The Lagos Police Command has confirmed the kidnapping of Air Vice Marshal Sikiru Smith in Ajah, Eti-Osa local government area of the state.
A spokesperson for the command, Ajisebutu Adekunle, told Peoples Gazette the police tactical teams were on the kidnapper’s trail.
The retired officer was kidnapped by unknown gunmen Tuesday morning when he was on-site supervising a project.
A witness said the gunmen arrived in a boat, attacked Mr Smith, who struggled with them before being whisked away to an unknown location.
Corporal Odiji, who was with him at the time, sent out a voice note alerting the authorities of Smith’s abduction.
In the voice recording, Odiji said, “This is an emergency. I am Corporal Odiji, attached to Air Vice Marshal Smith. They just abducted him from the site where we were working.
“Some gunmen who were wearing masks just came and snatched my boss now. They shot everywhere. I was near where I was fixing my boss’ vehicle.
“As I was coming, I saw them leaving in a boat, but I wasn’t armed so I just ran to the site, and I saw his glasses and where he struggled with them. Please pass this information. It is an emergency,” the witness narrated in the voice note.
The Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 has accused Nigeria’s airport staff of taking bribes from travellers to evade mandatory quarantine at airports.
On Monday, the PSC decried the extortion by the airport workers.
“The PSC has noted with dismay, fraudulent activities at airports by employees who extort money from quarantine evaders,” said the chairman of the committee, Boss Mustapha, speaking at the national briefing of the PSC on Monday. “The authorities are conducting necessary investigation into various reports received.”
FAAN spokeswoman, Henrietta Yakubu, told journalists that the airport authorities needed time to find out the truth about the allegation.
“Honestly, our security is investigating so I cannot preempt them. Let them find out first. We need to find out if there is any truth to that statement, so you have to give us time, but I cannot preempt them. You can call again,” said Ms Yakubu.
Mustapha, who is also Secretary to the Government of the Federation, also explained that the PSC had taken note of challenges raised by travellers who visit the ‘National International Travel Portal’ in compliance with travel protocols.
“Notable progress is still being made in the area of vaccines. More than 3.5m doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines are being expected from the USA this September, while about four million doses of Astrazeneca is being expected early next month,” disclosed Mustapha.
“Nigeria will be receiving more than one million doses of Johnson and Johnson vaccine shipment on a monthly basis. The PSC is committed to access enough vaccines for the 70 per cent eligible persons in the country in record time.’’
While warning against complacency, he explained that “global cases have been on a decline for some time now, but there’s need for more caution,” especially among Nigerians.
“The PSC has observed that caution is needed rather than over-confidence. To slide into complacency can be very fatal, hence the need for serious caution and adherence to non-pharmaceutical intervention measures,’’ he stressed.
On UK’s advisory on COVID-19 vaccines and changes to international travel rules, Mustapha stated, “The British high commissioner in Nigeria has stated that the UK government supports the vaccination programme irrespective of where the vaccines were manufactured.”
He further noted that “Britain will open up international travels using a standardised COVID-19 vaccination certification process” to allow for ease of travel from other countries, including Nigeria.
The Senate on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, consider an Emergency Intervention Fund of about N300bn for critical roads in Niger State.
It said the state links the economic corridors in the North and South, hence the need for the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on major highways in the state.
The upper chamber said the intervention would facilitate the infrastructure rehabilitation efforts of government to support ease of business and economic recovery.
The Senate in its resolution urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on the critical roads in Niger state linking economic corridors in the North and South.
It also urged the Federal Government to direct the Federal Ministry of Works to carry out emergency stabilisation of the failed portions of Bida – Lapai – Lambatta road to ease the current suffering and rate of accidents and loss of goods and investments in the road.
The upper chamber further urged the Federal Government to consider an Emergency Intervention Fund for the critical roads in Niger State to the tune of N300 billion to concurrently fix the roads as part of the infrastructure rehabilitation efforts of the government to support ease of business and economic recovery across the country.
It also resolved that a National Legislative Roundtable on the State of Infrastructure for Economic Development be convoked, so as to bring all critical stakeholders in the transport and logistics industries together with a view to identifying urgent actions to address the current challenges.
The resolution was adopted just as senators bemoaned the deplorable state of critical roads across the country.
This was sequel to a motion brought to the floor during plenary by Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (Niger North).
