General
Customs, EFCC to Tackle Corruption, Smuggling

By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have reiterated plans to tackle corruption and the rising tide of smuggling in the country.
The Area Comptroller, NCS, Kwara Command, Mr Kehinde Ilesanmi, said this during a courtesy call on the Ilorin Zonal Commander of the EFCC, Mr Michael Nzekwe, according to a statement issued by Mr Wilson Uwujaren, the EFCC spokesperson.
Mr Ilesanmi highlighted some of the functions of the services to include revenue collection, facilitation of trade and suppression of smuggling.
He said upon resumption, the Kwara border was under lock owing to its porous environment, while the borders at Idiroko, Katsina and Kebbi had been reopened.
The comptroller said that upon resumption of duty, he took up the task of going after perpetrators with a view to bringing them to justice.
He disclosed that over N3.5 billion had been realised as revenue for the government by the command while also making 23 seizures, with the duty value of each seizure worth more than N30 million.
“This visit is basically to strengthen the existing ties between the NCS and EFCC in ensuring that both agencies deliver on its mandate.
“I commend the efforts of the command, especially its bold step in checking the activities of illegal miners in the state as well as combating the rising tide of cybercrime among the youths.”
Responding, Mr Nzekwe appreciated the visit while hoping that stronger inter-agency collaboration and support between the two agencies would be entrenched.
“We are delighted to have a worthy partner like the NCS to cooperate with us in the fight against corruption. Together, we shall make Nigeria better,” he said.
The EFCC boss commended Ilesanmi for the visible improvement in revenue collection by his officers, noting that the cooperation between the two agencies had, in no small measure, helped in checking corruption and smuggling of counterfeit financial instruments.
He said that the illegal mining activities and non-payment of royalties by unlicensed operators, which pervaded the state, had dropped through the intervention of the EFCC.
“The mineral resources in Kwara, if properly harnessed, were enough to turn the state into ‘small London’.
“In synergy, we are sending strong signals to corrupt elements and all economic saboteurs that they now face a more difficult task to evade payment of customs duty or royalties or smuggling of prohibited goods through our borders,” Mr Nzekwe said.
General
Court Rules FCCPC Can Sanction MTN, Airtel, Other Telcos

By Adedapo Adesanya
A Federal High Court in Lagos has ruled that the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has the legal authority to regulate competition and consumer protection in all sectors, including telecommunications.
The ruling of the court on Friday, February 7, 2025, affirmed the agency’s statutory authority to regulate competition and consumer protection across all sectors, including telecommunications despite the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) role in the industry as contained in the FCCP Act of 2018.
The protection body in December threatened to sanction the telcos amid an investigation due to the poor service offerings to customers.
The court dismissed a lawsuit by an MTN shareholder, Mr Emeka Nnubia, who sought to block the FCCPC’s investigation, ruling that the agency acted within its powers in summoning MTN and requesting information, which did not violate data protection laws.
Mr Nnubia argued that the FCCPC’s inquiry could violate data protection laws and that regulatory authority over MTN resided with the NCC rather than the FCCPC.
The ruling clarifies that while the NCC regulates telecom operations, it does not have exclusive authority over competition issues, reinforcing the need for cooperation between regulators while affirming FCCPC’s primary role in competition and consumer protection enforcement.
The ruling also confirms that FCCPC acted within its statutory powers in issuing a summons to MTN Nigeria as part of its ongoing inquiry into potential anti-competitive practices.
On the issue of cost, the court acknowledged that the case raised important questions regarding the evolving landscape of competition and consumer protection law in Nigeria.
While the court recognised that costs ordinarily follow events, it declined to award costs due to the public interest significance of the case.
The court also held that entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with sector regulators is not a condition precedent for FCCPC’s enforcement of its statutory functions. Instead, it is the obligation of sector regulators to engage with organisation to define working arrangements, not the other way round.
The development was welcomed by the FCCPC in a statement on Sunday, noting that it floored MTN at the court.
“The ruling reaffirms that FCCPC’s jurisdiction remains paramount in competition and consumer protection matters, while also recognising the role of the NCC in regulating telecommunications operations,” the statement said.
General
FG Pledges to Revive Atlantic Refinery Project

By Adedapo Adesanya
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Mr Heineken Lokpobiri, has expressed dismay over the abandonment of the Atlantic Refinery project in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, promising to rejuvenate it.
Mr Lokpobiri made this commitment during an inspection visit to Ewa-ama Road, which leads to the Brass Petroleum Products Terminal (BPPT), where he engaged with key community stakeholders.
He assured stakeholders that the federal government would review the project to ensure its eventual completion.
“The federal government remains committed to completing critical infrastructure projects that drive economic growth and improve livelihoods. This project will be thoroughly reviewed to ensure its eventual completion,” he pledged.
The Minister commended the people of Brass for their peaceful disposition despite the challenges posed by the refinery’s abandonment, urging them to sustain the peace.
“Stability is crucial for attracting further investments and development to the region,” he emphasised.
Reaffirming President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to delivering on key development projects, Mr Lokpobiri reiterated that the government remains dedicated to advancing initiatives that will benefit the Niger Delta.
The Minister was accompanied on the visit by Mr Farouk Ahmed, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), as part of efforts to assess and fast-track key projects in the region.
General
Obi Urges Transparency, Accountability as 2025 Budget Swells 9%

By Adedapo Adesanya
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Mr Peter Obi, has called for transparency and accountability as a result of the recent increase in the 2025 budget by 9.1 per cent to N54.2 trillion.
Mr Obi, in a message on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, said while the sources of revenue were detailed, there was no corresponding breakdown of expenditures to justify the budget increase.
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday raised the proposed budget by 9 per cent from N49.7 trillion to N54.2 trillion, citing additional revenues generated by key government agencies such as the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and other government-owned agencies.
Mr Obi, in his message, stressed the need for Nigerians to be informed on how public funds are allocated and spent.
“For transparency and accountability sake, Nigerians need to know how the resources generated from them are being allocated to ensure that they are judiciously spent on the country’s development and the well-being of the people,” Mr Obi said.
He added that budgetary expenditures should be directed toward critical areas of development, including education, healthcare, security, and poverty alleviation, to ensure meaningful impact on citizens’ lives.
“Yesterday, I read about the increase in the Budget of Restoration to ₦54 trillion due to increased revenue.
“While the sources of this revenue were detailed, there is no corresponding breakdown of expenditures to justify the increase. For transparency and accountability sake,” part of the statement read.
He said Nigerians are still waiting for a detailed account of the execution and expenditures of the Renewed Hope budget, which was passed in December 2023, calling on the National Assembly to seize this opportunity to obtain and make public the full details of the 2024 budget of Renewed Hope budget.
He also called on lawmakers and government officials to prioritise openness and accountability to safeguard public trust as preparations begin for the 2025 Budget of Restoration.
“Transparency in this regard is crucial for ensuring accountability, learning from past budgets, and making informed decisions for the nation’s progress.
“As we work towards passing the Budget of Restoration for 2025, let us uphold openness, accountability, and the welfare of the Nigerian people. We owe it to ourselves, our children, and the future of our great nation,” he stated.
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