The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • LIRS urges Lagosians to file tax returns

    LIRS urges Lagosians to file tax returns

    The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has enjoined taxable persons, including self-employed, employees and professionals in the state to file their yearly tax returns for 2021 Year of Assessment in accordance with the provisions of Section 41 of the Personal Income Tax Act LFN 2004 as amended.

    It said tax returns are to be filed in accordance with the provisions of the tax law, section 41 (1) (3).

    In a statement by the Head, Corporate Communications, Monsurat Amasa,  LIRS said for each year of assessment, a taxable person shall without notice or demand file a return of income in the prescribed form containing the required information with the tax authority of the state in which the taxable person is deemed to be a resident with a true statement.

    Accordingly, the Executive Chairman, LIRS, Ayodele Subair, has said the deadline for individuals to file tax return is March 31, 2021.  He urged taxable residents in the state to comply with the tax laws and file on time, to avoid sanctions.

    Given the safety protocols in the state necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the LIRS chief charged taxpayers to prepare and submit their personal income tax returns via the electronic filing system module of the eTax platform, introduced to make the filing process easy.

    Tax forms for income tax returns can be downloaded from and submitted through the agency’s digital platform: https://etax.lirs.net, he added.

     

     

     

  • Fed Govt eyes $50b from AfCFTA

    Fed Govt eyes $50b from AfCFTA

    By Daniel Essiet

    Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Sector Matters, Francis Anatogu has said the  Federal Government hopes  to grow Nigeria’s intra-Africa export trade volume to $50billion by 2035 using African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA).

    Speaking at an event in Lagos yesterday, Anatogu, who is also the Secretary, National Action Committee on AfCFTA, indicated that the government is   leveraging  the  trade agreement to prepare for a post-oil revenue.

    To achieve this, he said  a number of strategic programmes  were  already underway.

    These included a N50 billion Naira Export Expansion Facility Programme (EEFP), implemented by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI )and the 2.3 trillion National Economic Sustainability Plan for export- driven growth.

    Others are the N1 billion Nigeria-Africa Trade Investment Programme (NATIPP)  launched by Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), African Export Import Bank (AFREXIM) and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the Zero Oil Plan (ZOP), to promote non-oil exports, create at least 500,000 additional jobs and generate a minimum of $150billion.

    He added that the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) put in place by the government will help to build Nigeria’s competitive advantage in key priority sectors, through  accelerated expansion of the manufacturing sector and broadening of  industry scope.

    Under the 2021 budget, Anatogu said over N11.61 billion has been set aside for rehabilitation of various railway tracks including, N8.86 billion for Nigeria Railway modernisation  project Lagos-Ibadan – Kano, N1.01 billion for the development of National Transport Databank, N6.05 billion for the construction of outreach centres,  including supply of equipment.

     

  • Nigeria loses N800b monthly to poor port operation

    Nigeria loses N800b monthly to poor port operation

    The President Shippers Association of Lagos, Rev. Jonathan Nicole, yesterday said Nigeria loses over N800 billion monthly due to lack of 24-hour seaport operation.

    Nicole made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    In May 2017, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo signed an Executive Order directing resumption of 24-hour operations at the Apapa Port and prohibiting touting in seaports.

    However, the 24-hour operations have yet to commence in the seaports while the agencies sacked from operating at the seaports have returned to participate in physical examination of cargoes.

    The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms Hadiza Bala-Usman, recently accused some Federal Government agencies at the ports of lack of compliance with the directive and executive order.

    According to Nicole, the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS)  generated almost N26 billion daily in the past from seaports.

    “The figure has dropped because our imports have reduced.The port is money-spinning. Payments are daily made to shipping companies, terminal operators, customs, transporters, Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) in the ports.

    “If one is bringing out 1,000 containers, add the customs duty, shipping and terminal charges, transportation and even under-the-table transactions, then you will understand the amount involved. We need to put in place policies that are workable and cannot be thwarted,” he said.

    The association chief alleged that some unpatriotic elements thwarted laws and policies because they wanted to make money.

    Nicole decried alleged refusal of some government agencies to key into the 24-hour port operation directive, describing it as unfortunate.

