The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Designer makes case for prompt tax payment

    Designer makes case for prompt tax payment

    Celebrity fashion designer (Seyi Vodi), has advocated prompt payment of taxes to fast-track actualisation of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and accelerate infrastructural development in Federal Capital Territory.

    Vodi spoke during a visit to the Corporate Headquarters of Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS), where he filed his Annual Tax Return.

    He urged business owners in FCT and Nigeria to perform their duties by paying their taxes to facilitate development of the territory and nation.

    Vodi said tax payment is a key driver of development, noting increased compliance will boost capacity of government to meet citizens needs.

    “It is noble to pay your taxes because government uses the funds for infrastructural development and provision of public services to the people.

    “I urge my fellow business owners, especially tailors, to discharge this civic duty for progress of FCT and Nigeria.

    “I laud FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, for the progress. I have been a resident for the last 25 years. I know what FCT used to be and what it is today’’.

    “The infrastructural development under the present FCT Minister is unprecedented, particularly in road construction and security. The projects are visible; only the blind would fail to see how the capital city has been transformed,” he stated.

    Read Also: Our strategies for Tinubu’s victory in 2027, by Yilwatda

    In his remarks, the Acting Executive Chairman of the FCT-IRS, Mr Michael Ango, hailed the fashion designer for taking the bold step of voluntarily visiting the Service to file his Annual Tax Return without coercion.

    Ango described Vodi’s action as worthy of emulation by other business owners and high-net-worth individuals in the FCT, noting that he is the first High Net-Worth Individual to file his Annual Tax Return for the year.

    He appealed to the celebrity to extend the campaign for voluntary tax compliance among his peers, encouraging them to come forward and fulfil their civic responsibility for the progress of the territory.

    “The Minister has transformed Abuja into a world-class capital city, and citizens must support this progress by living up to their responsibilities so the FCT Administration will have adequate resources to do more,” he said.

    Ango also pledged that the Service would present Vodi with a letter of commendation in recognition of his compliance as the first High Net-Worth Individual to file his Annual Tax Return this year.

  • Akiolu: tax reforms will boost economy

    Akiolu: tax reforms will boost economy

    Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, has lauded President Bola Tinubu for the tax reforms introduced by his administration, describing them as capable of improving the economy.

    The monarch also admonished Nigerians to cherish their cultural heritage and values, which promote truthfulness, faithfulness and selflessness, noting these virtues are essential to fostering a morally sound society in which citizens contribute their quota to development.

    Oba Akiolu spoke while receiving the Ijo Awo Opa Cult at his palace in Iga Idunganran, Lagos Island, to mark  conclusion of the Eyo Adimu Orisha traditional festival.

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    Also present were Adimu, Laba-Ekun, Oniko, Ologede and Agere Eyo groups.

    Eulogising the founding fathers of Lagos for their contributions to the state’s growth, he said conclusion of the festival symbolises continuation of peace, unity, and progress.

    While encouraging Nigerians to prioritise honesty, discipline and compassion, he urged citizens to always pray for leaders and the nation.

    He also asked leaders to be sincerity and shun greed.

    The oba reiterated his optimism that Nigeria will overcome its challenges and be  stronger and better under the present administration.

    Other monarchs at the event included Oniru of Iru, Omogbolahan Lawal; Olu of Iwa and Apapa, Moroof Oyekunle Oluwa; and Onisiwo of Tomaro, Mohammed Yusuf.

  • Alleged $9.7m terrorism financing: Bauchi commissioner, three others get N100 million bail each

    Alleged $9.7m terrorism financing: Bauchi commissioner, three others get N100 million bail each

    • Defendants to report to DSS in Bauchi every Monday

    Bauchi State Finance Commissioner Yakubu Adamu and three others, accused of financing terrorism with about £9.7 million, got bail yesterday.

    A Federal High Court in Abuja granted each of them bail at N100 million.

