Twenty policemen abducted by terrorists during an attack on a police division at Buni Yadi have been rescued by troops of Operation Hadin Kai, the Defence Headquarters has said.

 

Acting Director Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Benard Onyeuko, while briefing reporters on ongoing military operations in the last two weeks, said the troops’ kinetic and non-kinetic operations

 

have driven the terrorists out of their camps into surrendering.

 

According to him, within the time under review, a total of 62 terrorist elements were neutralised and 28 arrested.

 

Details later….

Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola yesterday said the recent frequent jailbreaks across the country will not be a good reason for him to resign his position as minister.

Aregbesola said this while addressing State House Correspondents after the week’s virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Aregbesola explained that the jailbreaks did not happen as a result of lack of preparedness but through number of factors.

The minister said a number of prison officials died defending the custodial centres, which he said was the highest form of honor for the country.

“Imo was in April this year. Kabba was in September. Abologo was in October and Jos was in November. Those captured the attacks. As painful as those attacks were, very painful, nobody will really want the end of justice to be so vulnerable.

“The custodial facilities are the final end of criminal justice administration. So, morally, the state owes itself the responsibility of safe custody that must not be violated.

“On that account alone, we must appreciate the enormity of any successful attack on custodial facilities. And I so do. But I want us to put these things in the context of our security situation.

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“When our best does not suffice, it’s no longer a question of your inability to make preparation or failure for preparation or preparedness. It’s just that at that instance, you just couldn’t hold the defence. And several factors are responsible for this.

“What I can assure Nigerians is this. Yes, as contextual as these attacks and the successes such criminals are having, we are upping our game and we will not allow; we will prevent any such opportunistic attack and even make it impossible. That is what the state must do.

“We are working with all arms of government, particularly the security, to make our custodial facilities impregnable. We will not rest until that is achieved. So, that’s the assurance I’ll give to Nigerians.

“As to whether it calls for my resignation. I still don’t see any need for that because it’s not for lack of preparedness that the attacks were successful. No.”

Also, the FEC has approved N965.9 million for the purchase of 49 operational vehicles for us by the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS). Aregbesola said the vehicles, which would be procured from local manufacturers, would complement the ones already in use by the Correctional Service.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said the council approved N145 million for an office accommodation for the Federal Character Commission in Bayelsa State at N145 million.

He also announced the approval of N136.2 million for operational vehicles for the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA).

Also, the FEC ratified the Finance Bill 2021/2022 fiscal year.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zaynab Ahmed, who announced the ratification to State House correspondents, explained that the Bill, which is currently before the National Assembly, focuses on tax as well as reviewing and amending some 11 fiscal laws.

She explained that rather than propose new taxes, or increase tax rates, the Finance Bill for the 2022 fiscal year focuses on blocking loopholes and improving tax administration.

By Vincent Ikuomola, Okodili Ndidi, Abuja and Lucas Ajanaku

• ECOWAS worried over spread of terrorism

• ‘Terrorists, bandits using radio frequency spectrum illegally’

The anti-terror battle of the Federal Government may suffer a setback, it was learnt yesterday.

The Army has raised the alarm that many repentant Boko Haram fighters are backsliding and subverting the war against the insurgents and bandits.

The Theatre Commander of ‘Operation Hadin Kai’, Maj.-Gen. Christopher Musa, disclosed that ‘repentant’ sect members, who have surrendered to troops have ulterior motive.

Also, the Federal Government has expressed worry over the activities of terrorists, bandits and other non-state actors using the country’s non-commercial radio frequency spectrum without licence and payment of appropriate fees.

Miffed by the increasing activities of terrorists in the sub-region, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said the worsening insecurity could undermine regional integration and stability.

It was also learnt that foreign donors are sustaining the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP).

Maj.-Gen. Musa, disclosed that 20,000 insurgents have laid down arms in the Northeast. The cpmmander, who spoke on the sidelines of the Chief of Army Staff Conference in Abuja, said the new challenge is what to do with the repented terrorists.

He said: “We have over 20,000 combatants and their families surrendered. This tells you there is something we are doing right. What we do with them after surrendering is our next focus. The expectation is that after all have surrendered, then, everything will fizzle out. But, that is not the case.

“Frankly speaking, for us, this is a good development.

Read Also: Army Chief to troops: take battle to ISWAP

“A lot of people have been thinking and also expressing mixed feelings, if at all the news is true. Of course, there are some insurgents who truly wish to surrender, but we cannot jettison the fact that some of them do have ulterior motives.

“Like I said, to us, this is good and if we follow it through in the right way, then, we may begin to see the end of this insurgency sooner than we actually think.”