Abdullahi, said, “The Senate noted with disbelief and shock the very ugly scene playing out in Niger State since February 24 to September 2021 in which heavy trucks and tanker drivers blocked all entry and exit roads to protest the horrible state of Federal roads passing through the State;
“Recall that Niger State has the longest federal road network of 2,263km out of a total of 32,000km of national federal roads network.
“The federal roads in Niger state stretched from the Abuja – Kaduna end to the Jebba – Mokwa – Makera – Tegina – Birnin Gwarimpa – Kaduna road to the Mokwa – New Bussa – Agwara – Kigera end which lies to the border with the republic of Benin.
“Overall, the following are critical linkage roads within Niger state that provide logistical and vehicular movements between the North and South; especially the South West and North West Corridors.
“Because of the massive land area of Niger State at 76,363km (representing about nine percent of the total land area of the country), all movements from North to South substantially traverse the State.
“Indeed, the massive haulage of heavy industrial goods such as petroleum products, iron rods, cement, finished manufactured goods, machines and equipment, electronic materials and goods, building materials etc, in which trucks and tankers are overloaded pits great pressure on the roads and thus are seriously devastating to the state of the roads.
“Cursory observation and reports indicate that many trucks and tankers are loaded with up to 90,000 Tonnes of goods and all vehicles are consistently loaded well above their approved tonnage.
“All the major link roads have totally failed with fatal accidents occurring on a daily basis with loss of lives, goods and vehicles.
“A development that angered the truck and tanker drivers to begin the protest as the only available alternative route to exit the state is the Bida – Minna road which is currently undergoing construction. This road itself is a failed road with many portions that cannot withstand any heavy truck movement as it is.
“The only road portion that is substantially motors or is the Mokwa Junction – Bida road which is itself under intense pressure by the heavy duty haulage activities of trucks and tankers and may not last two years under the current scenario.
“The Kontagora – Yauri road is also motorable but hard to reach, hence the pressure on state roads.
“Disturbed that the current rate of funding of federal roads in the state is unfortunately dismal and cannot deliver, which has led to many of the projects abandoned by contractors. The result is continuous pressure on the few good ones.
“Indeed, it is very sad that the main trunk road from Jebba – Mokwa – Tegina – Kaduna has been completely abandoned even though contracts have been awarded for the Jebba – Tegina section 1 and 2 since 2028 without funds sufficient to even mobilise the contractors.
“This is true also for Makera – Kontagora – Yauri which has been awarded since 2013; Bida – Lapai- Lambatta awarded since 2018 also but poor funding means stalled work. The massive accidents and losses on this road were responsible for the current blockade in the state.
“Agrees that nee ways and means for funding infrastructure in Nigeria must be seriously considered while also strengthening enforcement in the issues of excess weight load by trucks and tankers considering that over 90 percent of haulage of heavy goods are by road transport; pending when the ongoing train projects are delivered to ease the pressure.
“Further agrees that the current blockade had seriously affected economic activities in the country with heavy losses by investors and enterprises.
“It is therefore, important that urgent and emergency measures are out in place to forestall further occurrence while also considering a legislative round table in the state of transport infrastructure and institutional strengthening to support the economic diversification efforts and growth of the Nigerian economy.”
The Northern States Governors’ Forum on Monday opposed the call by its Southern counterpart that the Presidency should move to the South in 2023.
The northern governors, who stated this at their meeting in Kaduna, said the call by the Southern Governors’ Forum was against the constitution of the country.
But groups including the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, Afenifere and the Delta State Government said the northern governors’ position was against the unity of the country.
The southern governors at their recent meeting in Enugu reiterated their demand that the Presidency should shift to the South in 2023.
On Monday, the northern governors said although some of them had endorsed the Southern governors’ call for power shift to the South, the regional governors collectively condemned such a call.
They said the statement by their Southern counterparts contradicted the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.
They added that the elected President must meet the requirements which include getting “the majority votes, scoring at least 25 per cent of the votes cast in two thirds of the states of the federation; in case of a runoff, a simple majority win.”
These were contained in a communiqué issued after an emergency meeting of the regional governors and the chairmen of Northern Council of Chiefs held in Kaduna on Monday.
Northern Governors Await Supreme Court Judgment On VAT
The Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, who read out the communiqué on behalf of his colleagues, also said the issue of the collection of Value added Tax by states was before the court.
He said it would amount to subjuduice to take a decision on the matter.
Lalong insisted that it was the view of his colleagues that until there is pronouncement by the Supreme Court on the substantive matter between Rivers and the Federal Inland Revenue Service, “the matter is subjudice and Northern States Governors’ Forum would respect this.”
