By Uzor Odigbo
President of Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Tony Iju Nwabunike, has joined thousands of Nigerians to felicitate with Muslims as they celebrate Eid- El -Fitri, which marks the end of the 30 days Ramadan fasting.
“I want to sincerely join you in prayers that may Allah accept your acts of worship and piety,” the ANLCA boss stated, while commending the selflessness and self-denial and commitment the Muslims showed in praying for Nigeria.
He said, “I specially salute your selflessness, self-denial and commitment in praying for our great country at this trying period of economic and security challenges, which I know, together we shall overcome.
“As the second highest revenue earner, Nigeria’s maritime industry is the nation’s economic low hanging fruits capable of cushioning the temporary effect of reduced oil revenue”.
Nwabunike pointed out that this year’s Eid-el-fitri celebration came at a time the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had declared that it would deduct N112 billion from oil and gas proceeds for April to ensure continuous supply of petroleum products to the country and guarantee energy security.
Implications include not having oil revenue for the federal government to share with the states and local governments.
According to him, “This situation is premised on the hike in crude oil prices on the deregulated downstream sector and the need for uninterrupted supply of petroleum products to citizens
Aside the economy, activities in our maritime industry also calls for increased security attention which the federal government (through NIMASA) is rising to the occasion with planned deployment of deep blue assets later this month.
“It is anticipated that this move will go a long way in fighting piracy and other maritime crimes in the Gulf of Guinea and our country’s territorial waters.”