Gen. Musa explained why the terror group has remained lethal after the death of its leader, Abubakar Shekau.

He said: “Before Shekau died, they (Boko Haram fighters) pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in the West African Province ISWAP and ISWAP gets its funding from foreign donors. It is the lust for these monies that have further emboldened them. This is why they overran Shekau. These people who are enemies of the nation, who do not want peace in Nigeria are the same people pushing ISWAP too. It has nothing to do with religion or any form of ideology, but purely driven by the quest for money.

The theatre commander dismissed the insinuation that the Nigerian military has been outstretched in the course of fighting the insurgents.

He said: “No group can outstretch the Armed Forces of Nigeria. What people need to understand is, we in the military can easily be identified because we put on uniforms. These guys go on mufti and we cannot just go into a community and start killing everybody. If we have to do this, then, this fight would have ended since.

“But, what about the collateral damage on the part of innocent civilians? If we have to shoot, then, we must target the real trouble makers and not just anyone. This is the problem. They mingle among civilians. This is why it has become so difficult. If it is conventional warfare, we would have finished them a long time ago.”

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, Mr. Bitrus Bako Nabasu, who spoke in Lagos on the sidelines of a stakeholders’ forum, tagged: ‘Sensitisation on Sustainable Frequency Spectrum Management Development for non-Commercial Radio Frequency Users’, said bandits and terrorist groups using the radio frequency spectrum illegally, threaten national security and interfere in the frequency.

He said: “We are aware that some organisations and institutions that are non-commercial users are making use of the radio frequency illegally, but what baffles government the most is that terrorist groups also use the radio frequency spectrum illegally and they obtain it from online stores.

“Although the ministry has monitoring equipment to monitor those using the radio frequency spectrum illegally, the range of coverage is limited and cannot reach inside the forest and deep territorial waters. However, our monitoring equipment can detect those using the radio frequency illegally within the cities.”

Ghanaian Foreign Affairs Minister and Chairperson of ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council, Shirley Ayokor Botchwey, who spoke at the opening of the 47th ordinary session in Abuja, lamented the threat by the terrorists.

She said: “Speaking on the backdrop of continual threat to our region, which could undermine integration agenda and regional stability. Attacks by terrorist and violent extremist groups are increasing across the region, leaving no member state spared as a potential targets.

“In addition to this already difficult situation, is the military takeover in Guinea, after the one in Mali, weakening our community.

“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen of the council, the deteriorating security environment in the region is of grave concern from the Sahel region through the Lake Chad basing and beyond.

“Attacks from terrorists and violent extremists have moved with banditry kidnapping, Farmer herder dynamics and transnational organised crime leaving a trail of death and destruction.

“Indeed, the terrorist groups are currently testing border defenses of coastal nations, intending to extend their reach to the member states along the Gulf of Guinea.”

She also expressed the Commission’s worries over military gradual incursion in governance, saying it is a challenge to the community.

Botchway added: “The military coups in the Republic of Mali and Guinea, remain a challenge to us. The Authority has held several extraordinary summits to address this matter. We will examine progress in these two countries.”

By Nduka Chiejina and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

• Twitter, Facebook, others to pay taxes
• TIN compulsory to open, operate bank accounts

If passed into law, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) from January 2022, will be the main collector of Value Added Tax (VAT) and other taxes accruing to the federation account.

The Finance Bill 2021 transmitted by President Muhammadu Buhari to the National Assembly for consideration is seeking such power for the revenue agency.

The Executive Bill) is sponsored by Senate Leader Yahaya Abudullahi.

According to the Finance Bill 2021, which scaled second reading at the Red Chamber yesterday, the federal government plans to make “FIRS the primary agency of the Federal Government responsible for the administration, assessment, collection, accounting and enforcement of taxes and levies due to the federation, the federal government and any of its agencies except otherwise authorised by the Finance minister.”

However, the Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader at Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, was of the view that the clause has a wider target.

“I don’t think VAT is the focus of the amendment, it’s targeted at other MDAs trying to collect various taxes, perhaps the likes of NIPOST trying to collect stamp duties,” Oyedele told The Nation.

The Bill demands a mandatory payment of the “gross revenue collected by federal ministries, departments or agencies to the federation account or consolidated revenue fund as the case may be except otherwise authorised by law.

“Any officer who violates this requirement may be liable on conviction to imprisonment of up to five years or a fine of N5 million or both.

The Bill added that “any person or agency of the federal government must refer matters requiring tax investigation, enforcement and compliance to the FIRS”.

Relevant officers who violate the rule the Bill proposed are to “be liable to a penalty of N10 million and/or five years imprisonment on conviction”.