The 11-point-communique read, “The forum observed that some northern governors had earlier expressed views for a power-shift to three geopolitical zones in the South with a view to promoting unity and peace in the nation.
“Notwithstanding their comments, the forum unanimously condemns the statement by the Southern Governors’ Forum that the Presidency must go to the South.
“The statement is quite contradictory to the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended that the elected President shall score the majority votes; score at least 25 per cent of the votes cast in two thirds of states of the federation. In the case of a runoff, a simple majority win.
“The Northern State Governors’ Forum considered the ongoing national debate on the collection of Value Added Tax. As responsible leaders while we are constraint by the fact that the matter is sub-judice, we however for the purposes of educating the public make the following observations:
“The judgment of the Federal high Court calls to question the constitutionality of VAT, withholding tax, education tax, Niger Delta Development Commission, National Information Technology Development Agency, 13% derivation, National Economic Development Council and many other currently levied and collected by the Federal Government of Nigeria, Federal Inlands Revenue Service.
“Rivers and Lagos state governments have enacted their own VAT laws and the Southern Governors’ Forum has expressed support for this course of action;
“VAT is being confused by these state governments as a sales tax. If every state enacts its own VAT law, multiple taxation will result in increase in prices of goods and services and collapse in interstate trade. VAT is not a production tax like excise, but terminal tax which is paid by the ultimate consumer;
“Another confusion is ignoring observation above and its “overall effect”. The reason Lagos accounts for our 50 per cent VAT collection is because most of the telecommunication companies, banks, manufacturing and other trading activities have their headquarters in Lagos with the resultant and wrongful attribution of VAT
“Until and unless the Supreme Court pronounces judgment on the substantive matter between Rivers State and Federal Government, the matter is sub-judice and Northern Governors’ Forum would respect this.”
The governors also lauded the current onslaught by the military on bandits and insurgents in the some part of the north.
Besides, the forum decried the high level of conspiracies being perpetrated by some judicial officers in releasing and granting bail to arrested criminals. “This attitude sabotages the fight against criminality, therefore, there the need to develop good and robust intelligence mechanism amongst States was identified as a panacea,” Lalong added.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the South, including have taken on northern governors over opposition to power shift to the South.
On its part, the Delta State Government said it aligned with the decision of Southern Governors’ Forum.
The state Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, who stated this in an interview with reporters on Monday in Asaba, said, “The Delta State Government has already aligned with the decision of southern governors, so it does not matter whether the northern governors are opposing it. We were there when the decision was taken and that is final as far as Delta is concerned”
Northern Governors Exercising Their Right Of Free Speech – Akeredolu’s Aide
When contacted, his Ondo State counterpart, Donald Ojogo, said, “They (northern governors) have expressed and indeed exercised their rights under the freedom of expression. No one can stop them from expressing themselves.”
Northern Governors Working Towards Nigeria’s Break-Up – Ohanaeze
But the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, described the position of the northern governors as unfortunate.
It said the North benefited from the Nigerian union more than it contributed to it.
Spokesman for the Igbo apex body, Chief Alex Ogbonnia, who spoke to one of our correspondents on the telephone, warned the northern leaders to have a rethink if they wanted the Nigerian union to continue.
Ogbonnia said, “If there is any group of people that benefits from the corporate existence of Nigeria, it is the North. This is because what northerners bring to the table is far less than what they take from the table. So instead of looking for a way for Nigeria to remain united, develop and grow, they are looking at the way Nigeria will break up. It is simply inconceivable that the North that benefits the most from this country would like the country to break up.
“I have often said that if they are talking of constitutionality, as a matter of fact there is no place it is written in the constitution, but there is a gentleman agreement about power rotation between the north and south.
“The resolution was reached at the NUC (National Universities Commission) Event Centre at Abuja, and that was when Abdulsalami Abubakar was the Head of State and Commander in-Chief. It was agreed that power would shift from North to the South and that was why all the parties concentrated on the South and it was zoned to the South-West in 1999.
“After Obasanjo it went to Yar’Adua from North, to Jonathan from South and returned to North, Buhari. So now after Buhari, it is supposed to come down South. That is gentleman agreement. It is unconscionable for the North to begin to talk about the power remaining in the North now.
“So it is unfortunate that they will be trying to go contrary to the views expressed and demand by the southern governors. As far as I am concerned, the position of the Southern Governors is the Ohanaeze’s stand. Ohanaeze stands with the southern governors that power should come down to the South.”