    On the continued presence of some MDAs in the ports, though they had been told to withdraw, he said it was unfortunate that the MDAs failed to comply with governments’ directive.

    According to him, shippers are still present  in the ports because they are the owners of  cargoes and would be needed by customs in some situations.

     

  • Lenten Message: Praise – your pathway to victory! (2)

    Lenten Message: Praise – your pathway to victory! (2)

    Venerable Henry Adelegan

    Text: ” Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always…..” John 11:41-42

    Nothing decomposes, suffers decay or dies in praise. Praise has the capacity to bring lives, families, education, businesses, ministries and nations that have been classified as dead back to life and reckoning. From our text, Lazarus was a hopeless case. He was in the grave for four days. He was already stinking in the grave. When Jesus Christ stepped, He requested to be taken to where the hopeless situation was. He asked that the stone be rolled away. He lifted up His voice of praise to God for always hearing Him, power descended, fresh life came to the rotten life, stench of decomposition received the aroma of God and the dead came alive. Let me ask you, does it look as if you are hopeless? Do you think that your tomorrow doesn’t have bright colors? Have you been written off by people and the society. I have good news for you because nothing dies in praise. It doesn’t matter for how long you have been in that untoward situation or position, something great will happen through praise. If praise is your lifestyle, victory over the delay, decay and decadence is your heritage.

    Besides that beloved, when praise becomes your lifestyle, victory over threats, humiliations and embarrassments are your heritage. Are you in an embarrassing health, matrimonial or financial situation? Are you being harassed by certain powers to bring you down? Are you experiencing situations that are asking where is your God? I have good news for you because all those situations are small pies in the face of praise. In 1 Samuel 17, Goliath stood against the army of Israel. He threatened and humiliated them for days. But the moment David, a man of praise, came into the scene. He knew that Goliath was a goner in praise. True to his words, Goliath fell with just a stone. Beloved, when praise becomes your lifestyle, victory over the Goliaths around you is your heritage.

    Kindly be informed brethren that when praise becomes your lifestyle, victory over bad health becomes your heritage. Are you feeling unwell, have you been informed that your ailment is terminal and people are buying and selling in your system, please note that it is never over with a believer who is committed to praise. Praise is therapeutic. When the people raised praises to God shouting “Hosannah to the Son of David. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord”, Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem and chased away buyers and sellers from the temple (Luke 19:36-46). As you are the temple of God ( 1Corinthians 3:16, powers that are buying and selling drugs, x-rays and injections inside your system shall flee in the face of praise. When genuine praise becomes your lifestyle, victory over sickness and afflictions becomes your heritage.

    Not only that, when praise becomes your lifestyle, victory over lack, shame and disgrace becomes your heritage. The multitudes following Jesus Christ were hungry but there was no food and shame was imminent. The story changed when Jesus took the five small loaves of bread and two fishes, He praised God and as He was breaking, they were increasing. The multitude were fed and had leftovers of 12 baskets of fragments (Mark 6:40-42). Beloved, nothing decreases in praise and when praise becomes your lifestyle, victory over shame is your heritage

    Dear brothers and sisters, please note this also: when praise becomes is lifestyle, victory over powers blocking your way to God’s promised land becomes your heritage. Have you been trying to make a headway in life. Are things quite difficult for you, I have good news for you because those powers cannot withstand praise. When the Israelites were marching to their Promised land, the ancient walls of Jericho withstood them but with a loud shout of praise after traversing the walls seven times the walls were brought down.

    Finally, when praise becomes your lifestly, victory over reproach, condemnation and vile remarks becomes is your heritage. In 2 Samuel 6:15,16 when David returned to Jerusalem with the ark of God singing songs and dancing, Michal, his wife reproached him and she was judged by God. It doesn’t matter what you may be passing through now, you are going to end better, greater and stronger in the name of Jesus.

    In conclusion brethren, whenever you come to a tough situation, stop complaining or grumbling, give a tough praise. When you see gross darkness, bring gross light by giving God gross praise. You can get God cheap with praise. Despise your crawling business, don’t give attention to your threatening family situation, scorn the mountains of your life and watch God level them up as you exalt Him. That thing which the devil thinks is enough reason for you not to praise God let it be the very reason for which you are praising God. Stop murmuring and complaining because those who murmur and complain don’t enjoy divine progress. When you stop appreciating God, you start depreciating. Remember that when praise becomes your lifestyle, victory becomes your heritage.