As from next year, the FIRS will be empowered to assess Company Income Tax (CIT) on the turnover of a foreign digital companies involved in transmitting, emitting, or receiving signals, sounds, messages, images or data of any kind including e-commerce, app stores, and online adverts”.

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To be captured into the CIT net beginning from next year are social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn and Instagram among others.

The government plans to deploy technology to automate tax administration, including assessment and information gathering by the FIRS.

The Bill stipulates “a penalty of N50, 000 will be applicable where a company fails to grant access to FIRS in addition to N25, 000 for each day the failure continues.”

The Finance Minister, after securing the approval of the National Assembly, can now “make regulations for the imposition, administration, collection, remittance, including distribution of arrears of stamp duty and Electronic Money Transfer levies collected between 2015 and 2019 fiscal years.”

Also in the coming year, the federal government has proposed to widen the Company Income Tax Act (CITA) to a broad segment of businesses covered by lottery and gaming.

Such businesses include: “betting, game of chance, promotional competition, gambling, wagering, video poker, roulette, craps, bingo, slot or gaming machines and the likes”.

Disputed tax assessment will be in abeyance until the dispute is resolved. However, “undisputed tax assessment is to be paid within 30 days after service of the notice of assessment on the company except otherwise extended by the FIRS”.

In the proposed Bill, “reference to provisional tax has been deleted in recognition of the well-established self-assessment tax regime.”

Withholding tax (WHT) on interest earned from a unit trust will now be treated as final tax. Only WHT on dividend is currently treated as final tax for local companies.

The Finance Bill 2021 proposes that “non-residents making taxable supplies to recipients in Nigeria will have the primary obligation to charge, collect and remit VAT to FIRS”.

According to the Bill, the VAT withholding obligation of Nigerian recipients is now limited to where the non-resident or its appointed agent fails to collect the VAT.

Upstream petroleum companies, regardless of turnover, have been exempted from VAT registration and compliance obligation applicable to small companies with annual turnover less than N25 million.

The federal government is also asking for an amendment of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) to enable government borrow for “critical reforms of significant national impact”.

According to the Bill, “the government, at all tiers, is only empowered to borrow for capital expenditure and human development. The capital expenditure is defined as spending on an asset that lasts for more than one financial year. Human development and critical reforms are not defined”.

It also seeks to bar those without Tax Identification Numbers (TIN) from opening bank accounts.

Besides, account holders would no longer be allowed to operate their accounts without providing TIN

According to Abdullahi, the Bill was read for the first time on the floor of the Senate yesterday, therefore necessitating suspension of relevant sections of its Standing Orders to enable it consider it for second reading.

Abdullahi in his lead debate, said the Finance Bill, 2021 seeks to support the implementation of the 2022 “Federal Budget of Economic Growth and Sustainability by proposing key reforms to specific taxation, customs, excise, fiscal and other relevant laws.”

On Personal Income Tax, he said, the Finance Bill 2021 requires banks in the country to demand from their customers evidence of their Tax Identification Number (TIN) before opening bank accounts for individuals.

Abdullahi said: “Personal Income Tax Act: Amendment to clarify that pension contributions no longer require the approval of the Joint Tax Board (JTB) to be tax-deductible;

“On the other hand, the Bill seeks to remove the tax exemption on withdrawals from pension schemes except the prescribed conditions are met; child relief (2,500 per child up to a maximum of four) and dependent relief (2,000 per dependent for a maximum of two) are to be deleted.”

Barring the unforeseen, President Muhammadu Buhari will today lead other dignitaries to honour All Progressives Congress (APC) pioneer National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande at the public presentation of his autobiography ‘My Participations’.

The launch is billed for the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. A statement by Mr. Tunde Rahman, the spokesman to APC stalwart Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, named the President as the Special Guest of Honour, Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the Chief Host and Tinubu as the Guest of Honour.

A Lagos-based media and publishing company, Gaskia Media Ltd, is the publisher of the 560-page book.  It is Akande’s ninth book and may prove to be the most controversial being a comprehensive narration of the former governor’s impactful, colourful and crowded political career.

“This work is a national gift that could not have been more instructively timed,” the statement quoted Prof Wole Soyinka, Africa’s first Nobel laureate for literature, as writing in a gripping Foreword to the book.

It went on: “There are books whose very handling must be done with heavily insulated gloves since, virtually every page sizzles with contradictions between attestable reality and impudent claims, attempts to cover past crimes and dodge responsibilities. Not so, this contribution from the ‘Wise One of Ila-Orangun.

“If there is any sizzling, it is simply the fire of truth’s passion that leaps at the reader from between the covers. Akande’s fire purifies, being a flame of illumination carried over from real life to brightens the pages of a saga of service to Nigerian humanity.”

