*Says foreign investors have signalled $30bn investment commitments*Customs hits 2024 revenue target, generates N5.10tn in 11 months
*Okonjo-Iweala: Nigeria must shift gears to achieve 2050 growth targets. *WTO DG calls for predictability of tariffs, better risk management
The National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, yesterday listed gains of the Tinubu government while reflecting on the 18-month old administration, he listed the gains so far, promising to crush the newly emerged terrorist group, Lakurawa, which he said to be operating in North-west’s Kebbi and Sokoto states.
The Islamist insurgent group said to be from Niger and Mali, was said to have killed 15 people last Friday in its most high profile attack to date, increasing its presence in Nigeria after the July 2023 military coup in Niger, which brought a stop to joint military patrols along the countries’ borders.
But addressing the latest security threat frontally, the NSA said just like the government degraded the Boko Haram terrorists, Nigerians should trust President Tinubu to eliminate the Lakurawa criminals.
Ribadu spoke at the opening of the Comptroller General of Customs’ Conference 2024 with the theme, “Nigeria Customs Service: Engaging Traditional and New Partners with Purpose”, in Abuja.
“The terror group Lakurawa made a big mistake emerging,” Ribadu who represented President Tinubu, stated at the event. He added that “they will definitely be crushed and will be kicked out of Nigeria”.
The NSA stressed that anybody that threatens the peace and security of the country will have to face the consequences, insisting that nobody dares the president and gains.
“This is Nigeria of 2024 and this is a Nigeria where the critics will be quiet. And one after the other, things will change. And things are already changing. Many parts are safe, especially in the Nigeria Delta. Nigeria has got to 1.8 million barrels per day of crude oil. This hasn’t been seen in a long time,” Ribadu said.
Still on the gains of the administration, Ribadu stated that the South-east was getting to be at peace, while bandits in the north are being killed and are surrendering everyday.
“Things are really changing,” he pointed out, maintaining that there’s no more special treatment and welfare for the very rich as against the poor in the country.
On the reforms by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the NSA observed that the apex bank is now ‘clean’, disclosing that no one is able to steal a dime ‘unlike up till 2023.’
Ribadu assured that in no time, the Naira will be stabilised, explaining that “it will surely happen”, especially with the current team working together.
With a groundswell of solidarity around the world, Ribadu stated that today, the whole world is looking to work with the country.
He stated that the president just returned from India and their President will be visiting on the 15th of November. Other presidents visiting include the German President. Nigeria has been invited to G20. There are more than 20 requests for presidential visits extended, he revealed.
Speaking further; “The Comptroller General of customs just noted that they have made over N5 trillion in revenue. Let’s wait and see in 2025. President Tinubu will fix this country and Tinubu has always been a success and has never been a failure, Nigeria will be great,” he added .
In mourning former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, he described him as a personal friend, stressing that he was very loyal and dedicated and committed Nigerian, who was honest and served the country very well.
“There are many like him,” Ribadu said, adding that the surprising thing people don’t know is that unlike in the past, all his aides now act as one team and act like one family.
“Boko Haram today is running out. Most of them have moved to Chad. That is why the President of Chad has declared war on them. In spite of the challenges we encountered since we came in 2023, we are still holding our ground.
“Critics will always be there and politics will be played but very soon, they won’t have anything to talk about,” Ribadu stated.
Part of the Tinubu administration’s gains, the NSA disclosed, is that nobody will be brought from outside to take the leadership of any of the government agencies.
He said that it didn’t happen with the appointments into the Department of State Service (DSS), the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Immigration or Customs and it won’t happen anywhere again.
Ribadu also disclosed that his administration had received over $30 billion in commitments from foreign investors in less than two years of his administration.
Ribadu said the president’s achievement further demonstrated that his policies have yielded positive results, making the country increasingly attractive for domestic and international investors.
He stressed that these improvements create new opportunities for Nigerian businesses to participate more actively in global trade.
This came as the Comptroller General of Customs, Mr. Bashir Adeniyi, also announced that the service had realised its N5.07 trillion revenue target for 2024, having collected N5. 10 trillion as of November 12, barely 48 days to the end of the current fiscal year.
Adeniyi further projected this year’s revenue collection to exceed its target by 10 per cent by the end of 2024. He also pointed out that in fulfilling customs’ enforcement mandate under his watch, there had been an unprecedented success in protecting both citizens and economy as reflected in seizures valued at N28.1 billion and counting this year alone.
Also, Addressing the conference virtually, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said to achieve the country’s ambitious growth targets of 2050, “we will have to shift gears and start comparing ourselves with global leaders in facilitating trade and try to match their performance”.