    In a ruling, Justice Mohammed Umar held that Adamu and his co-defendants – Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed – placed sufficient materials before the court for it to exercise its discretion in their favour.

    Justice Umar ordered the defendants to produce two sureties each, one of whom must be a permanent secretary and the other a director in the civil service.

    The judge ordered the defendants to deposit their international passports with the court’s registry and report to the Department of State Services (DSS) office in Bauchi State every Monday until the case is determined.

    He adjourned the matter till February 26 for the commencement of trial.

    Adamu, who is said to be a former Branch Manager of Polaris Bank Plc (Bauchi branch), and the other three (said to be top civil servants in the state), were re-arraigned on January 16 before Justice Umar on a 10-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against them.

    They were earlier arraigned on December 31, last year, before Justice Emeka Nwite, who served as a vacation judge, and were denied bail in his ruling on January 5.

    Justice Nwite had held that by the nature of the offences with which the defendants were charged, it was necessary to balance their right with that of the larger society.

    Defence lawyer, Chris Uche (SAN), while arguing the defendants’ bail applications on January 16, stated that although the defendants were earlier denied bail by another judge of the same Abuja division of the Federal High Court, there were new and additional facts which informed his decision to file fresh bail applications before the new judge.

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    Uche said the other court would have granted them bail if the new facts were brought to its notice, arguing that Bello Bodejo, the President of Miyettti Allah Kautal Hore, whom the EFCC named in the nine counts of the 10-count charge filed against his clients, was never convicted for any terrorism offence by any competent court in the country.

    He argued that though Bodejo was charged by the Federal Government for terrorism-related offences, the charge was later withdrawn by the government and the court dismissed it on May, 29, 2024.

    Besides, Uche argued that there was no proscription order in the Federal Government’s Official Gazette designating either Bodejo or his organisation as a terrorist or terrorist organisation, backing his argument with Section 48(1) of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2022.

    According to him, since Bello Bodejo has not been shown by the prosecution as a terrorist, there is no basis for the defendants to continue to languish in detention, hence the need for the bail application.

    He also argued that the court is empowered by law to grant bail, citing relevant sections of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, to back his submission.

    In count one of the charge, Adamu, Sirajo Jaja (while being Accountant-General of Bauchi State, said to be on the run now), Samaila Irmiya Liman (now at large), Balarabe Ilelah, Aminu Bose and Kabiru Mohammed (all being civil servants and signatories to Bauchi State Government’s accounts and/or payment instruments) were alleged to have committed the offence sometime between Jan. 2024 and May 2024.

    They were alleged to have conspired to provide funds in the aggregate sum of $2,300,000.000 in cash for the benefit of Bello Bodejo and persons associated with him, pursuant to approvals granted by Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State.

    The funds were alleged to be used, in whole or in part, to finance a terrorist or terrorist group.

    The offence is contrary to Section 26(1) and punishable under Section 21(2)(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

  • ‘Youths lack knowledge of talent monetisation’

    ‘Youths lack knowledge of talent monetisation’

    Popular comedian in Edo State, Akhator Osasunmwen, (MC Abino), has said youths take to Internet fraud because they lacked knowledge on how to monetise their talents.

    Akhator said these youths opt for the short cut route without realising how much their talents could make for them.

    He said he was an okada rider while an undergraduate but became a duplex owner and owner of three exotic cars because he worked on his talent as a comedian.

    Akhator said his life was shaped by struggles and strong will to survive having lost his father as a baby.

    Speaking in an interview in Benin City, Akhator recalled how he worked double jobs to pay his school fees.

    Akhator said he discovered his talent as a comedian while in school but stated that he was doing it for fun and not for money.

    “My going through school was hell. My mum, who was the only person for us, died the year I got admission into Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, where I studied Biochemistry, he said.

    “I searched for jobs after graduation in 2016. I went to Lagos even though I took comedy serious in school. After school, I wanted a job that will pay me more than comedy. The highest job offer I got was N30,000 a month but I rejected it.

