The Nation Newspaper

Tag: lagos

  • I didn’t receive N450m in cash – Belgore

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mr Dele Belgore on Monday told the Federal High Court in Lagos that he did not receive the N450million he was accused of laundering in cash.

    Testifying in his defence before Justice Rilwan Aikawa, Belgore admitted being invited by the bank manager on March 26, 2015.

    He said he could not move the money because it was too risky to do so two days to election.

    The Kwara State Coordinator of the President Goodluck Jonathan Presidential Campaign Organisation said he realised that the money was too huge for his Toyota Prado jeep.

    “I indicated to PW1 (bank manager) that I could not collect the money and I gave two reasons.

    “First, I said this money was coming two days before the election; all the stakeholders and party members were aware of the arrival of the money.

    “Therefore, I did not consider it safe to move such a huge amount of money out of the bank in the middle of the night.

    “The second reason was that I did not come prepared to receive and take away such a large amount of money, as I came only in my vehicle, a Toyota Prado jeep.

    “As I said earlier, the heap of cash that I saw in the bank’s loading bay was at least three to four feet high.

    “So, I told PW1 that if it took a bullion van to transport the cash from the Central Bank of Nigeria to Fidelity Bank, there was no way I would be able to evacuate those funds with my Toyota Prado.”

    Belgore said he signed for the money and agreed to leave it in the bank’s vault.

    “After signing the document, I left the bank without the money. I did not take a penny out of the bank; I left the bank empty-handed,” he said.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Belgore with a former National Planning Minister Prof Abubakar Suleiman and former Petroleum Resources Minister Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke (who is said to be at large).

    EFCC said they “directly took possession of the sum N450million,” adding that they “reasonably ought to have known [that the money] forms part of the proceeds of unlawful act.”

    It also accused them of “indirectly” using the sum of N450million on March 27, 2015 and making cash payment of N450million, which exceeded the amount authorised by law.

    In the nine-count amended charge, EFCC accused Alison-Madueke, Belgore and Suleiman of making cash payment of N10million to a Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kwara State Dr Emmanuel Onucheyo.

    The commission said they also paid N10million to a Commissioner of Police in the state Garba Saliu.

    According to EFCC, they allegedly made the payments on March 27, 2015 without going through a financial institution.

    The sums, the commission said, exceeded the amount authorised by law and violated Section 1(a) and Section 16 (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act of 2012 and punishable under Section 16 (2) (b).

    The defendants were also accused in the amended charge of making cash payment of N61,656,000 to Isa Biu on the same day, exceeding what is authorised by law.

    EFCC said they also paid N87,962,000 to Sola Adeoti and Hajiya Dankaka on the same day “without going through a financial institution.”

    According to the commission, Mrs Alison-Madueke, Belgore and Sulieman, on the same day, made cash payment of N50million to one Sheriff Shagaya, an amount exceeding what is authorised by law.

    They pleaded not guilty.

    Justice Aikawa adjourned until February 28.

  • Lagos reviews academic calendar

    Lagos State Ministry of Education has reviewed the dates for mid-term break and open day in the 2018/2019 academic calendar.

    Director-General (DG), Office of Education Quality Assurance, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Ronke Shoyombo, said the review would protect pupils during and after the forthcoming elections.

    At a meeting at the weekend, Shoyombo, Joint Association of Private Schools Owners of Nigeria (JAPSON) members, Ministry of Education officials and other stakeholders agreed that open day will be on Wednesday, while the first mid-term break is from Thursday to February 18.

    She said the second mid-term break would be from February 28 to March 4.

    The DG said  World Book Day is March 7, adding: “Since school activities fall in between the date for the general election, the adjustment becomes inevitable. Security is very paramount, to protect our children and avoid crisis during the elections,” she said.

    Shoyombo urged the association leaders to comply with the urgent adjustment to allow children stay away from school during the elections, for safety.

    She advised stakeholders to support the programmes that would raise the standard of literacy and promote educational development.

  • Nigerian airports record 15.2m passengers, 227,834 aircraft movements

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) says a total of 15.2 million passengers passed through Nigerian airports in 227,834 aircraft movements in 2018.

    This was revealed in FAAN’s 2018 Annual Report obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.

    The report posted an increase of 2.5 million passengers from 12.7 million passengers recorded in 2017 representing 19.11 per cent increase.

