom Onah; South Chairman, Nelson Ogharama, and Central Chairman, Michael Orunefe. The statement partly read: “Your Excellency, you will recall that at a point ahead of the party’s National Convention in June 2022, members, especially those of us from Ika South Local Government Area, got information Omo-Agege had plans to issue party membership card to the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, and we objected to his plans. We told him it was not morally right for Emefiele to contest and that it will affect your chances to secure the Presidential ticket. “All efforts to make Omo-Agege see reasons fell on deaf ears but he convinced Emefiele and assured him that he would get the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, whom he planted as a spy, to help get Emefiele the ticket.” The party referenced a story in the May 9, 2022 of The PUNCH, “which confirmed the story that the APC Ward chairman eventually gave Emefiele the membership card in February, 2021.” “The name of the ward chairman is Mr Nduka Erikpume and the Ika South APC Local Government Chairman is Hilary FadaIbude. “These two were the ones who also signed our state leaders’ expulsion letters on the instructions of Omo-Agege. Their offence was that they opposed Omo-Agege’s position to recruit Emefiele to contest the presidential election against you.” The Delta APC leaders alleged that on the night of the APC convention, Omo-Agege instructed Delta delegates to vote against Tinubu who he alleged stood no chance against their ‘anointed’ candidate. According to them, virtually every delegate was aware of Omo-Agege’s stance, “but as God would have it, the former Lagos governor won the primary convincingly.” Furthermore, the Delta APC leaders alleged that ahead of the general elections, Omo-Agege supported the opposition Labour Party rather than the APC. “Mr President, we enclose herewith posters and videos of Omo-Agege and Labour Party candidate, Mr Peter Obi, posing ahead of the election to the fact that he and his group never worked for you. We cannot continue this way in Delta. We, therefore, call on you to ask Omo-Agege to free the state APC of his stranglehold so it can breathe freely.” But when contacted, Communications and Media Strategist for Omo-Agege Campaign Organisation, Ima Niboro, told our correspondent to reach the politician’s Chief Press Secretary, Sunny Areh. But on contacting Areh, he also declined comment, saying the Chairman of Delta APC, Omeni Sobotie, would be in a better position to discuss the issue. As of the time of filing this story, Sobotie could not be reached as his line was unreachable. However, APC National Publicity Secretary, Morka, described the allegations against Omo-Agege as spurious. “I am sure you that’s not the real Delta APC. Those guys are Cairo Ojougboh-sponsored organisation,” he said.

  Former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has been taken into the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Ortom was invited for questioning by the anti-graft agency for alleged misappropriation of funds, a month after leaving office. Channels Television reports that the ex-Benue governor arrived at the Abuja office of the EFCC on Tuesday morning and was sighted walking into the building of the anti-graft agency. Benue State is said to have a debt profile of N187.7 billion.   More to follow…

  Tuesday 20 June 2023 Omo-Agege recruited Emefiele to scuttle Tinubu’s presidential bid – Delta APC Naira weakens to 770.38/$ at official market FG implements 7.5% VAT on diesel, Nigerians kick Airfares skyrocket as exchange rate hits N702/$ Court restates order stopping NLC, TUC strike Family demands justice for slain Lagos cop, tackles Nigerian Navy Six Companies Get Approval To Import Petroleum Products President Tinubu Dissolves Boards Of Parastatals, Agencies, Institutions President Tinubu Appoints Bala Usman, Hannatu Musawa As Special Advisers NAFDAC Raises Alarm Over ‘Dangerous’ Unapproved Herbal Products Kano Govt To Rebuild Historic Walls With Debris From Demolished Buildings Give Africans Visa On Arrival To Aid Trade, Dangote Urges African Countries Drug War: Over 31,000 Arrested, 5,147 Convicted In 29months – Marwa LP to tribunal: INEC is deliberately frustrating our case, withholding required documents Seven ex-Imo PDP executive committee members ‘join’ APC Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

  Dauda Lawal, governor of Zamfara, says he has been running the affairs of the state on debts since he assumed office. Speaking on Monday during an interview with BBC Hausa, Lawal said the state government has not paid civil servants’ salaries for about four months now. The governor said the state has also not been able to pay security agencies their allowances, adding that senior secondary school students in Zamfara have not written the West African Examination Council ( WAEC) and the National Examination Council (NECO). “I have been running the affairs of the state on debt since I assumed office as governor of Zamfara. I met the treasury account of the state with no money. I only saw a single account with about N3 to N4 million in it,” he said.   “It is about three months now and we are yet to pay the salary of the workers. If you look at all the government agencies, the power supply to the buildings has been disconnected due to the hundreds of millions of debts incurred. “The security agencies, for three months now, the allowance given to them for their daily operations has not been paid. Currently, students of senior secondary schools have not written their WAEC and NECO exams because the government is owing over one billion naira.” ‘PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION LEFT ONLY N3BN’ Reacting to whether N20 billion was left in the treasury by the previous administration, the governor said the claim was false, adding that the past government should publicly present proof showing the amount left in the state account. “When I heard that, I asked that they should come and show me the account, and make it public with evidence of the account where such an amount of money was kept,” he said. “If I have that amount of money the previous administration is claiming they left for the state, I will pay all workers their salaries, and provide adequate funds to the security agencies for the protection of the state. “The issue of water, there has been no water in Gusau for about four months now. I had to borrow to purchase the chemicals for the water.   “I also pleaded with some Indians who gave the state some machines for water supply. If the state is to purchase those machines, it will cost over N200 million. “I can not say that I have permanently solved the problem of water in Zamfara but I will do my best to see that the problem is solved.” The governor said he would ensure that civil servants in the state are paid their salaries before the observation of the Eid-l-Kabir festival. “I want to assure civil servants in Zamfara that we will do our best to ensure all workers’ salaries are paid before Sallah,” he added. “I will do whatever it takes to pay the workers’ salaries. I am making all necessary efforts to find support to pay the owed salaries. “It depends on the amount of loan I am able to secure. If what the state can afford to pay is the salary of one month, I will do my best to pay it as it is our duty to ensure that we are able to carry out our responsibilities of paying the workers what they worked for.”