    Read Also: Our strategies for Tinubu’s victory in 2027, by Yilwatda

    “I went to Warri in search of  job. I sat down one day and reasoned that I was funny, why can’t I take it serious. In Lagos and Warri, I was going for show and what I made was more than the N30,000 salary. I decided to focus on comedy. This online content creation spread out at that time. I linked up with Pluto and worked with him till 2021.

    Speaking on his progress, he said: “With comedy, I have travelled to Ghana. I got married as a comedian. l bought three cars and built my house. It was only through comedy I got the money. I go to shows and I am paid. Facebook is paying me in my online comedy.

    “I have been into comedy from 2007 but I was under somebody. I needed somebody to brush me up. I needed to know the intrigues. It was in school I submitted to Mc Casino. I was not officially handling event till 2009. I went to an event and the man paid me N5000. He was a big man in Warri. I have been doing work for people but I was not paid. It was from there I started collecting money. It was Mc Casino that linked me up that I got paid N150,000 instead of the usual N15,000.

    “Many youths have talents but they do not know how to monetize it that was why they go through short cut. I saw somebody in my hometown that knows how to juggle football. I had to coach him on how to showcase his talents online and get paid. For some youths to take to crime is a mistake. I helped myself and people supported me.

    “After my mother died, I went into okada and also got engaged as an undertaker. I did both jobs. From Auchi, I take okada to do undertaker work for N2000. Before I got back to school, I will have about N5000.”

  • Convocation targets youth empowerment

    Convocation targets youth empowerment

    Aerovessel Group of Schools will hold its Convocation and Awards on January 28, at Novatel Hotel in Lekki, Lagos.

    Director of Studies, Dr Abolaji Kelani, said the 2026 convocation would graduate students who have been professionally trained and equipped for careers in aviation and tourism.

    In a statement, Kelani said the institution’s focus is on youth empowerment through skills acquisition, to reduce unemployment by providing training in aviation, tourism, etc.

    He noted that its watchword  is standard and excellence.

    “We have produced graduates working for growth and promotion of aviation and tourism. Our products are our testimonies,” he said.

    Read Also: ‘We’ll give graduates industry-ready skills’

    He noted that Aerovessel is committed to raising the bar in aviation and tourism, assuring the public that the institution will not relent in delivering quality and practical education.

    Kelani disclosed that the school offers training in hospitality, artisanship and business management, aviation and tourism management, cargo handling and logistics, as well as Information Technology, all designed to equip students with the skills required to succeed in today’s global industries.

    “With expert instructors and hands-on training, Aerovessel prepares students to become certified professionals and industry leaders,” he added.

    The aviation and tourism expert also revealed that the Chairman of the Day for the ceremony will be the National President of the Tourism Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Aliyu Badaki (PhD), while the Grand Patron is the National President of the Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria, Chief Abiodun Odusanwo.

    He further announced that speakers at the event include Prof. H. A. Bakare of the Department of Hospitality Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB); the National President of the Nigerian Association of Tour Operators (NATOP), Hajia Bolaji Mustapha; and the Vice President, Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), South-West Zone, Dr Gbenga Sunmonu.

    The convocation and awards ceremony is expected to attract stakeholders in the aviation, tourism and hospitality industries, as well as parents, graduates and invited guests.

  • Nigeria’s Industrial policy targets 25 per cent contribution to GDP

    Nigeria’s Industrial policy targets 25 per cent contribution to GDP

    The Federal Government has unveiled the Nigerian Industrial Policy (NIP) aimed at driving value addition, industrial growth, employment creation across the country, and ensuring that the manufacturing sector contributes up to 25 percent to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    Speaking at the soft launch of the policy in Lagos during the presentation of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) Macroeconomic Outlook Report for 2026, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Enoh, described the policy, which was approved and validated in 2025, as a strategic step toward translating Nigeria’s industrial potential into measurable productivity.