The former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, who commended ongoing trade reform in the customs, however, noted that there’s still “much more room to improve”.
She also disclosed that the WTO members would be reviewing Nigeria’s trade policies this week, adding that the WTO Secretary-General’s report on Nigeria’s Trade Policy Review will provide valuable insights on the country’s trade policy environment and how it could be improved.
However, Tinubu said building on foundational reforms, the government had expanded focus to strengthen the country’s global trade and investment position, stressing that the strategic initiatives have enhanced trade facilitation, and modernised port infrastructure, and streamlining business processes to reduce trade barriers.
He said his administration’s commitment to creating an enabling business environment had resonated with the international investment community adding that confidence in the economy is reflected in the significant surge in foreign direct investments.
Notably, the president said the results of his administration’s initiatives across the NCS’ core mandates had been encouraging, adding that the service had shown remarkable progress in revenue generation, enhancing the government’s capacity to fund critical national development projects.
The president particularly praised customs under Adeniyi for strengthening Nigeria’s position as a trade-friendly nation through strategic reforms, particularly in export promotion and port efficiency, noting that this had contributed significantly to improved global ranking and ease of doing business for the country.
He said the service had demonstrated that effective trade facilitation could coexist with robust regulatory compliance, as evidenced by its enhanced border security and anti-smuggling operations.
Tinubu said: “These achievements affirm our administration’s belief that public institutions can effectively drive transformative change when adequately aligned with national objectives. While these results are encouraging, they represent only the beginning of what we can achieve through focused institutional reforms and alignment with national objectives.
“It is, therefore, fitting that this conference centres on the theme “NCS Engaging Traditional and New Partners with Purpose.” This theme reflects our administration’s broader vision of fostering strategic partnerships and collaborative approaches to governance and economic management.
“It acknowledges that sustainable progress in today’s interconnected global economy requires us to strengthen existing alliances while building new ones, always guided by clear purpose and shared objectives.”
He said that removing fuel subsidies and unifying the exchange rate system were crucial steps toward building a more transparent and sustainable economic framework.
In his remarks, Adeniyi, attributed the historic revenue outcome to the strategic engagements and collaborative approaches he introduced at the inception of office which had yielded remarkable results across customs’ core statutory responsibilities.
He said the result “validates our partnership-driven approach to revenue collection and trade facilitation” adding that the “achievement is not merely about numbers; it demonstrates how enhanced stakeholder collaboration, improved processes, and modernised systems can deliver tangible results for our nation’s economy”.
The CGC said the service had expanded its frontiers of engagement both within and beyond the country’s borders, adding that “This past year has seen us not only consolidating existing partnerships but also forging new alliances crucial to our mission.”
He added: “We have deliberately repositioned the Nigeria Customs Service brand, emphasising our commitment to trade facilitation and demonstrating a more nuanced application of our authority in executing our statutory responsibilities.”.
Adeniyi said the seizures spanned critical areas of national concern from wildlife items and arms and ammunition to narcotics and pharmaceutical products.
“An important moment in our enforcement strategy was the declaration of a state of emergency at our major ports, which led to the interception of 48 containers of illicit pharmaceutical items and narcotics, significantly disrupting the flow of potentially harmful products.
“Through strategic operations, we continue to intercept and seize prohibited items that pose direct threats to public health and safety. Our enforcement activities have been particularly impactful in addressing items that could worsen our current economic challenges,” he added.
Also speaking, Okonjo-Iweala, specifically congratulated the NCS, saying: “We know why efficient and streamlined customs processes matter. It’s about facilitating trade, improving compliance, and making it easier for Nigerian businesses to trade and integrate into global value chains.
“The ultimate objective is accelerated economic growth, job creation, and prosperity in Nigeria. It is no surprise that the conference is addressing these issues.”
The WTO DG further acknowledged that customs is also piloting the new Authorized Economic Operator scheme that promises to speed up trade for authorised companies if implemented well, noting that border agencies are working together to try and implement joint inspections.
She said customs reforms complement the government’s move to normalise the foreign exchange regime and remove restrictions on the use of foreign exchange for some imports, both of which will help to boost trade adding that much needed to be done in this regard.
Okonjo-Iweala further called for better coordination and delegation at the nation’s borders, stressing that compared to other economies, Nigeria has an unusually large number of government agencies present at borders.
She said efforts to foster coordination and ensure joint inspections seem to have only been partially successful though “there’s been an effort to track.”
The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, said customs remained a vital institution for securing the borders as well as generating revenue for the country.
He, therefore, reaffirmed the commitment of the armed forces to working closely with the service to secure Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
THISDAY
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