    It also revealed an increase of 27,068 from the 200,766 aircraft movements recorded in 2017 representing 11.48 per cent increase.

    According to the report, 11.02 million passengers travelled within the country (domestic), while a total of 4.2 passengers traveled into and out of the country (international) through the airports during the period under review.

    The data further showed that 182,924 domestic and 44,910 international flights were operated across the nation’s 22 airports during the period.

    The total cargo movement, according to FAAN, stood at 245.89 million tonnes per kilogramme compared to the 169.50 million tonnes per kilogramme recorded in 2017.

    The statistics also indicated that 174.91 million tonnes per kilogramme arrived in the country through the airports, while 70.89 million tonnes departed during the year.

    A look at the four major airports in the country showed that Murtala Muhammed Airports, Lagos, (Domestic and International Wing) recorded the highest passengers and aircraft movements during the period.

    The data indicated that Lagos airport recorded 6.7 million passengers comprising 2.8 million on domestic routes and 2.9 million on the international routes.

    The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja recorded 4.6 million passengers comprising 3.7 million on domestic routes, while the international routes recorded 941,182 passengers.

    FAAN also disclosed that Port Harcourt International Airport recorded 1.14 million passengers comprising 1.05 million domestic passengers and 92,050 international.

    Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano recorded 567,537 passengers comprising 398,266 domestic and 169,271 international passengers.

  • N17b judgment debt: Appeal Court sets aside convictions of First Bank chiefs

    The Court of Appeal, Lagos, has set aside the decision of a federal high court, Lagos, which convicted the Chairman of First Bank Nigeria Plc, Pastor Ibukun Awosika and the bank’s Managing Director, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan for contempt over a judgment debt of N17 billion.

    The appellate court voided the decision of the lower court on the ground that the judge erred in law when it convicted the bank chiefs for contempt on the allegation of breach of an undertaking.

    Justice Ibrahim Buba of the federal high court in Lagos had found Awosika and Adeduntan guilty of refusal of the bank to release N17 billion plus interests that First Bank allegedly guaranteed to pay the Ejama-Ebubu community on behalf of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) of Nigeria Limited in respect of the judgment debt against SPDC in an oil spill suit filed by the community.

    The judge in his judgment of June 6, 2018 sentenced them to three months imprisonment but suspended the sentencing till September 6, 2018 to enable the bank and its officials to purge themselves of the contempt

    The court had in its judgment ordered First Bank Plc to pay Ejama-Ebubu community of Ogoni in Rivers State the sum of N17 billion bond guaranteed by the bank on behalf of Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited (SPDC). But First Bank Plc refused to obey the order of the court forcing Justice Ibrahim Buba to commit the 1st to 3 defendants to jail for contempt.

    In the substantive suit, ten indigenes of Ejama community in Ogoniland, had through their counsel, Lucius Nwosu (SAN) sued Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Netherlands; Royal Dutch Shell Plc, United Kingdom; and SPDC over alleged oil spills that occurred when Shell operated in the community at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt.

    Dissatisfied with the decision of Justice Buba on their conviction for contempt, the bank chiefs through their lawyers led by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) filed an appeal.

    In the appeal, the bank chiefs had asked the appellate court to set aside the decision of the federal high court on diverse grounds, which include that the lower court erred in law, acted without jurisdiction and reached a perverse decision when it granted the respondents’ motion on notice for committal of the appellants for contempt in respect of the Order of Court dated August 5, 2010 in suit No: FHC/PH/CS231/2001.

    According to the Notice of Appeal, the said Order of August 5, 2010 was not made against the appellants (Awosika and Adeduntan), adding that the appellants were never parties to the suit in which the order was made neither did order mandated the appellants to perform any act.

    The appellants submitted that the learned trial judge erred in law and acted without jurisdiction when he heard and determined the contempt application dated March 19, 2018, adding that the judge lacked the jurisdiction to commit the appellants for alleged ex-facie contempt of the order he had made.

    The appellants also contended that the lower court erred in law and reached a perverse decision when it convicted the appellants for contempt of court and imposed a prison sentence without taking oral evidence of witnesses.

    The appellants submitted that the respondents as complainants before the lower court did not call oral evidence; the lower court did not hear any oral evidence and the criminal allegation of contempt of court was not proved beyond reasonable doubt before proceeding to commit the appellants for contempt and imposing a sentence.

