Senators Should Allow Ali To Concentrate On His Duty -Energy Expert

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

Prince Okedele

A foremost renewable energy promoter, Prince Timothy Okedele has advised the Senators at the National Assembly to allow the Nigeria Customs Service Comptroller General, Hameed Ali to concentrate in his critical roles in the revamping of the country’s economy.

Okedele, who is the MD/CEO of Prince Ades Oke Int’l Ventures, stated this in Lagos on the heels of the recent face-off between the Senators and Ali over Customs CG uniform.

The Energy expert said from the performance of Ali, it showed he is blocking the revenue leakages, recovering revenue lost through inappropriate clearing and smuggling of vehicles and goods, and as well providing protection for local manufacturing companies and products made in Nigeria to grow thereby strengthen the economy.

Okedele, who is also the propagator of South-Korea and Vietnam governments-sponsored Environment & Energy Technology ENTECH 2017 Trade in Nigeria, said Customs play a critical roles in economy and need strong leadership which he said Ali is providing.

He also said since Ali has tried to block revenue leakages, he has played into the hands of smugglers who are doing everything possible to remove him and it appeared the Senators are willing tools to do so against the national  interest.

He opined that while Nigerians appreciate the National Assembly for exercising their statutory constitutional right on check and balances to checkmate possible excesses of key government operators by inviting them to give account of their stewardship, their function should not be reduced to mere uniform to performance.

On the Customs impounding smuggled vehicles on the Nigeria roads. Okedele said that has never been a newly system just created by Ali.

He said it has been in existence for more than three decade but its only becoming an issue only when Senators seem to have fallen victims just like many other innocent end users.

“Many end-users purchase smuggled vehicles out of their ignorance to identify genuine custom papers or over trust. Some are collaborators in the deal and occasionally when some importers are doing the clearing for high profile Nigerians, they always use the name of the influential person to fast track their illegal dealing,” he said.

Okedele advised the CG to issue standing order to all Customs formation that any officer found signatory or involved in clearing or release any vehicle with under payment of duty will be issued Debit Note to pay the difference through their gratuity.

This is to recover the lost revenue to the government coffers, boost Customs revenue generation as well as to eradicate the issue of Customs duty underpayment on vehicles imported into this country.

On the state of the economy, Okedele said the economy cannot grow without science and innovative technology development especially by our youths.

He said there has been opportunity for our youths to be trained on renewable, environment and energy, water treatment, Hydrogen-energy, Alcohol fuel processing, electricity saving in Korea and Vietnam through Korea and Vietnam government sponsored (Environment and Energy Technology) ENTECH Busan and Hanoi trade event but said the government did not pay attention to it thus Nigeria will remain technology backwards.

Okedele said ENTECH 2017 provides opportunity for Nigeria government to exhibit, expose and promote Nigeria economic potentials such as solid minerals, agriculture, rich cultural heritage and other resources that were hitherto not known to the Asian and the global community.

“This global publicity will positively impact Nigeria as it would create international trade relations, secure the needed technology, technologists, and scientists, attract investors and pull tourists to our great country for general economic and industrial boost through technology/ knowledge transfer,” he said.

He urged the government to embrace the programme as it will enhance economic growth and training of unemployed youths to be productive.