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Imported vehicle duty tariff cut very soon – Customs

February 2, 20210

The arranged reduction on duty tariffs on finished vehicles and tractors from 35%-10% will be active very soon, the Nigerian Customs Service highlighted last week.

Mr Hameed Ali, Comptroller General of Customs, informed journalists in Abuja, stating that the management of the service was awaiting a response on the matter from the Finance Ministry any day now.

Highlighted in the 2020 Finance Act, the vehicle tariff reduction was initiated by the Nigerian Customs Service to relieve the cost of transportation in Nigeria.

“Now, it has become a law. We are now waiting for the finance minister to give us a formal conveyance of that Act. Once we receive it, we commence implementation immediately and inform our commands.” stated Ali.

Regarding the new African Continental Free Trade Agreement, Ali highlighted that all aspects of the agreement which involves the Nigerian Customs Service are being held.

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Source: This Day, January 2021

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Fire Destroys Motorcycle Factory in Nnewi

January 19, 20210

A fire started on the 9th January gutted Louis Carter Industries Nigeria Limited, a multi million Naira motorcycle spare parts and allied products manufacturing company based in Nnewi, Anambra State. 

The company manufactures the Louis Carter brand motorcycle, which is widely used throughout the South and South Eastern parts of Nigeria. The motorcycle manufacturing company is named after founder and industrialist, Chief Louis Onwugbenu and has been operating for a number of decades.

The fire begun around 10:00pm on Saturday evening and raged throughout the night for around 6 hours despite the attempts to distinguish the blaze by the Anambra State fire service department.

Unfortunately the companies fire defied all the extinguishing machines located onsite and continued to blaze even after the arrival of the fire department.

General Manager of the company Mr Ndubisi Okoli, indicated that “The security men said the magnitude of the fire could not be put out with the extinguishes located onsite which consequently resulted in the team contacting the fire department”. Mr Okoli continued “The source of the fire was caused by Enugu Electricity Distribution Company’s (EEDC) high tension cable which exploded and ignited the fire into the section of the fire which stores the raw materials”.

Also reacting, the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer of Louis Carter Group of Companies, Chief Onwugbenu, said the fire incident had caused a huge loss to the company that had hundreds of workers in its employ.

Staff members indicated that raw materials and machinery worth over N500 Million was completely destroyed, along with the building, however thankfully there was no loss of life.

Chief Onwugbenu said that is would cause a substantial amount of money to rebuild the manufacturing factory, and added he was greatly uncomfortable about the number of staff members which have lost their roles due to the fire.

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Source: This Day, January 2021

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Nigeria to prepare for the delivery of the Pfizer vaccine says WHO

January 6, 20210

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced yesterday that the Pfizer vaccine has been approved for immunising the Nigerian population. 

During the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 press briefing in Abuja highlighted that the Pfizer vaccine, which needs to be stored at -70 degrees, is the first to be approved for Nigeria by the independent world health organisation and will be available for emergency purposes.

The first delivery batch of the Pfizer vaccine will be delivered by the end of January and will be sufficient enough to inoculate 20% of the Nigerian population (approx 42 million vaccines). Dr Faisal Shuaib, Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) was quoted saying that the batch would come as part of Nigeria’s plan to vaccinate 40% of the population by the end of 2021, and an additional 30% in 2022.

In addition to the Pfizer vaccine, the Nigerian Federal Government have also been in talks with China to communicate their interest in gaining access to their Covid-19 vaccine. This will give the nation a number of possibilities to vaccinate the population in a shorter time frame.

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Source: This Day, January 2021

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History made with the launch of the ACFTA

January 5, 20210

After months of delay due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the African Continental Free Trade Area was officially launched on the 1st January 2021. 

African countries have officially begun trading under the new continental free trade agreement.

The AFCFTA primary aims to being together over 1.3billion people in a $3.4 trillion economic bloc, which will be the largest free trade area since the World Trade Organisation was established. Predicted estimates forecast the free trade agreement could lift tens of millions of people out of poverty by the year 2035. The trade agreement is primary in place to boost trade among fellow African nations, as the continent has previously received low internal trade.

Backers claim that trade among fellow African nations will increase substantially and thus allowing the continent to establish its own value chains of distribution. Every African country is participating in the agreement, except from Eritrea, with a total of 54 nations involved.

Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo indicated “There is a new Africa emerging with a sense of urgency and purpose and an aspiration to become self-reliant. COVID-19 has demonstrated that Africa is overly reliant on the export of primary commodities, overly reliant on global supply chains, when the global supply chains are disrupted, we know that Africa suffers.”

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Source: Aljazeera, January 2021

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Nigerian Land Boarders to Reopen Soon Says President

December 10, 20200

After much debate, President Muhammadu Buhari has announced that the Nigerian Government are considering re-opening the land boarders ‘as soon as possible’.

The land boarders have been closed since August 2019 to decrease the level of illegal food and agricultural products being smuggled into Nigeria from neighbouring countries.

President Muhammadu Buhari announced the intention via social media on Tuesday, tweeting ‘In my meeting with State Governors today I explained that the closure of Nigeria’s land borders was partly an attempt to control the smuggling in of weapons & drugs. Now that the message has sunk in with our neighbours, we’re looking into reopening the borders as soon as possible.”

Zainab Ahmed, The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, revealed last month that issue had been indicated and will be brought before the President to make a final decision.