    “Over the last year, discussions about industrialisation have become more public. This policy was shaped with industry, not for industry, to ensure that every Nigerian has a stake and that implementation is front and centre,” he said.

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    According to him, the policy aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s eight-point national agenda, particularly Agenda Seven on diversification and industrialisation.

    The minister explained that the framework is built on six pillars: competitive industrial production; value-chain deepening; import substitution; MSME-to-industry transition; trade competitiveness under the AfCFTA framework; and institutional governance.

    “These pillars are designed to address Nigeria’s long-standing challenges, such as fragmented value chains, high import dependency, and limited manufacturing capacity. The policy aims to raise manufacturing’s contribution to Nigeria’s GDP to between 20per cent and 25per cent by 2030,” Enoh stated.

    He cited the recent temporary ban on raw shea nut exports as an example of the need for structured value addition and regulatory clarity.

    “We did not produce a policy just to admire it. A small committee is already working on implementation, because what matters most is turning strategy into jobs, productivity, and employment,” he said.

    The minister revealed that the formal launch of the policy is scheduled for next month, with President Tinubu expected to preside over the event.

    “The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) are expected to collaborate closely to ensure wide stakeholder engagement and effective implementation. The question is no longer what the policy is. The question is how we deliver. Nigeria’s industrial future will not be built by chance, but by deliberate policy, disciplined execution, and collective resolve,” he added.

  • Sugar tax detrimental to manufacturing sector, says Yusuf

    Sugar tax detrimental to manufacturing sector, says Yusuf

    The Chief Executive Officer, Center for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr. Muda Yusuf, yesterday described the proposition of a sugar-specific tax as “misplaced, economically risky and weakly supported by empirical evidence.”

    According to him, the country’s economy remains in a delicate recovery phase, therefore, introducing additional sugar-specific taxes at this time risks reversing recent industrial gains, weakening employment outcomes and undermining the objectives of ongoing manufacturing-friendly fiscal reforms.

    Yusuf  added that the proposition, if admitted, it is not adequately contextualised within Nigeria’s prevailing structural, social and macroeconomic realities because advocacy for sugar taxation in the country is largely driven by externally derived policy templates, particularly those associated with global health institutions.

    The CCPE, an economic think-tank group, further argued that while public health challenges such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases undoubtedly warrant urgent attention, it noted that global best practice does not support sugar taxation as a sustainable or standalone solution to non-communicable diseases—especially in economies characterised by high inflation, weak purchasing power, fragile industrial recovery, and widespread poverty, such as Nigeria.

    “Public health objectives and economic growth are not mutually exclusive. What Nigeria requires is balanced, holistic and development-conscious policymaking, rather than additional fiscal pressure on one of the most important segments of the manufacturing sector.

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    “Nigeria’s food and beverage industry remains the largest and most dynamic segment of the manufacturing sector, with the non-alcoholic beverages sub-sector playing a particularly significant role,” Yusuf, said.

    Citing data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Yusuf noted that the food and beverage industry contributes approximately 40 per cent of total manufacturing output, making it a critical driver of industrial growth, employment and value creation.

    Beyond factory-level operations, Yusuf further argued, the sector sustains an extensive value chain that spans farmers, agro-input suppliers, processors, packaging companies, logistics providers, wholesalers, retailers and the hospitality industry.

    Collectively, he said, these activities support millions of livelihoods nationwide, therefore any policy that undermines this sector carries wide-ranging economic consequences, including job losses, declining household incomes, reduced investment, and setbacks to poverty-reduction efforts.

    “Manufacturers of non-alcoholic beverages are among the most heavily taxed and cost-pressured businesses in the Nigerian economy. Their existing fiscal obligations include30 per cent Company Income Tax; 7.5 per cent Value-Added Tax (VAT); ₦10 per litre excise duty; four per cent National Development Levy on assessable profits; four per cent Free On Board (FOB) levy on imported inputs; import duties of five per cent to 15 per cent on intermediate raw materials; 0.5 per cent ECOWAS levy; property taxes at sub-national levels; multiple state and local government levies, among others,” Yusuf listed.

