Author: Aminu Imam

“Tax reform, opportunity for North to be innovative” – Arewa Think-Tank

Aminu Imam
Arewa Think Tank

One of the notable Northern groups, Arewa Think Tank (ATT), has said that the proposed tax reform by the President Bola Tinubu administration is an opportunity for the North to be creative and innovative in exploiting mineral resources in the region for the benefit of the people. Recall that northern governors, traditional rulers, and Northern Elders Forum rejected the proposed tax reform Bills, saying they were not in the interest of the nation and the region in particular. Also, Governor Babagana Zulum, of Borno State, recently criticizmsed the tax reform…

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“Leave tax reform Bills discussion to economists”, MURIC tells clerics  

Aminu Imam
MURIC tells clerics

The Islamic human rights organisation, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has said economists and finance experts should be the ones talking about the Tax Reform Bills which are before the 10th Senate. Its Executive Director, Is’haq Akintola, stated this as videos of northern Islamic clerics preaching against the Bills are trending on social media. The Bills, which have passed second reading in the Senate, are the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2024 -SB.583; The Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) BILL, 2024- SB.584; The Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, 2024-SB.585, and the…

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P’Harcourt Refinery: Heads must roll if Nigerians were ‘deceived’ – Stakeholders insist 

Aminu Imam
Stakeholders insist

The controversy surrounding the commencement of the processing of crude oil from the Port Harcourt Refining Company will not be abating anytime soon as stakeholders have told newsmen that heads must roll at the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, (NNPCL), if Nigerians were deceived about the production status of the complex. Recall that last Tuesday, Nigeria’s major oil company, the NNPCL, had told surprised Nigerians that it had fulfilled its pledge of re-streaming the Port Harcourt Refining Company. The NNPCL added that the action would signal the commencement of crude…

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“We are not part of IPOB” – Igala Youth

Aminu Imam
Igala Youth

The Igala Youth Council in Kogi State has condemned the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for including the Igala ‘nation’ in their proposed ‘United States of Biafra’ without their consent. This strong stance was taken during an emergency meeting held in response to a viral video outlining IPOB’s plan for a 40-State Biafran nation. The Igala Youth Council emphasised that the Igala ‘nation’ was never consulted or invited to discuss this proposal and therefore, rejects IPOB’s attempt to include them in their secessionist agenda. The council’s National Publicity Secretary,…

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Babandede appointed Interim Chairman of Northern Broadcast Media Owners Association, (NBMOA)

Aminu Imam
Mohammed Babandede

The Board of Trustees of the Northern Broadcast Media Owners Association, (NBMOA), has appointed Muhammad Babandede, (OFR) as the Interim Chairman of the Executive Council of the association.  The appointment, conveyed in an official letter signed by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Alhaji (Dr.) Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan, will take effect from December 1, 2024. Babandede, a former Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), who currently serves as the Chairman/CEO of Muhasa Television and Radio, will lead the association for an interim period of six months. During…

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2027: “North yet to decide on Tinubu’s fate” – Arewa youths

Aminu Imam
AYCF Yerima Shettima

President-General of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, (AYCF), Yerima Shettima, has said the northern region is yet to take a unified position on whether to support, or oppose, President Bola Tinubu’s second-term bid in 2027. Recall that the suspended National Chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum, (ACF), Mamman Osuman, had last week said the North would support a candidate from the region against Tinubu in 2027, to save the north and the country from hardship. However, Shettima, in a published interview yesterday, said while discussions were ongoing on the matter, the…

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Crude Production: Navy targets 2m bpd before Dec. 31

Aminu Imam
Navy targets oil production

The Nigerian Navy Ship, ‘NNS Pathfinder’, has expressed optimism that the two million barrels per day (bpd) crude oil production target of the Nigerian National Petroleum Limited, (NNPCL), can be achieved before the end of 2024. The Commander, NNS Pathfinder, Commodore Cajethan Aniaku, said judging from the results achieved so far from its personnel, achieving the target may not be far-fetched. Commodore Aniaku gave the assurance while addressing newsmen yesterday in Port Harcourt, during its ‘4th Quarterly Road March’.  He said, “We are almost 100%, we are very efficient in…

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“Report banks with empty ATMs directly to CBN as from Dec. 1” – CBN tells Nigerians

Aminu Imam
CBN on banks ATMs

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said that with effect from December 1, 2024, bank customers who are unable to make withdrawals from Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) will be able to report directly to it through designated phone lines and emails for their States.  The apex bank governor, Olayemi Cardoso, stated this in his address at the Annual Bankers Dinner organised by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) in Lagos, on Friday. He said: “Effective December 1, 2024, customers are encouraged to report any difficulties withdrawing cash…

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AuGF uncovers N14bn tax fraud in over 30 MDAs under ex-President Buhari

Aminu Imam
AuGF uncovers N14bn tax fraud

A report by the Auditor-General of the Federation has unearthed tax irregularities amounting to N14.33bn across more than 30 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, (MDAs). The findings, disclosed in the Auditor-General’s annual report on ‘Non-Compliance and Internal Control Weaknesses’, highlight serious lapses in tax deductions, remittances, and compliance with financial regulations between 2020 and 2021. The report revealed that six MDAs were responsible for N129.34m in under-deduction of taxes. Paragraphs 234 and 235 of the Financial Regulations (2009) mandate accounting officers to ensure that all applicable taxes, such as Value-Added Tax…

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13-yr-old boy sues UK parents for ‘deportation’ to Africa 

Aminu Imam
13 yr old boy sues

A 13-year-old boy has taken legal action against his parents, accusing them of “brutally” taking him to Africa and enrolling him in a boarding school before abandoning him there. The boy, whose identity is protected, contacted the British Consulate and a child welfare organization after his parents registered him at an African school before returning to the United Kingdom. His legal team argued that his parents “physically and emotionally abandoned” him due to concerns over his potential involvement in gangs in London, an accusation the teenager denies vehemently. According to…

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