The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Reports

  • ‘Borno tax policy encourages ease of doing business’

    ‘Borno tax policy encourages ease of doing business’

    The Borno State Internal Revenue Service (BOIRS) said the tax policies in the state encourage ease of doing business.

    Its Head of Revenue Operation, Mr John Audu, said that, unlike other states that introduced special taxes and collect multiple levies, particularly on transportation, the Borno government has maintained existing taxes being received for many years.

    He listed some of the existing taxes: Personal Income Tax, Pay-As-You-Earn, taxes from self-employed persons (Direct Assessment), Capital Gains Tax, Stamp duties, Business Premises levy and withholding taxes.

    He added that “even if we are to introduce new taxes, we, first of all, consider its severity on taxpayers. We tried to look at it, and if it has any elements of what was already captured, then we advise the government to reconsider its position. If you mount all sorts of taxes on an individual who has only one source of income, you are making the business of that person suffer.

    “All these are to ensure ease of doing business for investors, entrepreneurs, business-oriented persons, as well as safeguard the interests of customers of these businesses.”

    Audu explained that it would also reduce the cost of doing business and enhance growth and development in the state.

    He said that the state’s internal revenue service had recorded tremendous successes in tax administration and revenue collection in the past few years.

    He added that the establishment of the Borno State Traffic Management Agency (BOTMA) also strengthened the revenue generation of the agency and mitigated accidents on the roads.

    “The state government established BOTMA to prevent road mishaps and to punish traffic violators by asking them to pay a certain penalty,” he said.

  • Poll: AIG warns personnel against tarnishing police image

    Poll: AIG warns personnel against tarnishing police image

    Ahead of the February and March 2023 general elections, Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police in Charge of Zone 14, (Kaduna and Katsina), Edward Egbuka, has cautioned men and officers of the Force to stay away from any act capable of tarnishing the image of the Nigeria Police Force.

    AIG Egbuka said this yesterday when he visited the Kaduna Police Command to interact with officers and men ahead of the elections.

    He said: “The visit was to encourage the police personnel on the good work they are doing in efforts to rid the country of crimes and criminalities and to further encourage them to put in more efforts in the discharge of their duties, particularly on election days which is around the corner.”

    He noted that the personnel were sacrificing a lot to the service of humanity and their fatherland, adding that his visits was primarily to encourage and motivate them in the good works they were doing.

    Read Also: Polls: Time to decolonise the press, Nigeria (3)

    The AIG further said that the visit was also to review operational strategies of the zone to ensure more success in the fight against crime and criminality within the areas of responsibility.

    “We will also review the zones strategies to ensure peaceful general elections, where we will make sure the image of the Force is not compromised in any way,” he said.

    Egbuka thanked the personnel for their sacrifices to the state and nation in general, while assuring them of the Zone’s support where the need arises.

    Commissioner of Police, Kaduna Command, Yekini Ayoku, said the command is strategic with the much number of its personnel and 61 divisions spread across the state.

    He noted that the major crimes in the state include kidnapping and banditry, which he described as the most worrisome while noting that in spite of the challenges, the command had worked diligently and doggedly in ensuring that the crimes were reduced to their barest minimum.

    He warned the personnel against meddling in politics, while calling on them to keep the spirit of patriotism high above their personal interest.

  • CBN ransacks Jigawa commercial bank ATMs

    CBN ransacks Jigawa commercial bank ATMs

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has ransacked the Automatic Transaction Machine (ATMs) of commercial banks in Jigawa State to enforce the newly redesigned naira notes.

    The branch controller, Hajiya Sa’adatu Ibrahim Aminu, announced this during a sensitisation of stakeholders on the redesigned notes at Dutse Ultra Model market.

    She explained the Apex bank has provided enough new notes currency to all commercial banks in the state “and we ordered them not to load old currency in the ATMs any more”.

    According to her: “We made a very good arrangements for quick supply of the redesign currency to all the bank branches across the 27 local government areas.”

    Read Also : Governors to engage CBN on naira redesign

    She also advised members of the public and traders to accept the old notes, which are ” still valid till January, 31st. You do not be panic the currency is safe and valid for now.

    “There is no limit to how much a customer can deposit between now and January 31, 2023, as CBN has suspended bank charges”.

    Saadati called on the public to explore other payment channels, such as eNaira, POS, electronic transfer, USSD, internet banking and mobile money operators and agents for their economic activities.

  • Kwankwaso’s coordinator dumps NNPP for PDP in Bauchi

    Kwankwaso’s coordinator dumps NNPP for PDP in Bauchi

    The Bauchi State Coordinator of the Presidential Candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, Dr Babayo Liman, has dumped the party for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Liman, who is also the North-East Zonal Secretary of the party announced his resignation at a news conference on Monday in Bauchi.

    “I want to formally inform the general public, especially members of the NNPP in Bauchi State, North-East and Nigeria at large, that I have resigned as a member of the NNPP. I have also resigned as the Zonal Secretary of the North-East as well as member and coordinator of the Presidential Campaign Council of the NNPP presidential candidate, Dr Kwnkwaso.