    They also contended that the lower court erred in law and breached appellants’ right to fair hearing when it convicted and sentenced them to term of imprisonment in their absence, adding that the presence of the appellants is mandatory for conviction.

    The appellants therefore asked the court to dismiss, strike out the respondents’ motion dated March 19, 2018, strike out the Suit No: FHC/L/NRJ/1/2018 and make an order discharging and acquitting the appellants from the committal and sentence imposed by the lower court in its decision of June 6, 2018.

    The court of appeal in its lead judgment by  Justice J.Y. Tukur on Friday, granted the prayers of the appellants and therefore set aside Justice Buba’s decision, which earlier convicted the bank chiefs.

  • Buhari’s visit: Free flow of traffic on Lagos roads

    The usual early morning traffic jam on major roads in Lagos was on Saturday absent as motorists and commuters moved freely from one part of the state to another.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Muhammadu Buhari is on a visit to the state to hold a campaign rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    With the free flow of traffic, a huge crowd had gathered at the Teslim Balogun Stadium venue of rally in Surulere as at 11.a.m., awaiting the arrival of the president.

    NAN reports that the Saturday rally had generated apprehension about heavy traffic following the announcement by the state government on Wednesday that it would close no fewer than 18 major routes including Ikorodu Road and Third Mainland Bridge.

    The state government, however, made a U-turn on Friday when it said the movements would no longer be restricted.

    NAN correspondent who monitored traffic on major roads reports there was free flow of traffic of people and vehicles as of 10am.

    On Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, the traffic was unusually free, as there were very few vehicles on the road.

    Commercial motorcyclists who make brisk business from the traffic around Cement and Mongoro bus stops recorded little patronage as there very few commuters.

    Read Also: Fulani youths assure Buhari of 11m votes

    Around Ikeja along and Ile-zik which are traffic flash points on a normal day, motorists had smooth rides as traffic was light.

    The situation was the same up till Oshodi bus stop ,where commercial activities were low at the popular Arena Market and Oshodi main market.

    On Agege motor road, from Mushin through Idi-Oro and Ojuelegba ,commercial buses waited at bus stops to pick the few customers they could manage to get.

    Also on Ikorodu road, driving was exciting as traffic was very light from Onipanu, Palmgrove and Obanikoro and other areas.

    However, the was a bit of traffic jam around Stadium bus stop, by Teslim Balogun Stadium as party faithful and residents were seen in many buses arriving at the rally venue.

    NAN reports that security was tight at the venue of the rally as they were so many security personnel strategically stationed, screening people.

    Hundreds of policemen and soldiers were seen moving around the stadium to ensure security, while some were riding on horses, others were holding sniffer dogs.

    The stadium was almost filled to capacity as of 11am as thousands of party faithful in APC uniforms had arrived waiting for the arrival of the president.

    Traders were seen making brisk business from sale of brooms, APC branded caps, vests and flutes.

    NAN

  • No more road closure for Buhari’s mega rally, says Lagos

    Lagos State Government has reversed itself over the closure of 18 routes for the All Progressives Congress (APC) mega rally to canvass votes for President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday.

    The rally holds at the Teslim Balogun stadium, Surulere with the state initially declaring some roads will be closed to ensure easy passage for Buhari and his entourage.

    But the government said there would be no more road closure, urging Lagosians to go about their normal businesses on Saturday during the rally.

    It, however, declared residents should expect an increased presence of traffic personnel at Surulere and adjoining streets because of the mega rally.

    Many Lagosians have expressed apprehensions the proposed closures would lead to a complete lockdown of the nation’s commercial nerve.

    Commissioner for Transportation Ladi Lawanson gave the clarification in chat with reporters at Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa on Friday.

    Also present at the briefing were: General Manager of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) Mr Wale Musa and the Lagos State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Hyginus Omeje.

    Lawanson said the earlier statement announcing diversion and road closure had been reversed, adding that residents were free to go about their businesses.

    He said the state government was reversing its earlier position in conjunction with federal operatives and the APC to ensure minimal discomfort and minimal disruptions of businesses.

    The commissioner, who is also a member of the transport sub-committee for the Presidential visit and the APC rally, said “Lagosians have been very apprehensive that there will be traffic gridlock and we got a lot of feedbacks that we intend to grind Lagos to a halt.