    He said these fiscal pressures are further compounded by Nigeria’s challenging operating environment, including high energy costs, prohibitive logistics expenses, exchange-rate volatility and elevated interest rates, with a resultant cumulative effect being rising production costs, shrinking margins, subdued investment appetite and higher consumer prices.

    He noted that while taxation may marginally influence consumption patterns, it does not address the root causes of health issues, yet, the economic costs of additional taxation—higher consumer prices, reduced demand, job losses and weakened industrial investment—are immediate, tangible and potentially severe.

  • Nigeria’s cashew exports to EU rise by 12 per cent

    Nigeria’s cashew exports to EU rise by 12 per cent

    Nigeria’s cashew exports to the European Union climbed to 3,035 metric tonnes in 2025, representing a 12 per cent increase from the 2,709 tons shipped in 2024, a performance that stood out in a year of uneven supply from several African producers.

    Globally, Nigeria’s cashew nut exports surged to $398.135 million in the first half (H1) of last year , representing an 81.15 per cent  increase compared to $219.780 million in the same period of 2024.

    New trade data from Mundus Agri, a news and trading platform for the global food and feed commodity market, showed that Nigeria was among the few countries to expand exports to the EU at a time when competition intensified and prices surged.

    Mundus Agri said in its latest market update EU imported a total of 193,772 tons of cashews in 2025, up 4.6 percent from 185,189 tons the previous year. Vietnam remained by far the largest supplier, increasing its exports to the EU by 4.7 per cent to 138,287 tons and consolidating its dominance of the European market. Côte d’Ivoire posted the strongest growth among major exporters, boosting shipments by nearly 35 per cent to 32,153 tons, a performance that reflects the country’s expanding role as a leading raw cashew origin.

    India, traditionally a cornerstone of the global cashew processing industry, moved in the opposite direction. Its exports to the EU fell by almost 14 per cent to 8,774 tons, highlighting structural shifts in trade flows and the growing competition faced by Asian processors from African raw nut suppliers.

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    Beyond volumes, the value of the EU cashew market surged sharply. According to Mundus Agri, the bloc’s cashew import bill rose to just over €1.24 billion in 2025, almost 21 percent higher than in 2024.

    “The increase was driven not only by higher import volumes but, more importantly, by a significant rise in prices,” the platform noted, with the average import price climbing to €6.41 per kilogramme.

    Nigeria remains a relatively small supplier compared with Côte d’Ivoire or Vietnam, the increase in shipments translated into stronger export earnings and renewed attention on the country’s cashew sector.

     Nigeria has the potential to play a larger role in the EU market if longstanding challenges around quality consistency, logistics and domestic processing are addressed.

    Last year, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) said the country was pushing to expand its foothold in the global cashew industry.

    Executive Director/Chief Executive, NEPC, Nonye Ayeni emphasised the rising significance of cashew within Nigeria’s export portfolio.

    According to export data, cashew nuts surged to the third position among 234 products exported from Nigeria in the first half of last year, recording a value of $398.135 million, an 81.15  per cent increase compared to $219.780 million in the same period in 2024.

    Cashew kernels also showed significant growth, moving from the 18th position in 2024 to 14th in the first half of last year, with exports rising 40.29 per cent  to $26.851 million.

    According to her, these trends reflect a growing global demand for both raw and value-added cashew products and underline Nigeria’s increasing relevance in the global nut trade.

    “Nigeria currently ranks 4th globally in cashew nut production, reflecting the immense capacity we hold as a nation to lead in this dynamic industry. These figures are not just statistics, they are a powerful signal that the time to invest, innovate, and scale the cashew value chain is now.