Ogbonnia, however stated, “I don’t want to believe that the northerners are happy with what is happening in the country today. Only a person who is happy with what is happening will be talking about efforts that will bring about crisis and disunity. What is happening in Nigeria today is a result of injustice and inequity. Instead of trying to ameliorate the situation and bring about the desired the change based on equity, fair play and somebody will be very busy orchestrating more injustice.”
PANDEF described northern governors’ opposition for power shift to the South as most ridiculous, cowardly and irresponsible.
The National Publicity Secretary of the group, Ken Robinson stated this during a telephone chat with one of our correspondents on Monday.
Robinson said the attitude of the northern governors to the southern Presidency when they enjoyed massive support from the South for President Muhammadu Buhari to come to power was insensitive.
He stated, “The decision of the northern governors is most ridiculous and insensitive. It exposes them as hypocrites and cowards. That is what they are and they should be told clearly. Their decision is ridiculous.
“There is no sane person, nobody in his sane mind that should say power should not rotate after eight years of a northern presidency.
“Anybody, no matter how highly or lowly placed that says that there should be no power rotation in 2023 does not love Nigeria. He is one of those that does not want Nigeria to progress and to be united and does not want peace in Nigeria.
“Let it be known to the Northern governors and indeed the Northern community that there can be no peace without justice, and saying that there should be no power rotation is an act of injustice against southern Nigeria.
“Buhari was supported by southern Nigeria to become President. Our money was used to sponsor him and we can name the states where our money was used to sponsor Buhari to become President.
“After using our money and our votes to become President, they are saying that power will not shift. It is unfortunate, it is ridiculous and it is the most unreasonable, irresponsible statement from any group that exists in Nigeria,” the PANDEF spokesman added.
Northern Governors Paying Lip Service To Nigeria’s Unity – Afenifere
The National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Jare Ajayi, said equity and fairness demand that Presidency should come to the South in 2023.
Speaking in an interview with one of our correspondents on Monday, the group’s spokesman expressed surprise at the position of the governors, saying some northern governors had said before that power should come to the South in 2023
The Afenifere spokesman said, “ This new position by the governors indicated that the issue of forging unity in country is only on their lips and not in their hearts. It is true that zoning is not in the 1999 constitution. So are many other things that are done politically in form of convention.
“For example, it is not in the constitution that in a state with adherents of Muslims and Christians, the governor and his or her deputy should ideally be Christian and Muslim or vis-versa. It is also a matter of convention that two occupants of the said offices should not come from the same local government or senatorial zone.
“These are conventions and not necessarily constitutional matter. Such a convention is entrenched to forge unity and a sense of belonging.
Thus, while we, as Afenifere, concede that a presidential material can come from any part of the country, equity, fairness and justice demand that the next occupant of the exalted office must come from the South since the North would have occupied that office for unbroken eight years by 2023.
“As for a President needing at least 25 per cent of the votes cast in two thirds of the 36 states of the federation, the southern governors never said that the south can win the presidency without votes from the north. They are simply saying that their northern brethren should see the need to let presidential power shift to the South in 2023.”
The Afenifere spokesman asserted that restructuring should take place before the 2023 elections. “If this happens, most of what is causing brouhaha now would be a thing of the past.”
Panic this week gripped residents of Ogun State after the three highest positions of civil authority were left vacant for several days, Peoples Gazette has reported.
Concerns have flared across the state that Governor Dapo Abiodun, Deputy Governor Noimot Salako-Oyedele and House Speaker Olakunle Oluomo have all left the state to run without requisite constitutional authorities as they tour different countries in Europe and America.
Peoples Gazette reported that Abiodun was last seen two weeks ago when he reportedly departed for London and it was unclear when he planned to return to the state he was eventually elected to govern in 2019 after multiple attempts.
Multiple sources close to the governor informed The Gazette under anonymity that Messrs Abiodun, Salako-Oyedele and Oluomo still lingered abroad as of Monday night. The deputy governor is reportedly hibernating in London after a surgery; while the Speaker claimed to be running the state’s business in the United States.
Ogun State Government House
Sources said Abiodun was the first to travel and he asked Secretary to the State Government Tokunbo Talabi to run the state in his deputy’s stead. The governor’s action irked his deputy, who also “angrily travelled out of the country,” per a source familiar with the matter.
An official said Abiodun appeared to be suffering from an ailment about which he had been reluctant to publicly admit. The governor reportedly flew in doctors from abroad without disclosing how much was spent from state coffers to settle the bill.