    “Let the general public know that I have withdrawn my membership from the NNPP, I am no more with the NNPP from today,” he said.

    He said that he ditched the NNPP for the PDP alongside large numbers of his supporters, adding that the party lacked the structure to win elections in the country.

    He said that his decision to switch camps also stemmed from the internal crisis, flagrant disregard of the rule of law and lack of unity among members due to poor leadership of the party.

    According to him, the NNPP’s leadership poorly managed its affairs resulting in the emergence of various factions.

    He canvassed votes for the PDP and its candidates at all levels in the forthcoming election.

  • Reps seek alternative funding for road reconstruction

    Reps seek alternative funding for road reconstruction

    The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Federal Ministry of Finance, Federal Inland Revenue Service and other relevant stakeholders to explore Executive Order 007 of 2019 (Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme) to provide an alternative funding source to finance the reconstruction of Bida–Lemu–Wushishi–Zungeru Road in Niger State.

    It mandated the Committees on Works, Finance, and Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance.

    These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion in the need to provide an Alternative Funding Source for the Reconstruction of Bida-Zungeru Road in Niger State sponsored by Saidu Musa Abdullahi.

    The House noted that the 92Km Bida–Zungeru ‘Truck A’ Road is a link between North and South-Western Nigeria, which was first constructed by Costain West Africa in 1962 in the first republic and reconstructed by the Administration of former President Ibrahim Babangida in 1989.

    It also noted that aside from the recent maintenance on failed portions of the road through the COVID–19 Intervention by the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), no rehabilitation has been carried out on the road and its bridges (one–lane Bridge) for over 30 years.

    The House said it was aware that Zungeru town is host to the ongoing $1.3 billion, 700 megawatts Hydro Electric Power Station project embarked on by the Federal Government of Nigeria, which forms part of the Federal Government’s strategies to reposition power generation in phases in the country and upon completion, will have the recognition of a strategic National Asset.

    “The House is also aware that Bida to Zungeru is a major rice belt, with potential for other agricultural produce that contributes to the country’s drive at food security;

    Concerned that the road leading to the Zungeru Hydro Dam is in a total state of disrepair which often results in road accidents and heavy post-harvest losses, thus, lowering the ability of farmers in the communities to monetize their farm produce;

    The House is also concerned that despite the approval of the Minister of Works and Housing for the redesign and reconstruction of the road, the amount captured in the 2023 Appropriation Act for the road is grossly inadequate and cannot make any significant impact on the Project;

    “The House is cognizant that if the Bida–Zungeru Trunk ‘A’ Road is reconstructed, it will enhance the Western link of the Country to the Zungeru Hydro Power Project which will generate 700 megawatts of electricity close to 10 per cent of the Nation’s total domestic energy need and positive impact on the Country’s GDP through enhanced agricultural productivity and commercial activities,” the motion read.

  • Speaker starts ward-to-ward campaign for Tinubu, Sule

    Speaker starts ward-to-ward campaign for Tinubu, Sule

    The Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, has commenced grassroots mobilisation for the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of next month’s general election.

    Abdullahi, who represents Umaisha/Ugya state constituency, urged the electorate to vote massively for the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Abdullahi Sule.

    He said the grassroots campaign for ward-to-ward which started with Shege ward will cut across all the six electoral wards of Umaisha, Ugya, Katapha, Dansu and Kenyehu respectively.

    He emphasised that the second round of the exercise will be tagged meet the people of Umaisha/Ugya where the campaign team will be meeting the people to support APC.

    He hailed the people of Shege ward for their support in the last eight years and solicited more in the upcoming elections.

    Earlier, the Speaker visited the Ohimege Opanda, Alhaji Usman Abdullahi, to solicit support.

  • Coalition demands probe of 52 MDAs

    Coalition demands probe of 52 MDAs

    The Coalition of Arewa Youths for Zero Corruption has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other security agencies to beam their searchlights on 52 ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of the federal government placed on high corruption risk list by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).

    Its National Coordinator Aliyu Mohammed, in a statement in Abuja, noted that it was appalling that despite the anti-corruption stance of President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, the affected MDAs failed to respond to an Ethics and Integrity Enquiry (EICS) enquiry filed by the ICPC in the year 2022 aimed at hiding their unethical practices.

    The group maintained that it behoved the EFCC and other security agencies to immediately swing into action and sanction organisations whose ranking on the Integrity Report was very low to serve as a deterrent to others.

    While commending the Buhari-led government and ICPC for scrutinising the performances of MDAs, the group insisted that agencies that have failed to comply with the Ethics and Integrity Enquiry and those that performed very poorly in key performance indicators like the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) must be compelled, using all legal instruments available to enforce their compliance.

  • NDDC Board: Ijaw groups tackle Fed Govt on injustice

    NDDC Board: Ijaw groups tackle Fed Govt on injustice

    Ijaw rights groups; Ijaw Interest Advocates (IIA) and the Izanzan Intellectual Camp (IIC) have begun mobilisation across oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta, in preparation against what they described as unending injustice against such communities.