     “Over the last decade, the global cashew industry has witnessed robust growth, fueled by rising demand for cashew nuts and kernels in health-conscious markets across Europe, North America, and Asia,” Ayeni said.

    She added that Nigeria, blessed with vast arable land and enterprising farmers, is well-positioned to become a dominant player in the dynamic global value chain.

    She highlighted the opportunities include, a surge in global demand for cashew products, Increasing awareness of cashews as a nutritious, value-packed food, Strong potential for local value addition and industrial processing and the empowerment of smallholder farmers through improved livelihoods.

    However, she acknowledged challenges facing the sector, including price volatility, climate-related risks, quality control, and limited access to finance for smallholder farmers. Addressing these issues, NEPC pledged to deepen public-private collaboration, expand technical support, and improve institutional frameworks to drive sustainable industry growth.

    NEPC called on farmers, processors, exporters, policymakers, and investors to harness the tool for strategic planning and to work collectively to position Nigeria not just as a cashew exporter, but as a hub for premium, value-added cashew products in the global marketplace.

  • Remita seeks collaboration to expand Africa’s digital infrastructure, others

    Remita seeks collaboration to expand Africa’s digital infrastructure, others

    The Managing Director of Remita Payment Services Limited, DeRemi Atanda has called for fintech collaboration and boosting of digital infrastructure to determine Africa’s economic trajectory and payment system.

    He spoke at the the inaugural Pan-African Payments and Settlement System Cowry Conference in Lagos attended by central bankers, commercial bankers, fintech leaders, regulators and policymakers.

    The stakeholders examined the theme “Connecting Payments. Accelerating Africa’s Trade.” The event was hosted by the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System under the guidance of Afreximbank, the African Union and the AfCFTA Secretariat.

    Throughout the conference, the message was consistent: Africa is deliberately designing a payments ecosystem rooted in its realities, ambitions and economic future. With PAPSS, the AfCFTA gains the operational backbone it needs to convert trade policy into executable commerce and commerce into continental prosperity.

    In his keynote, PAPSS Chief Executive Officer, Mike Ogbalu III, traced today’s payment challenges to historical fragmentation and currency silos that continue to hinder Africa’s ability to trade with itself. He stressed that PAPSS is being built as a shared infrastructure that preserves competition while enabling collective value creation.

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    “PAPSS is an ecosystem built on centralised value in a way that does not diminish the competitive advantage of any participant. It is a vision that began decades ago and is now finally operational,” he said.

    Mr Atanda contributed practical industry insight across two high-level panel sessions focused on interoperability, real-time settlement, and fintech-enabled trade.

    On the first panel, themed “The Role of Switches in Enabling Interoperability and Real-Time Settlement,” he spoke alongside leading payments ecosystem stakeholders from eTranzact, GHIPSS, NIBSS, ZECHL, and PAPSS.

    Mr Atanda emphasised that payments are the invisible arteries of Africa’s economy, noting that “Africa must first be connected through payments – that is the true starting point.”

    He further described PAPSS as the practical executor of Africa’s long-standing integration ambition, stating that “PAPSS has moved the vision from concept to execution, enabling payments not just within countries, but seamlessly across borders.”

    Mr. Atanda stressed that switching infrastructure should be viewed as an enabler rather than an end in itself.

    “Switching is not what the man on the street interacts with; it is simply the engine behind the system. What truly matters is what consumers are able to do,” he noted.

    He further highlighted fintech companies as increasingly central to Africa’s commercial activity, underscoring the growing importance of deep integration between banks and fintech operators.

    “One of the most significant developments is the interface with the fintech ecosystem, because fintechs are rapidly becoming key drivers of trade across Africa,” he explained

    On the second panel themed “Moving Money, Moving Goods under AfCFTA – Fintech’s Role,” Mr Atanda returned to the stage alongside leaders from Interstellar, Yellow Card, Conduit Technology, Brij Technologies and Ibex Frontier.  The discussion centred on financial inclusion, usability, and the role of digital payments in unlocking commerce at scale across Africa.