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The book is the most comprehensive autobiography in recent times of a statesman of Akande’s stature and public service experience, which spans almost half-a-century.

Trained as an accountant, he was employed in his younger days as an executive of British Petroleum, one of the global behemoths dominating the oil industry.

He started his involvement in politics as a councilor in Ila-Orangun, Osun State, before he was elected into the Constituent Assembly in 1977, taking part in the historic assignment of preparing the Nigerian Constitution.

In 1979 when Chief Bola Ige became the first elected Governor of old Oyo State, he made Akande his Secretary to the State Government, SSG.  By 1983, following the rumpus in the ruling Unity Party of Nigeria, (UPN) of Oyo State, Akande became Ige’s Deputy Governor.

Akande was one of the hundreds of politicians detained by the military, following the collapse of the Second Republic in 1983.

Though he regained his freedom in 1985, he vowed never to participate in politics again.  However, he soon found himself at the barricade, joining other patriots in the vanguard of opposition to military rule and emerging as the Osun State leader of Afenifere, the mainstream Yoruba cultural and political movement and of the opposition National Democratic Coalition, NADECO.

When the military departed in 1999, he became the second elected governor of Osun State.

‘My Participations’ dwells on the author’s years of power and its aftermath.  The book explains the byzantine politics and convoluted negotiations that resulted in the formation of the APC and the ultimate triumph of the party in the 2015 general elections.

Some of Akande’s most faithful companions in the power game are participating in the event of Thursday which is also expected to witness the attendance of political bigwigs, including governors, ministers, senators and other prominent citizens in the power loop.

The chairman of the occasion is Dr. Ogbonaya Onu, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation. The Chief Presenter is Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, one of the pivotal figures in the negotiations that gave birth to the APC.

The book reviewer is Segun Ayobolu, a well-known journalist and columnist.  The event will re-affirm Akande’s relevance and clout as one of the dominant political figures of modern Nigerian politics.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) on Wednesday warned traders against selling near rail tracks.

The Nation photographer captured a crowd of traders and their customers transacting by a rail track near Oshodi, Lagos.

NRC Managing Director Fidet Okhiria, an engineer, said the management has directed the Nigerian Railway Police Command to clamp down on rail side trading in Lagos and across the country.

He added anyone caught would be prosecuted.

Describing the action as “suicidal”, Okhiria said the traders’ action contravenes the extant Nigerian Railway Act.

He said the traders and illegal squatters have defaced the tracks, turning what ought to be a national treasure into a thing of national embarrassment.

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Okhiria, who described the action as unwholesome, explained that besides enforcement of the law, the corporation was taking other measures that would eventually prevent the abuse of the rail tracks and protect the nation’s investment on the standard gauge.

According to him, the corporation was erecting a fence all through the rail corridor to prevent trespassing into the rail lines.

He added that once the corridor is entirely secured, anyone caught within the tracks would be regarded as an offender and be treated as such and prosecuted.

He told The Nation: “The action of these traders is out-rightly against the law, and the Railway Police Command has been directed to protect the national asset by arresting anyone caught trespassing on the tracks corridor.

“Right now we are erecting a fence along the entire rail corridor. When this is completed, we expect the tracks to be more secured as we can fully go ahead with enforcement and anyone caught trespassing would be dealt with in accordance with the law.”

He added that the corporation would also be introducing more frequency on the rail lines.

Okhiria said the corporation would be introducing between eight and 10 more passenger lines as well as three cargo lines on the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge before Christmas.

The frequency of these speed trains would naturally take care of trading on the tracks as people would be cautious of embarking on the suicidal activity.

By Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja and Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

President Buhari has expressed sadness over the killing of travellers in Sokoto State.

At least 30 passengers were burnt to death when gunmen suspected to be bandits set a bus ablaze on a road linking the Sabon Birni Local Government Area and the village of Gidan Bawa in Sokoto State on Tuesday.

The President’s reaction was contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, on Wednesday.

He said: “I am very distressed at the manner of death visited on these hapless citizens who were undertaking a legitimate journey to another part of the country.

Read Also: Bandits kill three, abduct 63 in Kaduna communities

“It shows that the evil this administration is confronting requires the support and involvement of all Nigerians.

“I extend deep condolences to the families of the victims as I assure that the security agencies will continue to give their all to bring to an end the operations of these despicable people.”

Also on Wednesday, Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, sympathised Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the government and the people of Sokoto over the murder of the passengers.

In a statement by his media aide Nath Ikyur, Ortom said urgent steps must be taken to save the country from bandits.