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FG- Imo: :Regulatory Oversight of The State Electricity Market Is Now Underr ISERC

By Favour Ifeoluwa & Akinola Ajibade  The Federal Government yesterday( Monday) announced the transfer of Regulatory Oversight of the Electricity Market in Imo State to the state electricity regulatory commission, otherwise known as (ISERC). In a statement issued by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Common( NERC), the development is in compliance with the amended Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN) and the Electricity Act 2023 (Amended), reiterating that all transfers envisaged by this order shall be completed by 31 December 2024. According to the Commission,the transfer Order’s provisions include: “Direct Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) to incorporate a subsidiary (EEDC SubCo) to assume responsibilities for intrastate supply and distribution of electricity in Imo State from EEDC, and that EEDC shall complete the incorporation of EEDC SubCo within 60 days from 27th June 2024. The subcompany shall apply for and obtain licence for the in
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Apapa Command will deal with smugglers, posts N212.592 bn, says Mohammed

By Akinola Ajibade



The Comptroller, Apapa Customs Command, AB AB Mohammed, says that the unit posted two hundred and twelve billion, five hundred and nighty two million, six hundred and eighty thousand, seven hundred naira, ninety-two kobo(212,592,680,700.99) in the first quarter of 2023.

While speaking during a media parley in Lagos yesterday ( Tuesday),  Mohammed said that the revenue generated in the last three months was  impressive, adding that the Command would try and improve on it subsequently.

He noted that the Command is focused on activities such as generation/ collection of revenue, suppression of smuggling and facilitating legitimate trade in the first three months of 2023.


According to him, he has been meeting  stakeholders and partnered  government agencies on how to sustain tempo of compliance in the ports since he took over the office as Comptroller Apapa Customs months ago. 

On export trade, Mohammed said,”The command processed agricultural goods such as sesame seeds, ginger, hibiscus, mineral resources, steel ingot and others with a total tonnage of 110,448 metric tonnes in the first quarter of 2023. Statistics from the export report shows that the exported goods are worth seventy billion, two hundred million, eight hundred and twenty-nine thousand, three hundred and fifty-eight naira, sixty-seven kobo (N70,200,829,358.67) which is equivalent to Free on Board (FOB) value of $159,845,232.84″

On anti -smuggling, Mohammed noted that the command was committed to enforcing government fiscal policies and extant laws to ensure that all import and export consignments transiting through Apapa Port are duly examined.

This, Mohammed, said happens, following  effective collaboration and timely sharing of credible intelligence with sister government agencies in the port. 

His words,”Within the period under review, the command made seizures of fourteen (14) containers comprising of prohibited items such as vegetable oil, footwears, used clothing, unprocessed wood, and tramadol tablets with a Duty Paid Value of twenty-two billion, ninety-nine million, six hundred and eighteen thousand, one hundred and eleven naira (N22,099,618,111.00).

“Members of the press, it is pertinent to mention that on Friday, 31 March 2023, we uncovered a large quantity of 225mg of tramadol tablets concealed in 2x40ft container numbers TRHU 4758549 and TRHU 6936803 where one hundred and forty-three million, eight hundred thousand (143,800,000) tablets of Tramadol 225mg were discovered in 720 cartons weighing 10.3 tonnes (10,386kg) that originated from India. This single seizure is valued at twenty-one billion, six hundred million naira (N21,600,000,000.00).

” We are on the look-out for those behind such unlawful importation for arrest and very soon we will track them down to face the full wrath of the law. As a service, we owe Nigerians the duty to prevent this kind of importation from entering the market to safeguard the health of the citizenry.

“Let me use this opportunity to warn perpetrators of smuggling, duty evasion and other forms of criminality frowned upon by the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) and other extant laws, that Apapa Command will only facilitate legitimate trade”.

He noted that since he assumed duty at the command ,he has been meeting with various stakeholders,including
importers, exporters, licensed agents, freight forwarders, and others.
” I am happy to note that these meetings are yielding good results and will be sustained in days ahead” he said.
Compt.Mohammed assured compliant traders of seamless trade facilitation.But affirmed that those others who are not compliant should not expect to enjoy any form of trade facilitation as the command is vigilant and alert to frustrate their efforts we


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