    “People are apprehensive; they think we are going to shut down Lagos; they think movement would be restricted and they are bracing themselves for what they anticipate would be the hardship that would be visited on them by the president’s visit and our own activities.

    “I repeat there will be between zero to the barest minimum amount of disruptions to the normal movement that Lagosians undertake on a Saturday like today.

    Read Also: Nigeria Airways ex-workers stage rally for Buhari’s reelection

    “So, there will not be any road closures in Lagos today and Lagosians are free to go about their normal businesses today, Saturday,” Lawanson said.

    He said adequate arrangement had been firmed up to ensure free flow of traffic but residents should expect tight security around the routes which the President is expected to pass through in the course of his visit and the venue of the rally.

    “We would just like to communicate that because we are expecting a high caliber personality no less a person than the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria the normal security precautions that attend a visit of this nature should be expected.

    “The President would visit Lagos tomorrow with the full retinue of security aides that protect him and his entourage but there will not be any road closures and there will be zero to minimal disruptions of normal activities,” the Commissioner said.

    He, however, said there would be huge presence of officials of the police, LASTMA, FRSC and other agencies to ensure free flow of traffic around the Surulere axis.

    “Around the venue of the rally which is the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere and the adjourning streets are traffic management agencies such as LASTMA, FRSC, Police and other agencies that would support them tomorrow.

    “They will handle the traffic management around the venue tomorrow and so people can expect to see a huge presence of our traffic,” the commissioner said.

  • We may shut Ladipo Market over waste management – LAWMA

    The Lagos Waste Management Authority ( LAWMA ) said on Friday that it might close Ladipo Market in Mushin, till further notice, if the waste situation continued unabated.

    LAWMA’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Obinna Onyenali, said that the attention of the authority had been drawn to the unwholesome environmental practices being carried out by traders at the Ladipo Market.

    Onyenali said that such practices had resulted to indiscriminate dumping of waste and degradation of the environment.

    He said that the authority had, in recent times, doubled its efforts to ensure that business transactions in all Lagos markets were conducted in a clean and safe environment.

    According to him, the authority has doubled its efforts through timely deployment of trucks for waste evacuation and sweeping of the markets.

    “However, these efforts are being tainted by the activities of mischievous persons who would rather dump their waste indiscriminately on the roads than patronise their assigned Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators.

    “LAWMA condemns in strongest terms this unwholesome act, being perpetuated by the traders of Ladipo Market, as it exposes the environment and the people that do business there to various health dangers.

    “The authority seizes this opportunity to urge the merchants at the market to turn a new leaf or face the consequences of the Law.

    “If these heinous acts against the environment continue unabated, the market will be shut till further notice, ‘’ he said in a statement.

    Onyenali said that LAWMA wanted all markets to comply with the Environmental Laws of the state, which was essential for building a cleaner and healthier environment that everyone would be proud of.

    “The Authority appeals to all residents in the state to always imbibe the habit of effective waste management by bagging their waste for easy evacuation by their assigned PSPs,’’ he said.

  • BREAKING: Court acquits Ladoja of N4.7b fraud case

    Justice Mohammed Idris on Friday acquitted former Oyo State Governor Chief Rashidi Ladoja over alleged N4.7billion fraud.

    The judge delivered judgment in the trial.

    He faulted the prosecution’s case, saying it was full of contradictions.

    He said the case was badly prosecuted.

    The judge said EFCC’s case lacked credible evidence and that the prosecution’s case was full of contradictions.

    Justice Idris held that the prosecution failed to prove a single ingredient in the 11-count charge.

    “The court found the defendants not guilty,” the judge held in 11 counts.

    He started reading the judgment at about 10am at the Federal High Court in Lagos.

    He began by announcing that the judgment was up to 250 pages, but that he would skip some aspects.

    “I examined 914 tendered documents forensically,” he said.

    “If have to read the entire judgment, we’ll leave here by 6pm. So I’ll skip some.”

    The 11-year-old case was filed in 2008.

    Justice Idris is the third judge to handle the case after Justices I. M. Sanni and A. R. Mohammed.

    Twelve witnesses were called in the course of the trial, six each by the prosecution and defence.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) re-arraigned Ladoja last November 5 following an amendment to the charge.

    The case went up to the Supreme Court due to interlocutory appeals filed by Ladoja.