    • Prayer: Lord, give me grace to make praise my lifestyle and give me victory over issues of life in Jesus’ name.
  • Wakilin: Ibarapa youths demand release of three OPC members

    Wakilin: Ibarapa youths demand release of three OPC members

    By Yinka Adeniran, Ibadan

    Youth groups from Ibarapa in Oyo State have urged the government to facilitate the unconditional release of the three members of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), who are being tried for apprehending Fulani warlord, Iskilu Wakilin.

    The youth, who protested at the Governor’s Office, Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan yesterday, said with their experience on how issues have been handled, they have no confidence in the judicial system.

    The protesters carried placards and sang solidarity songs.

    They said the arrest and detaining of the OPC members on account of their gallantry is an indication that the government is determined to suppress every form of bravery against oppression.

    Some of the inscriptions on the placards read: “Free our men now, they are heroes and not villains”, “With one voice, all Oyo State youths denounce injustice, Fulani banditry”, “Igangan Development Advocates says no to injustice, herdsmen incursion. Enough of the stealth invasion of our land”, and “Stop pampering criminals.”

    Others read: “Jail the criminals, not the heroes”, “Ibarapa youths say no to banditry and insecurity”, “Ibarapa indigenes say no to terrorism”, “O to ge to insecurity”, “We denounce banditry”, “Jail rapists, not heroes” and “Hang villains like Wakilin, stop paying terrorists while victims are abandoned.”

    The convener of Igangan Development Advocates, Mr. Oladokun Oladiran, said the youth are demanding that the government does what is right by ensuring that justice is not misplaced.

    He said: “We have other youth groups here, including All Workers Convergence, Federation of Oyo State Students Union (FOSSU), Federation of Igboora Students Association (FIBSA) and others.

    “Our demands are that we want a clear message that the government still stands for what is right, which is justice, by acting speedily to effect the release of the three incarcerated valiant men who stood up at a very critical time when some people are afraid to speak the truth.

    “A terrorist was on the land, in the person of Iskilu Wakili. These people went there and drove him away. We don’t see why they should be jailed.

    “We want the whole world to speak out and tell the government not to allow our generation to see terrorism as the best vocation.”

    Receiving the protesters, Governor Seyi Makinde’s Chief of Staff, Chief Bisi Ilaka, urged them to remain calm.

    He said although the government cannot order the release of the OPC members, it will follow up investigation.

    Ilaka assured the protesters that the government would ensure that justice was done.

  • FG gets 300,000 doses of AstraZeneca from MTN

    FG gets 300,000 doses of AstraZeneca from MTN

    By Moses Emorinken, Abuja

    The Federal Government on Sunday received 300,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines from MTN Nigeria.

    They were part of the planned 1.4 million doses allocated to Nigeria out of the 7 million doses the telecommunication company secured to support the Africa Union’s (AU’s) vaccination programme.

    It however expressed concerns over alleged reports of mishandling and mismanagement of vaccines in sites.

    It therefore stated it is monitoring vaccines accountability across states to ensure that sharp practices are avoided.

    Read Also: Covishield same as Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, says NAFDAC

    The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, made these known in Abuja, during the briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.

    Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib, said: “We appreciate this kind gesture from MTN, and we are already in the process of determining how these vaccines will be deployed to the States.

    “We have also instituted mechanisms to ensure that the rollout of the covid-19 vaccines in all states is equally free from corrupt practices.

    “Therefore, any information of vaccine mishandling and mismanagement will be handled using stringent measures and appropriate sanctions.”

  • 122,410 Nigerians vaccinated so far- PTF

    122,410 Nigerians vaccinated so far- PTF

    By Moses Emorinken, Abuja

    The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has disclosed no fewer than 122,410 Nigerians have been vaccinated with AstraZeneca since launch of the exercise on March 5, 2021.

    It further stated none of those who received their first shot has been down with severe adverse reactions aside from mild pain at the site of vaccination and fever.

