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Tax reform bills will destroy North – Zulum warns
Tax reform bills will destroy North – Zulum warns
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has raised serious concerns over the proposed tax reform bills, cautioning that they could severely harm the economy of the Northern region and other parts of Nigeria.
During an interview with BBC Hausa on Friday, Zulum questioned the speed of the legislative process surrounding the bills, contrasting it with the Petroleum Industry Bill, which took nearly two decades to pass.
“Why the rush? The Petroleum Industry Bill took almost 20 years before it was finally passed. But this tax reform bill is being transmitted and receiving legislative attention within a week. It should be treated carefully and with caution so that even after our exit, our children will reap its benefits,” Zulum said.
The governor expressed concerns that the proposed reforms are structured to disproportionately affect certain regions of the country.
“We condemn these bills sent to the National Assembly. They will drag the North backward and also affect the South East, South West, and some South-Western states like Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, and Ondo,” he said.
Zulum also alleged that some individuals might be influencing President Bola Tinubu with claims that the North does not support his administration.
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“This is not opposition. Based on our understanding, this bill will destroy the North entirely. We call on President Tinubu to review this decision. He secured 60% of his votes from the North. He should not listen to those telling him the North is not supporting him. What we need is the withdrawal of these tax bills,” Zulum added.
The governor warned that if the bills become law, states in the North would struggle to carry out developmental projects and might even find it difficult to pay salaries.
“If these bills pass, we won’t even be able to pay salaries. And if we do, it won’t be sustainable the following year. We are against it, and even Lagos State is against it. If this bill is dragging regions backward, why won’t they rescind it? Our National Assembly members, including some from the South, are not in support of it,” he lamented.
Speaking on behalf of the North East, Zulum emphasized that their opposition to the bills should not be misinterpreted as opposition to the government.
“This is our position, and it doesn’t mean we are against the government. We supported and voted for President Tinubu. But these bills will not be beneficial to us,” he clarified.
Recall that the Senate passed the tax reform bills for a second reading on Thursday after a debate among lawmakers.
The bills have now been referred to the Committee on Finance, which is expected to submit its findings within six weeks.
The four tax reform bills sent to the National Assembly include the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, aimed at providing a fiscal framework for taxation, and the Tax Administration Bill, which seeks to establish a unified legal framework for taxes and reduce disputes.
Other proposed legislation includes the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, which would replace the Federal Inland Revenue Service Act with the Nigeria Revenue Service, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill, designed to create a tax tribunal and a tax ombudsman.
Tax reform bills will destroy North – Zulum warns
metro
21-year-old female arrested in Nasarawa with 481 rounds of ammunition
21-year-old female arrested in Nasarawa with 481 rounds of ammunition
The Nasarawa State Police Command has announced the arrest of a 21-year-old suspected female arms runner who was en route to supply ammunition to terrorists in local government areas known for terror activities.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Nasarawa State Command, SP Ramhan Nansel, disclosed this to journalists on Thursday in Lafia, the state capital.
According to Nansel, the arrest followed credible intelligence indicating that Fatima Salisu, a native of Funtua in Katsina State, was intercepted in the Azuba area of Lafia. She was allegedly transporting a large cache of ammunition through Keana and Doma LGAs, en route to deliver the consignment to criminal elements in Katsina.
“Acting swiftly on the intelligence tip-off, Commissioner of Police, CP Shetima J. Mohammed, ordered the immediate deployment of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit,” Nansel said.
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The operation led to the arrest of the suspect and the recovery of 400 rounds of 7.62x39mm ammunition and 81 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition.
The suspect is currently in custody and undergoing interrogation as investigators work to dismantle the arms trafficking network and trace its connections to armed banditry and terrorism.
The Police described the arrest as a significant step in the ongoing fight against illegal arms proliferation and crime in the region.
The Command reaffirmed its commitment to ridding the state of crime and urged members of the public to continue providing security agencies with timely and credible information.
21-year-old female arrested in Nasarawa with 481 rounds of ammunition
metro
Over 75% of Nigerian imports offloaded in Benin Republic – Speaker Abbas
Over 75% of Nigerian imports offloaded in Benin Republic – Speaker Abbas
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has raised alarm regarding reports that over 75% of Nigerian-bound imported goods are being offloaded in the Benin Republic.
The Speaker raised the alarm while addressing a delegation of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) at his office on Wednesday, according to a statement by his media aide, Musa Abdullahi Krishi.
He called for reforms in the Nigerian economy to address bottlenecks in the import and export chain in the maritime sector.
Speaker Abbas raised the alarm over reports that countries are avoiding shipment to Nigeria, noting that some reports indicate over 75 percent of imported goods offloaded in the Benin Republic are actually meant for Nigerian destinations,” the statement partly reads.
Import and Export Chain in Nigeria’s Maritime Sector
At the meeting with PEBEC, the Speaker decried that Nigeria is losing huge revenue to neighboring West African countries due to administrative issues at the borders.
- Speaker Abbas assured PEBEC that the House will attend to the reforms sought by the council, particularly the enforcement of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN) Act and the fate of investors in the Free Trade Zones under the Tax Reform Bills.
“I feel really sad that we in Nigeria, in some areas, are doing things differently. Even from our neighbours here in West Africa, I hear complaints about customs bureaucracy and clearance. I hear about the shipping industry and ports regulatory authorities. All these are taking so long to provide, and the costs of even bringing in products to Nigeria-in some instances doubling what they collect (as duty) in our neighbouring countries.
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“I think those are serious and major areas that your agency (PEBEC) needs to actually pay attention to. There is so much you can do by looking at our regulatory bodies, particularly those responsible for international business and trade, and see what you can do to make the Nigerian environment more competitive,” the Speaker said.
- The Speaker recalled his recent visit to Morocco, where officials of the North African country criticized the bureaucracy and delays in the import and export chain between Nigeria and Morocco.
- He stated that addressing the issues in the shipping system will be a win-win for the Nigerian government and foreign investors.
“We will take action immediately,” the Speaker assured PEBEC.
- Speaker Abbas stated further that reviews would be conducted to enable Nigeria to respect previous agreements signed with foreign investors in the Free Trade Zones.
- He disclosed that he receives complaints “every day from the private sector and foreign investors complaining of bottlenecks” in every facet of Nigeria’s economic life.
Over 75% of Nigerian imports offloaded in Benin Republic – Speaker Abbas
metro
Final-year Abia varsity student dies while playing football
Final-year Abia varsity student dies while playing football
A final-year student of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Nwachukwu Omiko, slumped and d!ed during a football training session.
The tragic incident occurred at the San Siro Football Pitch within the university on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.
The Mechanical Engineering student, said to be asthmatic, was playing football with his mates when he suddenly collapsed.
Immediate efforts by fellow students to resuscitate him were unsuccessful, prompting them to alert the University Health Services.
According to a statement signed by the Chief Public Relations Officer of the university, Ubadire Agua, the student was rushed to the hospital but was confirmed d3ad by doctors on arrival.
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“He was immediately rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in the university’s oxygen-equipped ambulance at neck-breaking speed,” the statement read.
“Despite the swift intervention and medical efforts, the university expressed deep regret over the loss of the promising student.
“The university regrets that despite the efforts to keep Mr Omiko alive, it lost him to the cold hands of death.”
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, has also extended heartfelt condolences to Omiko’s family, the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology, and the entire student community.
The university management appealed to all students to prioritise their health by checking their status with the university health services upon arrival on campus.
It also advised students with underlying health conditions to avoid engaging in strenuous physical activities.
Final-year Abia varsity student dies while playing football
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