Business
Vehicle Importation Down by 45% Over Forex Crisis – CGC
The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, has revealed that vehicle importation in Nigeria decreased by 45% in the first quarter of 2024 due to foreign exchange challenges. In an interview with Arise Television, Adeniyi highlighted the critical impact of volatile exchange rates on businesses, particularly car dealers.
“It affected car dealers. We had as much as a 45% decrease in the volume of cars that were brought into Nigeria in that period. And they were not the kind of cars that fetched optimum revenue for the customs. Not only cars, but even regular imports were also affected because people could no longer import raw materials as they wanted and the volatility did not allow them to plan for tomorrow,” said Adeniyi.
Despite the downturn, Adeniyi expressed optimism that the situation was improving in the second quarter of the year. He noted, “But we see some relative degree of stability in the second quarter because there are lots of discussions going on. Some at the level of the National Assembly, most of them spearheaded by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, bring on the stakeholders that are involved together, to ensure that we achieve stability.”
Private Jet Owners’ Verification Exercise
Adeniyi also provided an update on the ongoing verification exercise for private jet owners. He mentioned that many private jet owners had begun leaving Nigeria since the verification announcement, indicating they did not want to participate in the process. “Very few of them have shown up for verification and we gathered from intelligence that a good number of them have been leaving Nigeria since the announcement was given because they would not want to be verified,” he stated.
The CGC clarified that private jets used in Nigeria must pay customs duty according to international aviation law, except for those here on a temporary basis. The verification exercise aims to ensure compliance with this requirement, as data from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) showed that many private jets operating in the country had not paid customs duty.
“When the exercise started sometime in 2019, the service realised N2bn. We discovered that there were more private jets that were operating in Nigeria but had not been brought under the ambit of the law. So, the data that we got from the NCAA showed that only very few of them paid customs duty to operate in Nigeria,” Adeniyi explained.
Addressing Smuggling Incentives
Adeniyi identified the significant price difference in fuel between Nigeria and its neighboring countries as a major incentive for fuel smuggling. “In Benin Republic, a litre of fuel is between N1,500 and N1,600. In Cameroon, it is high as N2,000 per litre. So, when we have this kind of thing around our neighbors and we are still doing a litre between N710 and N720, there is already an incentive because the price difference is very wide,” he said.
To combat smuggling, the NCS is collaborating with relevant agencies to monitor the trucking of products from their depots in real-time.
Improving Welfare for Customs Officials
The CGC emphasized efforts to enhance the welfare of customs officials, including better remuneration, improved working conditions, and timely payment of allowances. He also announced a new policy for timely promotions, stating, “We had an understanding that every year, on January 1, we are releasing the promotion of officers who are deserving. We have done it in January 2024 and we are hoping that by January 2025, the next batch of officers would benefit and they would be paid salaries commensurate with their new rank.”
Business
Logan Paul Faces Scrutiny Over Cryptocurrency Promotions and Investments
Logan Paul, a prominent social media influencer with over 23 million YouTube subscribers, is under fire for his involvement in cryptocurrency projects. Accusations have surfaced that Paul may have profited by allegedly misleading fans into investments that caused token prices to spike.
Paul’s influence in the crypto space has been growing over the past three years, as his videos increasingly reference blockchain technologies and investment opportunities. However, some critics argue his endorsements lack transparency, fueling speculation that he may have sold tokens at inflated prices after his promotions.
Adding to his challenges, Paul is embroiled in a multi-million-dollar lawsuit over CryptoZoo, a failed crypto project he backed. The venture was marketed as a play-to-earn game, but investors claim they lost significant sums when the project collapsed.
Paul has denied any wrongdoing in connection to both CryptoZoo and his other cryptocurrency activities. Despite the controversy, he remains a major figure in the influencer world, leveraging his platform to shape conversations and trends across various industries.
Business
Walmart Raises Full-Year Outlook as Holiday Shopping Boosts Sales
Walmart has once again raised its annual sales forecast, citing stronger-than-expected consumer spending on non-grocery items, increased home delivery orders, and early holiday shopping. The retail giant now anticipates net sales growth between 4.8% and 5.1% for the fiscal year, up from its previous projection of 3.75% to 4.75%.
The updated outlook was announced alongside third-quarter earnings that surpassed Wall Street expectations. Chief Financial Officer John David Rainey noted that general merchandise sales increased year-over-year for the second consecutive quarter, reversing a decline that spanned 11 quarters. However, he highlighted that customers remain price-sensitive, waiting for deals, particularly as food prices remain elevated.
“We’re expecting this holiday period to be very consistent with that,” Rainey said, emphasizing shoppers’ focus on price and value.
Walmart’s strong performance propelled its shares up by about 3% in early trading, reaching a 52-week high and setting a new all-time intraday record since the company began trading on the New York Stock Exchange in 1972.
For the quarter ending October 31, Walmart reported a sharp increase in net income, rising to $4.58 billion, or 57 cents per share, compared with $453 million, or 6 cents per share, a year earlier. Revenue climbed to $164.05 billion, up from $160.80 billion in the same period last year.
Comparable sales, a key industry metric, grew 5.3% for Walmart U.S. and 7% at Sam’s Club (excluding fuel). Walmart also reported higher customer engagement, with U.S. transactions rising 3.1% and average ticket size increasing 2.1% year-over-year.
Business
Spirit Airlines Files for Bankruptcy Amid Financial Struggles
US budget airline Spirit Airlines has filed for bankruptcy protection, citing prolonged financial losses and failed merger attempts. The Florida-based carrier announced on Monday that it has secured an agreement to restructure its debt and raise funds during a Chapter 11 bankruptcy process, expected to conclude by early 2025.
Spirit assured customers that its operations will continue as normal throughout the process, with no impact on passenger travel, employee wages, or payments to aircraft leasing firms.
This marks the first bankruptcy filing by a US airline in over a decade, with the last major case being American Airlines’ 2011 filing to address labor costs and high fuel prices. Spirit, however, has faced unique challenges, including intensified competition in the budget travel sector and engine-related mechanical issues that have grounded aircraft and increased operating expenses.
The airline has not posted a full-year profit since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and reported losses of approximately $360 million (£285 million) in the first half of 2024, despite strong demand for budget travel.
As part of its restructuring, Spirit will be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange in the near future, and its stock shares will be canceled without value.
The airline remains optimistic that the Chapter 11 process will help it emerge more financially stable, ensuring continued service to its customers and support for its employees.
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