Salako-Oyedele was also partly in London for a surgical operation and scheduled medical check-ups. Claims of the medical conditions of Messrs Abiodun and Salako-Oyedele has not been independently corroborated.
All our sources are state employees and sought exclusion of their identities from this story — which was granted in line with our editorial policy on anonymous sources.
The apparent vacuum was reported over the weekend by Ogun News Express and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party followed with a statement that condemned the development as illegal, dangerous and unprecedented.
“What Dapo Abidoun and his deputy have done is an embarrassment to the office and an insult to the people of Ogun,” rights activist Festus Ogun said in a message to reporters. “Their administration is setting a dangerous political precedent that seeks to outlaw the constitution and should be challenged.”
Abiodun’s spokesmen did not return calls and messages seeking comments about their principal’s disappearance from Ogun, one of Nigeria’s most viable federating units with about six million people.
A judicial workers’ industrial action crippled the state in September. Widespread protests have also enveloped the state over the deplorable state of the roads and the general decay of infrastructure.
On September 23, retirees and pensioners shut down the governor’s office seeking resolution on 10 years’ unpaid gratuities said to be accruing at N10 billion. Abiodun was seen in a photo-op with ruling APC bigwig Bola Tinubu in London at the time of the protests.
The Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) popularly known as ‘Shiites’ on Monday in Abuja embarked on its annual Arbaeen Symbolic Trek amidst tension and traffic gridlock.
Arbaeen is a Shiite annual religious practice usually conducted on 20th Safar of Islamic calendar to mark the 40th day of the murder of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammed who was killed on 10th Muharram.
The peaceful procession, which kicked off from Masaka in Nasarawa State ended at the Mararaba area leading to a gridlock in the area.
Members of the sect were seen with placards including portraits of the sons of their leader, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky who were killed during the ‘Zaria Massacre.’
According to a leader of the Movement, Sheikh Sidi Sokoto, who addressed journalists, said the purpose of the trek was to experience the trial and tribulation faced by the household of the Holy Prophet who was chained and dragged in the scorching desert, barefoot from Karbala in Iraq to Damascus in Syria after the killing of Imam Husain 61 years after Hijra.
“The fortieth day (Arbaeen) commemoration after the martyrdom of Imam Husain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) is commemorated annually by the Islamic movement, following a symbolic trek by millions of people from across the country.
“Though we started with few people and confined ourselves to a particular place and recited some supplication, we thank Allah now; we trek in millions, an indication that people are gradually beginning to realise the lofty position of Imam Husain (AS) in Islam.
“Today, the general public have witnessed how the Arbaeen trek like those before ended without any attempt to curb the right of safe passage to other road users. No panic was created by our Arbaeen trek. Love for Imam Husain (AS) is not the exclusive right of Muslims only. But because of the gruesome attack on the Imam at Karbala, the fortieth day after is commemorated by and for all those who love justice and fight against oppression in all ages, including ourselves.
“That is why we always welcome our brothers and sisters whom of their own free will trekked with us today. This is not the first time they have identified themselves with Imam Husain; they have done it before and we thankfully welcome them. This is the handwork of Allah, and not the trick or influence of anybody as no one forced us to trek, it is out of free will and love for the family of the Prophet(s),” he added.
There was no incident of violence during the rally as passers-by and residents were seen going about their normal businesses.
Recall that the movement had on so many occasions lost its members across the country following the attacks by the security agents.
Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, has said the historic nationwide #EndSARS protests that led to the scrapping of the brutish police unit was disrupted by thugs and prisoners unleashed on young Nigerians by the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
In an interview with the UK Guardian over the weekend, the Nobel laureate said he was delighted that the younger generation, whom he considered as lazy and in need of salvation, “took on these brutes called the SARS. And of course, it wasn’t just the SARS.”
Describing the protest as “an expression of discontent” by the younger generation, Soyinka said the protest, however, ended on a depressing note as sponsored “thugs took over”.
“To see this structured movement, I felt rejuvenated. I said: “At last, it’s happening,” and then what happened? The thugs took over. The villains took over. The underworld got in on the act. Prisoners were let loose. It was very depressing,” Soyinka said.
The demands of #EndSARS protesters included the scrapping of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigerian police notorious for extortion and extra-judicial killings, justice for SARS victims and compensation for families of police brutality, among others.
Nigerians witnessed state-sponsored thugs attack protesters during the historic #EndSARS protests championed by young Nigerians last year.