  An Independent National Electoral Commission personnel, Emmanuel Igwe, has been reportedly shot dead by armed men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, in Ebonyi State. His wife was also abducted by the suspected herders. Her whereabouts were yet to be ascertained till now. They (the suspected herders) also allegedly murdered the father of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth leader in the state. The INEC staff, an Assistant Electoral Officer in the Afikpo North Local Government Area of the state, encountered the attackers while on his way back from Abia State in the Ishiagu area of the Uturu-Okigwe axis, on Sunday night with his wife, when he was shot dead and his wife kidnapped. When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ebonyi State, SP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, who confirmed that the incident occurred on Sunday, said the gunmen shot the victim through his car’s windscreen. “We have begun a manhunt for the assailants. We are hopeful that they will be apprehended. The victim was shot through the windscreen of his car,” he said. Further confirming the incident, the Youth Leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Engr Damian Okoafor, whose father was also killed, on Monday, said the suspected herders invaded the community, on Sunday, and carried out the horrible act. “Suspected herdsmen attacked Ishiagu community again, killed my father, one other person and abducted one,” he said. The PUNCH gathered that in recent times, the route linking the Ivo axis of Ebonyi State through the Okigwe area of Imo has become a den for kidnappers masquerading as Fulani herdsmen. Motorists are usually not seen on that route as they have chosen alternative routes to Imo, Abia and Enugu States.

  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the immediate dissolution of the Governing Boards of all Federal Government Parastatals, Agencies, Institutions, and Government-Owned Companies in the exercise of its Constitutional Powers and in the Public interest. The dissolution does not, however, affect Boards, Commissions and Councils listed in the Third Schedule, Part 1, Section 153 (i) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. In view of this development and until such a time new boards are constituted, the Chief Executive Officers of the Parastatals, Agencies, Institutions, and Government-Owned Companies are directed to refer matters requiring the attention of their Boards to the President, through the Permanent Secretaries of their respective supervisory Ministries and Offices. Permanent Secretaries are directed, also, to route such correspondences to Mr President through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Consequently, all Ministries, Departments and Agencies are to ensure compliance to the provision of this directive which took effect from Friday 16th June, 2023. Permanent Secretaries are particularly directed to inform the Chief Executive Officers of the affected Agencies under the supervision of their respective Ministries/Offices for immediate compliance.

By Ibe Pascal President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the immediate retirement of all Service Chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police, Advisers, Comptroller-General of Customs from Service as well as their replacements with immediate effect. The newly appointed Officers are: S/N NAME APPOINTMENTS 1 Mallam Nuhu Ribadu National Security Adviser 2 Maj. Gen. C.G Musa Chief of Defence Staff 3 Maj. T. A Lagbaja Chief of Army Staff 4 Rear Admirral E. A Ogalla Chief of Naval Staff 5 AVM H.B Abubakar Chief of Air Staff 6 DIG Kayode Egbetokun Acting Inspector-General of Police 7 Maj. Gen. EPA Undiandeye Chief of Defense Intelligence Mr President has also approved the following appointments: S/N NAME APPOINTMENTS 1 Col. Adebisi Onasanya Brigade of Guards Commander 2 Lt. Col. Moshood Abiodun Yusuf 7 Guards Battalion, Asokoro, Abuja 3 Lt. Col. Auwalu Baba Inuwa 177, Guards Battalion, Keffi, Nasarawa State 4 Lt. Col. Mohammed J. Abdulkarim 102 Guards Battalion, Suleja, Niger 5 Lt. Col. Olumide A. Akingbesote 176 Guards Battalion, Gwagwalada, Abuja Similarly, the President has approved the appointments of other Military Officers in the Presidential Villa as follows: S/N NAME APPOINTMENTS 1 Maj. Isa Farouk Audu (N/14695) Commanding Officer State House Artillery 2 Capt. Kazeem Olalekan Sunmonu (N/16183) Second-in-Command, State House Artillery 3 Maj. Kamaru Koyejo Hamzat (N/14656) Commanding Officer, State House Military Intelligence 4 Maj. TS Adeola (N/12860) Commanding Officer, State House Armament 5 Lt. A. Aminu (N/18578) Second-in- Command, State House Armament Mr. President has also approved the appointments of two (2) additional Special Advisers, and two (2) Senior Assistants, namely: S/N NAME APPOINTMENTS 1 Hadiza Bala Usman Special Adviser, Policy Coordination 2 Hannatu Musa Musawa Special Adviser, Culture and Entertainment Economy 3 Sen. Abdullahi Abubakar Gumel Senior Special Assistant , National Assembly Matters (Senate) 4 Hon. (Barr) Olarewaju Kunle Ibrahim Senior Special Assistant, National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives) Finally, the President has approved the appointment of Adeniyi Bashir Adewale as the Ag. Comptroller General of Customs. It is to be noted that the appointed Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police and the Comptroller General of Customs are to act in their positions, pending their confirmation in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.