    The Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib, made these known in Abuja during the briefing of the PTF on COVID-19.

    Read Also: Reporter’s diary: My COVID-19 vaccine experience

    He said: “No Nigerian so far has developed any known severe side effects following vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine.

    “While we have observed among some vaccinees the mild symptoms such as pain and swelling at the site of the vaccination, body pains, and mild fever, it is important to note that it is possible for you to take the vaccine and have other diseases that are completely unrelated to the vaccination process.

    “As of today, full implementation of the covid-19 vaccination of eligible population has commenced in 33 States and the FCT, while four states – Kogi, Kebbi, Zamfara and Oyo states are yet to commence implementation.”

  • Bandits assassinate Fulani leader in Kaduna council

    Bandits assassinate Fulani leader in Kaduna council

    By AbdulGafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

    A Fulani community leader in Doka general area of Kajuru local government, Alhaji Lawal Musa, popularly known as Alhaji Maijama’a, was assassinated by bandits on Sunday night.

    Kaduna Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, who confirmed the incident Monday night, said Musa was brutally killed by bandits before his family members.

    According to him: “Alhaji Lawal Musa was a Fulani community leader in the Doka general area of Kajuru LGA who worked closely with with other community leaders towards the success of peace building efforts in the area.

    Read Also: Some state actors fueling banditry, says Reps Minority caucus

    “He was on a motorcycle with his elder brother Alhaji Gide Musa when some assailants opened fire on them.

    “Alhaji Gide Musa escaped with gunshot injuries while the gunmen got hold of Alhaji Maijama’a and hacked him to death.”

  • Gunmen abduct wife of late Ekiti Surveyor-General

    Gunmen abduct wife of late Ekiti Surveyor-General

    Agency Reporter

    Wife of a former Surveyor-General of Ekiti, Mrs Funmilola Osalusi, has been abducted by gunmen and taken to an unknown destination.

    Osalusi, whose husband, Mr Felix Osalusi, died recently, is a staff member of Ado Local Government Council.

    Ekiti Police Command confirmed the kidnap on Monday, saying that the incident occurred at about 9:20 pm. on Sunday.

    The Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Abutu, said that the woman was abducted by three gun- wielding men at her residence, behind Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Polytechnic road, Ado-Ekiti.

    Abutu said that Osalusi was tricked out of her house by her abductors and ferried away in their car.

    Read Also: Gunmen kill three police officers in Abia community

    “The armed men, numbering three, were said to have knocked the gate of the victim’s residence and tricked her into coming outside the house.

    “She was said to have come out of the gate to ascertain the identities of the ‘guests’ and as she did that, the gunmen quietly took her away in their vehicle,” he said.

    Abutu further stated that the Police Commissioner in the state, Babatunde Mobayo, had already deployed detectives to the bushes where the woman might have been taken to by her abductors.

    He added that the policemen would work with operatives of Amotekun corps, local hunters, Vigilante Group of Nigeria and other stakeholders to rescue the widow from captivity.

    The police spokesman urged members of the public to oblige the police with information that could help in rescuing the woman. (NAN)

  • Alleged murder: Lagos rejects chef’s plea bargain agreement

    Alleged murder: Lagos rejects chef’s plea bargain agreement

    By Adebisi Onanuga

    An Ikeja High Special Offences Court heard on Monday that prosecution team of the state has rejected the plea bargain agreement proposed by Joshua Usulor, a 21-year-old chef, who allegedly killed a lawyer at the Citiheights Hotel, Opebi, Lagos.

    The defendant is facing a lone count of murder contrary to Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos 2015 before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo.

    During resumed proceedings of Usulor for murder, the prosecuting counsel, Mrs. O.A Bajulaiye-Bishi, informed the court the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution has rejected the agreement.

    Read Also: How chef stole massively from me, by Wakanow CEO

    Usolor, through his counsel, Spurgeon Ataene had applied for a plea bargain agreement proposing a sentence of 25-year imprisonment for the offence he was charged before the court.

    “Unfortunately, the plea bargain agreement has been rejected and we will proceed with the trial,” Bajulaiye-Bishi told the court.

    The prosecutor further told the court the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) in the case, Inspector John Babalola was however unavailable to continue his testimony.