    Ladoja was re-arraigned along with his former Commissioner for Finance Waheed Akanbi on 11 counts of money laundering and unlawful conversion of public funds.

    In the amended charge, EFCC added that Ladoja allegedly “compelled” a broker to sell the state’s shares.

    EFCC alleged that the former governor allegedly did not remit N1.9billion realised from the sale of the shares.

    The prosecution and the defence adopted their final written addresses and made closing arguments on January 21.

    Justice Idris, who was elevated to the Court of Appeal, concluded the trial through a fiat.

    EFCC accused the defendants of converting N1,932,940,032.48 belonging to Oyo to their personal use through the Guaranty Trust Bank account of a company, Heritage Apartments Limited, despite knowing that it was proceed of crime.

    The prosecution said Ladoja removed £600,000 from the state coffers in 2007 and sent it to Bimpe Ladoja in London.

    Ladoja also allegedly bought an armoured Land Cruiser jeep with N42million for himself using public funds.

    EFCC said he converted N728,600,000 and another N77,850,000 at different times in 2007, and allegedly transferred N77, 850,000 to Bistrum Investments, which he nominated to help him purchase a property named Quarter 361 in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

    The alleged offence, EFCC said, contravenes sections 17(a) and18 (1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004, punishable under sections 14(1), 16(a) (b) and 18(2).
    Ladoja and Akanbi pleaded not guilty.

    Ladoja was governor from May 29, 2003 to January 12, 2006 when he was impeached. On November 1, 2006, the Appeal Court Ibadan, declared the impeachment null and illegal.

    The Supreme Court upheld the decision on November 11, 2009, and Ladajo resumed office on December 12, 2006. He, however, lost a re-election bid.

  • Lagos, Kwara, Kogi, others get new police chiefs    

    NEW Commissioners are to take charge of Police Commands in Lagos, Kwara, Kogi and some other states.

    The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the appointment and deployment of 37 Command Commissioners of Police in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

    They are to resume in their new commands immediately, the PSC said. Also deployed were Assistant Inspector-General (AIGs).

    Their deployment followed the recommendation of Acting Inspector-General (IG) of Police Mohammed Adamu to the Commission.

    The PSC, which approved the posting of new Commissioners of Police to Lagos, Kwara, Kogi and other states, revalidated the appointment of others, including the FCT and Borno.

    With the approval, CP Mu’azu Zubairu will take over from Edgal Imohimi in Lagos State as CP.

    The details of the approval and deployment are contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by the Commission’s spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani.

    The commissioners and their new ciommand posts are: Buba Sanusi (Katsina); Mohammed Wakili (Kano); Rabiu Ladodo (Jigawa); Ahmed Iliyasu (Ogun); Mu’azu Zubairu (Lagos); Ibrahim Sabo (Niger); Alkassam Sanusi (Taraba); Garba M. Mukaddas (Adamawa); Omololu Bishi (Benue); Bola Longe (Nassarawa) and Isaac Akinmoyede (Plateau).

    Others are: Odumosu Hakeem (Edo); Olushola David (Bayelsa); Adeleke Yinka (Delta); Austin Iwero Agbonlahor (Cross River); Bashir Makama (Akwa Ibom); Awosola Awotunde (Ebonyi); Belel Usman (Rivers); Bello Makwashi (Gombe); Abdulrahman Ahmed (Kaduna); Bala Ciroma (FCT); Egbetokun Kayode (Kwara State); Hakeem Busari (Kogi); Asuquo Amba (Ekiti); Galadanchi Dasuki (Imo); Suleiman Balarabe (Enugu) and Dandaura Mustapha (Anambra).

    There are also: Etim Ene Okon (Abia); Ibrahim Kaoje (Sokoto); Celestine Okoye (Zamfara); Garba Danjuma (Kebbi); Abiodun Ige (Osun); Undie Adie (Ondo); Olukolu Shina (Oyo); Ali Janga (Bauchi); Damian Chukwu (Borno) and Sumonu Abdulmalik (Yobe).

    PSC Chairman Alhaji Musiliu Smith urged them to quickly settle at their new posts and ensure that the forthcoming general elections are peaceful, free, fair and transparent.

    The one-time IG said the country could not afford any disruption of the elections anywhere as the world was looking up to Nigeria for a proof that its democracy has continued to mature.

    The Commission said its approval had been conveyed to the acting IG for implementation.