The protest ended on a sad note as Nigerian soldiers opened live rounds on protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate, Lagos, on October 20, 2020
One year after the Buhari administration promised to meet the protesters’ demands, with states constituting judicial panels on the matter, there’s been no reasonable outcome.
Big Brother Naija Shine Ya Eye housemates, Angel and Pere, have made it into the grand finale, after partaking in Biggie’s twist.
This was announced by Biggie on Monday, day 65 of the show, as he gave the duo a chance to partake in the finale.
On Sunday, Pere and Angel who had faced fake eviction during the live show were pitted against each other for them to continue as finalists on the show.
The duo were isolated in a ‘white room’ in the BBNaija house and had to battle their way back into the show through ‘trucks and screwdrivers’, according to Biggie.
Though the voting poll shows that Pere had 25.31% of votes while Angel had 14.63%, the duo played the double jeopardy game and Biggie decided to reward both of them.
After they told Biggie their experiences in fulfilling the task, Biggie said, “Clearly, you both put in the work. How would Big Brother reward your tenacity.
“Why not give the both of you a chance to play in the finals? After all, you played the game excellently.”
The duo tearfully thanked Biggie, who told them to pack their bags and get ready to enter into the house.
This comes after Angel’s dad alleged that his daughter has received threats due to the twist and Pere’s team also said they has been thrown off balance by same twist.
With Angel and Pere now in the finale, they get to compete with Emmanuel, Liquorose, Cross, and Whitemoney for the grand prize of N90 million.
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has asked the Supreme Court to accelerate its decision on the controversies surrounding VAT collection.
“Our take is that the supreme court should accelerate the decision on this so that we have clarity over who should be in charge of VAT – whether FIRS or states,” said Fayemi in an interview with ARISE TV on Sunday.
“We will wait for the supreme court to have a decision on this. The important thing is that our tax system is problematic, confusing and contradictory, and we need to do a lot more to begin to clarify things. So that we can have more efficient ways of collecting taxes.”
Fayemi, the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), said governors were currently looking at the legal and policy implication of the issue as they await the apex court’s decision on VAT controversies.
There have been controversies surrounding the collection of VAT after the Rivers Division of the Federal High Court, on August 10, ruled that Rivers, rather than the FIRS, was constitutionally empowered to collect and utilise VAT proceeds.
Following the ruling, Wike enacted the VAT law in the state, a move that was also adopted by Lagos, with Ogun and Akwa Ibom ready to follow suit.
However, the development has pitted the North against the South. While most northern governors want the status quo maintained, most of their southern counterparts want states to collect VAT.
Abubakar Malami, Nigeria’s attorney general of the federation last week, disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime will sue the governments of Rivers and Lagos at the Supreme Court to end the VAT war “once and for all.”
Malami explained that the ruling of the Court of Appeal that FIRS and the Rivers government maintain status quo favoured FIRS.
No fewer than 3,964 Nigerians are currently on the watch list of the Nigeria Immigration Service.
The names of the affected individuals, it was gathered, have been placed with security agencies at the nation’s international airports where they will be arrested on sight.
According to the 2020 NIS annual report suspect index, 308 persons were placed on the watch list in 2019, 166 in 2020, while 51 persons were stop-listed in two years.
No fewer than 3, 438 passports are also being watch, while 23 are on the exemption list.
The report states, “Suspect index reviews and maintains the list of persons whose entry into Nigeria is prohibited or on whom special instructions are in place with respect to entry and departure from Nigeria. The travel documents are the instruments used to achieve this objective through synergy with other law enforcement agencies and court of competent jurisdiction.”
In a related development, the NIS has revoked 149, 875 stolen or lost passports and uploaded them to Interpol’s Stolen and Lost Travel Documents database via the Web Services for Data Management platform.
Meanwhile, there are indications that the Federal Government may not meet its 2021 revenue projection from NIS services.
Findings show that there might be revenue shortfall from visa; e-PASS, ECOWAS Residence Card, the Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card and other documents issued by the NIS due to the reduced number of foreign visitors and expatriates in the country following COVID-19 travel restrictions.
Immigration sources said the number of Italians, Britons, South Africans, Chinese, Indians, and other Asians, who constitute a large percentage of expatriates in the country, had reduced on account of travel restrictions imposed by their respective countries.
The erstwhile Comptroller-General of Immigration, Muhammad Babandede had said the service recorded a 40 per cent revenue shortfall in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Figures from the NIS showed that in 2018, the immigration service generated N20.3bn from CERPAC; N40.7bn in 2019, and N16.7bn in 2020.