    He highlighted the real-world impact of aggregation and interoperability on everyday users, noting how seamless payment experiences are reshaping cross-border transactions. “Irrespective of where you bank locally, you should be able to make cross-border payments using one number. The middle layer is disappearing. From your mobile wallet, phone, or bank account, you can transact directly,” he said.

    According to Mr Atanda, Africa has moved beyond merely addressing fragmentation in payments infrastructure. “We have gone past fixing fragmentation. Now the focus is on creating new opportunities and new use cases,” he added.

     “You do not have to be everywhere on your own.  When you operate within a shared ecosystem built on common standards, collaboration becomes scale,” he remarked.

    In closing, he described PAPSS as a consumer-centred system that decentralises access.

    “PAPSS is putting power directly in the hands of people, through multiple touchpoints that make cross-border transactions easier and more inclusive,” he said.

    Mr Atanda’s participation positioned Remita Payment Services Limited as both a Nigerian fintech leader and a continental infrastructure contributor. His contributions underscored that Africa’s trade aspirations will only be realised if payments, policy and platforms evolve together.

  • Media owners, others disown NBMOA’s ‘legal action’ against NBC, other

    Media owners, others disown NBMOA’s ‘legal action’ against NBC, other

    The management and board of the Broadcast Media Owners and Practitioners Forum (ABMPF) and JKD TV channel 391 DSTV, NIGCOMSAT, and Hamada Radio FM have dissociated themselves from the alleged class action suit instituted against Arewa24 and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

    In a statement independently issued and made available to the media in Abuja, the Chairman, JKD TV, & Hamada Radio FM, Amb Yaro Mamman said, “Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to one organisation called Northern Media Broadcast Owners Association (NBMOA) on legal action against Arewa24. I am the Chairman of JKD TV channel 391 on DSTV & NIGCOMSAT, and Hamada Radio FM in 4 Nigerian Cities. We have never been invited or consulted by any Association or person, for or on behalf of the so-called NBMOA, to deliberate on or take a position on the status or activities of any industry player.”

    You would recall that a certain Association purportedly representing broadcast media owners in northern Nigeria had instituted a legal action against a legally licensed Arewa24 on its legitimate right to operate in the north, and NBC, the regulator, recently.

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    “We support Arewa24 and are in solidarity with their contributions to the Nigerian media ecosystem. The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), as the regulator, having certified Arewa24 as fulfilling compliance with extant laws and regulations, should be respected,” Amb Mamman said, adding that: “We are happy and proud of the Director General of NBC and his management for the good work they are doing, and support them fully.”

    Mamman challenged the faceless Association to reveal their members, quit hiding behind a finger, and make their operations legal.

    Finally, he said, it is important for the so-called NBMOA to make public the full names of its members and the media it owns. We hereby disassociate ourselves from any class action against Arewa24. Yaro Yusufu Mamman, Ambassador, Chairman, JKD TV, & Hamada Radio FM

    On the other hand, the leadership of the Arewa Broadcast Media Practitioners Forum (ABMPF), said it has been inundated with calls and inquiries from members on an alleged class action suit against Arewa24 and NBC.

    The chairman of ABMPF, Alhaji Abdullahi Yelwa, in a statement, stated that “We wish to state categorically that our Forum in no way or shape is involved in or briefed about the purported court action against a leading industry player in our region, Arewa24, and our national regulator, the NBC.

    “As a Forum of Broadcast Media Owners and Practitioners, we disassociate our Forum from this legal action, and uphold the right of any industry player in the region to practice their trade unhindered, according to the law and regulatory dictates.”

    The ABMPF is a legally registered association dedicated to the growth of the Broadcast industry and the promotion of professionalism in the Northern Region.

    Therefore, we support the right of Arewa24 and indeed any broadcast outlet to exist and practice its trade. We also uphold NBC’s right to regulate our industry in accordance with our laws,” he said.