    The AIG’s deployment came after they were decorated in Abuja by the IG.

    A statement by ACP Mba showed the identities of the deployed AIGs and their formations.

    The former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) boss Ibrahim Lamorde will head the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB); Wilson A. Inalegwu (Zone 9, Umuahia); Abdul Dahiru Danwawo (Maritime); Adeyemi O. Ogunjemilusi (Directing Staff NIPPS); Maurice A. Yusuf (Research & Planning); Murtala Mani (Force CID) and Tijani Baba (Zone 7, Abuja).

    Others are: Dibal Yakadi (Zone 5, Benin);

    Haruna Huzi Mshelia (Zone 3, Yola); Mohammed Mustapha  (Zone 10, Sokoto); Musa A. Kimo (Zone 6, Calabar); Adeleye Olusola Oyebade (Zone 11, Osogbo); Basen Dapiya Gwana (Zone 12, Bauchi); Karma Hosea Hassan (Staff College, Jos); Folawiyo David (Training & Development); Zana Ibrahim (Commandant, POLAC, Kano); Chris Ezike  (Zone 4, Makurdi) and Moses A. Jitiboh (Investment, FHQ).

    The IG charged the officers to diligently and professionally discharge their duties according to the laws, rules and regulations of the country.

  • Lagos: Of taxation and development

    Sir: The fourth president of the United States of America, James Madison said that the power of taxing people and their property is essential to the very existence of government. Franklin D. Roosevelt, the only US President to serve three terms also underscored the importance of tax when he asserted that: “Taxes, after all, are dues that we pay for the privileges of membership in an organized society.”

    Scholars of development economics have shed a sea of ink on the issue of taxation and its import to economic development. Amidst the penumbrae of arguments, the central tendency is that taxation is the price people pay for government services. Most often, because of the inherent tendency of people to resist payment of tax for essential services, taxes are compulsory payments individuals make to government.

    Irrespective of the school of thought one belongs, one is doubtless bound to contribute a certain portion of his income to government for the provision of essential social services. Similarly, it is the duty of government to apply such monies in the most efficient way to improve the living standards of the people.

    Since the return of democratic dispensation in 1999, successive administrations in Lagos State have had to contend with the knotty issue of attempting to boost the State Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) through the implementation of a viable and sustainable tax system.

    With about N600 million in 1999, when Asiwaju Bola Tinubu took over, the IGR rose to between N10 billion and N11 billion by 2007 when he left office. With continuing reforms in the internal revenue system, aggressive tax drive, capacity building and professionalism of the Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), the IGR of the state had by 2015 when BabatundeFashola (SAN)  left office, risen to about N23 billion monthly.

    What has been the secret of Lagos’ economic growth under the current administration is a revenue enhancement reform which has achieved higher IGR and providing a sustainable financial base for bridging the huge infrastructure deficit estimated at over US$50bn. Implementation of financial policy such as widening of the tax net, expansion of tax base, updating/upgrading of databases, improvement of administrative processes and operational efficiencies, among others has so far achieved an average monthly Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of N34billion in 2018 compared to monthly averages of the last three years.  In could be recalled that in just two and half years, the Lagos State government constructed Abule-Egba and Ajah Bridges among several other capital projects.

    There is vast empirical evidence that taxation correlates highly with economic growth in addition to some spill-over effect on effective service delivery. Lagos is a good example for research work in this direction. At the global level, no economy in history has ever achieved high per capital growth without a sustainable tax system. In fact the advanced capitalist economies depend heavily on taxation in running their economies. In Europe, U.S.A and Latin America, tax evasion is a punishable offence without the option of fine. The global economic power of Japan is Personal Income Tax.

    It is, thus, surprising that many states and local governments still depend their entire operations depend on the statutory federal allocation. It is an aberration that even the federal government still depends heavily on oil. Governments across the country need to borrow a leaf from Lagos State and be committed to expanding their tax net, updating/upgrading of databases, improvement of administrative processes and operational efficiencies of their tax agencies.  What should be of concern to patriotic Nigerians is not so much of paying tax but to enjoin their ministries of finance, the state’s revenue boards and other agencies empowered to administer tax to ensure that monies accruing from it are judiciously used to effect rapid development.

    If properly implemented, dividends of paying tax far outweigh the sacrifices.

     

    • RasakMusbau, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.