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By Adedapo Adesanya
The Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) has threatened to down tools nationwide to protest the incessant arrest and detention of its members by officials of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
In a letter to the Comptroller General of Customs, Mr Hameed Ali, the President of AMATO, Mr Remi Ogungbemi, warned that if all detained trucks are not released immediately, the group will have no other choice than withdraw its services nationwide.
Mr Ogungbemi also said that the seizure and possible auction of their trucks is causing untold hardship on truck owners, adding that for a long time, truckers have been passing through this injustice in the hands of the Customs.
“We have been passing through this injustice in the hands of Nigeria Customs Service as a result of the dishonest declaration of actual goods that importers and their collaborating agents are having in their containers.
“Truckers are just commercial transporters of goods. We are only invited by the agents to come and carry goods to and from the ports after Customs must have examined and approved the release of goods in containers to importers and agents.
“But unfortunately, after loading, the containers are duly examined and released by Customs on our trucks, they will waylay the trucks on the road, seize and detain our trucks in their yard together with containers with question marks.
“Does Customs arrest ships that do bring illicit goods to Nigeria for complicity? Does Customs seal the terminal that receives contraband and dangerous consignments in their yards for complicity in storing illicit consignments?
“Are commercial trucks involved in the physical examination of goods in the ports together with Customs, police, DSS, NDLEA, and others to see what the containers are carrying?
“Does it sound just for Customs officers and other government agencies that jointly examined and approved the exit of contraband and other dangerous goods in the ports to be holding truckers responsible for their fault and negligence?
“Is it the truckers that are short paying the government import duty on goods or the importers and their agents?
“If the answer is no, we are calling on the Nigeria Customs Service to release all our trucks detained in their yard or withdraw our service nationwide in protest against the unjust seizure of our trucks.
“Our members are facing agonizing economic hardships. Their source of livelihood is being seized by the Nigeria Customs for the offence committed by importers and their dubious collaborating agents,” the letter read.
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Adedapo Adesanya is a journalist, polymath, and connoisseur of everything art. When he is not writing, he has his nose buried in one of the many books or articles he has bookmarked or simply listening to good music with a bottle of beer or wine. He supports the greatest club in the world, Manchester United F.C.
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Jiji Cars (formerly Cars45), one of the most popular car marketplaces in Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria for buying and selling verified cars, has scooped the Motor Vehicle Dealer of the Year, 2022, just a year and a half, after its acquisition by Jiji, the largest online marketplace in Africa.
The award was presented to Jiji Cars during the Global Top Digitally Fit Awards, which was held at the Movenpick Hotel and Residences, Nairobi. The Global Top Digitally Fit Awards recognizes and rewards companies creating an online impact.
Since its acquisition by Jiji, Jiji Cars (formerly Cars45) has created a new advanced experience for its users. They have continuously offered a new car buying and selling experience, where they can inspect cars on behalf of buyers, making them the safest marketplace to buy cars in Africa. This unparalleled experience has helped their market reach exponentially grow since car sellers and buyers benefit from them by selling and buying their cars faster now than ever before.
They beat all other motor vehicle dealers in Kenya, such as BMW Kenya, Hyundai, Simba Colt Motors, Subaru (K) Ltd, Toyota Kenya, CMC Motors, Nissan Kenya, Jaguar Kenya, Mahindra, Car Soko, DT Dobie, Mobius Motors, Yamaha Motors, Foton East Africa, Tata Africa Holdings, etc., to take home the award for the Best Motor Vehicle Dealers in Kenya.
Kenya Auto Bazaar Association (KABA) reported an increase in the demand for third-generation cars (second-hand cars that have been used locally) amid reduced global production of units and soaring prices. However, buyers are also very concerned about the longevity of vehicles once bought. This is why Jiji Cars offers users detailed inspection reports by 200+ parameters, documentation checks, inspections, and concierge service. They also assist buyers with getting car loans, amongst other benefits.
After receiving the award, Ann Bindi, Head of Operations at Jiji Cars, said, “We are thrilled to receive this award. This shows how we have consistently built a trusted buying and selling experience in autos. We want to thank all our clients who have placed their trust in our marketplace and recognized our efforts to ensure they can safely buy and sell their cars through us.”
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By Adedapo Adesanya
Almost a month after the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) announced the proposed resumption of the Abuja-Kaduna passenger train service, the facility will start running on Monday, December 5, 2022, with only two return services.
The announcement by the Managing Director of the NRC, Mr Fidet Okhiria, said the first train would depart Rigasa train station in Kaduna State to Abuja by 8:00 in the morning while from Abuja, the first train will depart Idu train station to Kaduna State by 9:45 in the morning.
The NRC management also revealed that as part of the new security measures, it is now mandatory for passengers to present their National Identity Number (NIN) and valid boarding ticket before they will be allowed to board.
It also says the purchase of tickets by proxy is only limited to minors and a specified number of adult passengers.
It explained that online and mobile app ticketing would be available from 8:00 in the morning on Sunday, December 4, 2022, while the ticket offices at the train stations will open from 6:30 in the morning on Monday, December 5.
Recall that the NRC suspended the Abuja-Kaduna train service along the route after Boko Haram terrorists attacked a moving passenger train in Kaduna on March 28, 2022.
The insurgents had blown up the rail track and bombed the moving train, killing some and abducting more than 60 passengers. The unprecedented attack attracted international and national outrage.
The terrorists who attacked the Kaduna-bound train released hostages in tranches, with the last release coming on October 5, 2022.
Before the hostages were completely released, distraught family members had protested several times to demand the release of their loved ones.
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By Adedapo Adesanya
Ugandan bike-hailing startup, SafeBoda, has announced that it is exiting Nigeria.
After the Lagos State government banned ride-hailing services from the metropolis, the company forayed into Ibadan in December 2019 but began only operations in March 2020.
This March, the company announced that it had completed over 3 million rides, and 50,000 deliveries with over 10,000 riders and 100,000 passengers.
In just a little over one year since launch, the startup crossed the one million rides milestone, growing at an impressive 150 per cent month-on-month. In another 11 months, it tripled its traction to three million completed rides, cementing its dominant position in the region.
However, due to the reality facing the business now, the organisation wants to leave Africa’s largest economy to focus on bringing the company to profitability by deepening its core transportation offering in Uganda, its largest market.
In a statement, it said Nigeria “in its current state is not economically viable and unfortunately requires significant investment at this challenging time in the global economic landscape.”
This will make Nigeria the second market, but first in West Africa, it is exiting after it left Kenya in November 2020, less than two years after expanding its services to the east African country.
The firm said this was due to the negative effects of COVID-19 on its operations.
It is not clear the next step for its other businesses but in August 2022, SafeBoda announced a car-hailing service, SafeCar, in Kampala and one month after, it also launched in Ibadan, Nigeria.
It was reported that SafeBoda claims its car-hailing business has grown 40 per cent weekly since its launch in early September.
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