    The groups, in a joint statement  in Abuja, berated the Federal Government  for allegedly remaining bent on perpetuating a system of deliberate marginalisation against oil-producing communities, which they said had given so much to the development of Nigeria and had received nothing in return.

    The groups, in the statement by their Coordinator, Arerebo Salaco Yerinmene (Snr), frowned at the constitution of the recently inaugurated Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), noting that the Chairman of the new Board, Lauretta Onochie, just like many instances before now, was appointed out of a non-oil producing community in Delta State.

    They  alleged that the Federal Government had consistently worked against giving needed opportunities to people from the oil-producing areas so as to perpetually keep them impoverished.

    “NDDC was created specifically for the development of oil producing communities and the people in terms of staffing, appointments and development, but the agency has now been systematically turned to an agency for settling politicians, irrespective of their places of origin.

    “Such reckless appointments and breach of the NDDC Establishment Act usually serve as fuel for future agitations in the oil-producing communities. It seems the government derives pleasure in creating the problems for people to agitate in order to send the military to crush and burn down our oil-producing communities on the slightest provocation to protest against government injustice

    “It wasn’t an easy pill to swallow when Dr. Cairo Ojougbo from a non-oil producing community in Delta State was appointed Executive Director, Projects in the Commission from the start of Buhari’s administration. “Just as we were about recovering from that suffocation, the appointment of Ms Lauretta Onochei from that same non-oil producing area of Delta State has again, dealt another major blow, unleashed to undermine and provoke the people and to  perpetually deny the oil-producing communities of their rights.”

  • Sokoto PDP gov candidate vows to end drug abuse

    Sokoto PDP gov candidate vows to end drug abuse

    Sokoto Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate  Mallam Saidu Umar FCNA has vowed to sustain the fight against the drug abuse embarked upon by Governor Aminu Tambuwal.

    Umar, who also holds the traditional title of Mallam Ubandoman Sokoto, made the declaration at the commissioning of office for the Centre For Sensitization Against Drug Abuse (CESADA Sokoto) founded by Alh Abdulrazak Shehu, Permanent Commissioner, Sokoto Civil Service Commission. 

    He described the plague as a global phenomena that destroys the very foundation of our society. He said, the menace had endangered societal values. 

    He affirmed all hands must be on deck in order to eliminate the threat completely within the State. He pledged that his administration will collaborate with NDLEA, other related security agencies, traditional leaders, religious leaders, and community leaders in curbing the menace.

    Read Also: Atiku, Ayu visit Plateau PDP accident victims

    He commended the present administration’s effort in the fight against drug abuse which he said made it pioneered the banning of codeine syrup in Nigeria. He said, if he was elected governor he would require a patriotic cooperation from the people of Sokoto State in order to descend heavily on drug peddlers. 

    He pledged to take an aggressive fight to the doorstep of people that harbor the drug users because, in his words, “Whatever is abused will become a problem.”

    Umar also called on Sokoto residents to obtain their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) to vote PDP and all its candidates from top to bottom on election day. 

    He appreciated the founder of the center for this noble initiative, which he said will be a reliable partner for his administration’s effort if voted into power in the fight against drug abuse. He therefore called on other members of the society to emulate the step. 

    The event featured the presentation of awards to the governorship  candidate and other notable personalities.

  • ‘HYPADEC established to bring succour to communities around River Niger’

    ‘HYPADEC established to bring succour to communities around River Niger’

    Managing Director of Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPADEC), Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq-Yelwa, said the commission was established to bring succour to communities residing around the River Niger.

    He spoke during the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship campaign at Warra, Ngaski Local Government Area of Kebbi yesterday.

    Sadiq-Yelwa said: “The essence of establishing HYPADEC is to bring succour to those people residing around River Niger who are affected by the construction of dams generating electricity to Nigeria.

    “As a commission, we are doing our best but to me, the projects we embarked upon are not enough considering the negative effects caused by the dam construction, so, this is just the beginning. I am happy President Muhammadu Buhari has given us all the necessary backing and encouragement to carry out vital projects that will transform the lives of people living around these areas.”

    Sadiq-Yelwa listed some of the constraints faced by the residents including scarcity of potable water and incessant floods that usually destroy houses and ravage farmlands, hence the need for drainage construction to mitigate the menace.

    He assured that the commission would not relent until it achieves the mandate for which it was established.

    “We are grateful that both the governor and the benefitting communities are appreciative of what we are doing to bring succour to them, actually this is an encouragement to us. We will continue to discharge our responsibilities until the mandate for which the commission is established is achieved,” he said.

    While advising the electorate in Kebbi to take advantage of the extension of PVC collection by INEC, Sadiq-Yelwa noted with satisfaction that the rate of collection across the state was commendable, especially in Kebbi South Senatorial District.

    “We will continue to appeal to our people to come out en-mass to collect their PVCs, of course the level at which our people are coming out to collect their cards in Kebbi State is quite commendable, especially our zone, Kebbi South Senatorial District. We the people of this zone are among the most enlightened people who know the need to collect PVCs and their importance towards exercising our franchise,” he said.