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Source: Nairametrics, December 2020

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Nigeria’s land borders to be reopened soon, minister announces

November 26, 20200

Nigeria’s land borders may be reopened soon after been closed since August 2019.

Zainab Ahmed, The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, gave a announcement yesterday during a interview with the State House correspondence. Ahmed stated that the presidential committee which implemented the restrictions were pleased with the outcome and recommended the reopening of the borders.

Nigeria closed its land borders in August 2019 to halt the illegal importation of automotive products and parts into the country from neighbouring West African countries.

She indicated the committee will shortly submit a report to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, and a formal announcement on the matter will be made on the matter following from his decision.

Although Ahmed stated that the committee were pleased with the regulations, she did not indicate when the report will be submitted to the president or when the land borders will be officially open.

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Source: The Punch, November 2020

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Car import levy slashed from 35% to 5%

November 24, 20205

The federal government is implementing plans to decrease the levy paid on imported cars from 35 percent to just five percent.

This is contained in the draft of the 2020 finance bill to be presented to the national assembly.

The implemented bill becomes in place once it is passed by the legislature and acknowledged by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Information of the bill shared by the president also highlights that the import duty of Tractors and motor vehicles for the transportation of goods has also been dramatically decreased from 35 percent to 10 percent.

To improve ease of doing business, the bill also proposes that software acquisition now qualifies as capital expenditure.

Zainab Ahmed, the minister of finance, budget, and national planning, had previously explained that the reduction in import duties and levies is targeted at reducing the cost of transportation.

“The reason for us is to reduce the cost of transportation which is a major driver of inflation especially food production,” she told state house correspondents on Wednesday 18th November at the federal executive council.

Last year, Hameed Ali, the comptroller-general of the Nigeria Customs Service have purposely encouraged the federal government to reduce the levy on imported cars to 10%. A tactic to decrease the importation of smuggling or importing from neighbouring countries.

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Source: The Cable, November 2020

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BtoB Events announces WAAS, BWA and FABWA will return in 2021

November 16, 20200

Three of Nigeria’s most popular trade and retailer exhibitions are set to return in 2021, BtoB Events, the country’s leading exhibition organiser, has announced.

Food and Beverage West Africa will run from June 16th-18th, the West Africa Automotive Show is scheduled for July 13th–15th and Beauty West Africa will take place from November 17th-19th 2021, all to be held at the Landmark Centre, Lagos.

BtoB Events was forced to rescheduled its entire 2020 calendar to 2021 due to the continued disruption that the COVID-19 pandemic is having on global travel and commerce.

The 2021 exhibitions will be opened in accordance with the All Secure Standard for the global reopening of exhibitions post COVID. Attendees and exhibitors can be reassured that they will be safe and feel relaxed in the business-friendly environment onsite.

Jamie Hill, BtoB Event’s Managing Director, told journalists, “We’ll be creating new features across our portfolio whilst also exploring new ideas and opportunities brought about digitally during the pandemic. We’re all really excited about re-energising our exhibition portfolio across Nigeria in 2021 as there is a huge amount of pent-up demand for international exhibitions.”

“We are excited by the interest we have had expressed to us already and are looking forward to welcoming new exhibitors, country pavilions and attendees to our leading trade fairs covering the Food, Automotive and Beauty Industries.”

Retailers and distributors in Nigeria will be familiar with the exhibitions with thousands having visited the events which promote local enterprises and SMEs alongside major regional and international companies.

WAAS is the definitive one stop show for the automotive sector, from spare parts and lubricants through to vehicle enhancement. Next year’s show will build on the success of 2019 when more than 3,000 people visited the 70 stands displaying thousands of car part and accessories products.

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Source: The Guardian, November 2020

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Lago’s Markets Receives Approval to Re-Open

October 27, 20200

The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has approved the reopening of Markets within the Lagos state.

The announcement was made by the Lagos Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Dr Wale Ahmed, this morning. The statement highlighted that both food and non food markets can be reopened and operate every day of the week (Monday-Sunday).

The news has been met with great enthusiasm and energy from traders and distributors, as currently the markets were limited to opening on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

The statement from Dr Wale Ahmed read in part, “Mr Governor took the decision to further enhance trade and commerce and mitigate the hardship of recent times and ensure that Lagosians can recover fast.

“Mr Governor also advised the continued observance of all safety protocols.

“Traders and their customers must adhere strictly to the COVID-19 protocols for their safety and the citizenry at large.”

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Source: The Punch, October 2020

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NIGERIA TO REOPEN FOR INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS

August 18, 20200

Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika says four flights will begin landing daily in Lagos and four in Abuja.

Nigeria’s aviation minister has said the country will reopen its airports for international flights from August 29, introducing protocols to minimise the risk of COVID-19 infection.

Home to some 200 million people, Africa’s most populous country has registered 49,068 confirmed Coronavirus cases and 975 related deaths. Some 36,500 people have recovered so far.

Mr Hadid Sirika was quoted saying “(I am) Glad to announce the resumption of international flights from the 29th of August, 2020. Beginning with Lagos and Abuja as we did with the domestic flight resumption. Protocols and procedures will be announced in due course. We thank you for your patience.”

Nigeria resumed domestic flights on July 8, and Sirika said there had been no confirmed coronavirus transmissions on flights.

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Source: Aljazeera, August 2020

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