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3rd Anniversary: EU Lauds Wike On Projects Delivery
The European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Ketil Karlson has commended the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike for entrenching good governance through the execution of pro-people projects.
Speaking after commissioning Chief Emmanuel Wonukwuru Aguma House (Former Produce House) in Port Harcourt yesterday, Ambassador Karlson said that infrastructural development is key to the growth of a developing country.
He said: “From the images I have seen on the board, this is a symbol of good governance. It is a sign of the good things that can be done in the country.
“Key infrastructure is necessary for the development of Nigeria. This is an important step in the right direction “.
He said at present, the European Union has 181 Projects in Rivers State. He said that the union will continue to partner with the Rivers State Government to attain development goals.
“We are partnering with the Rivers State Government to enhance development. What is good for the people of Europe is good for the people of Rivers State. We look forward to greater cooperation with the Rivers State Governor”, he said.
In his remarks, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike announced the re-naming of the edifice from Produce House to Chief Emmanuel Wonukwuru Aguma House in honour of the first administrator of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area.
He said renaming the project is aimed at encouraging upcoming Rivers people to contribute to the development of the state.
The governor said that Late Chief Emmanuel Aguma played a key role in the creation of the state.
He said that two floors have been allocated to the United Nations, while the World Bank and other agencies will operate from the other floor.
Earlier, the Rivers State Head of Service, Mr Ruben Godwins described Governor Wike as a transformational leader who has developed Rivers State.
He said the Chief Emmanuel Aguma House is a product of visionary thinking by the Rivers State Governor . He said that the remodelling of the structure took 11 months.
Meanwhile, officials of Real Madrid Football Club and Confederation of African Football (CAF), yesterday, performed the historic foundation laying ceremony for the Real Madrid Football Academy in Port Harcourt, initiated by Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike.
The foundation laying ceremony, which took place at the precincts of Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt, attracted the President of Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Mr Amaju Pinnick, President of International Sports Press Association, Gianni Merlo, President, International Sports Press Association Africa, Mitchell Obi, International Sports Writers, ex-internationals and top officials of Real Madrid Football Club.
Laying the foundation for the Real Madrid Football Academy, President of CAF, Ahmad Ahmad said the academy is not only for Port Harcourt or Nigeria, but for the entire continent.
He said that the Real Madrid Football Academy would promote international football best practices in the continent as well as raise future stars.
Ahmad noted that the timing of the construction of the academy is a proof that it was ordained by God.
Initiator of the Real Madrid Football Academy and Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, who spoke at an international press conference during the foundation laying ceremony, said that the academy would help in building a new crop of international stars across the country.
He said that the Real Madrid Football Academy would be open to all kids, but with special preference to Rivers children, whose resources would fund the project.
Wike said: “When we initiated this laudable project, people doubted it, making difference cynical comments. However, today, this project has come to fruition. It will be a solid foundation for our children.
“We are proud to be associated with the best club in the world. Therefore, we will groom the best set of footballers”.
Wike said that the project would be completed in seven months, and commissioned for use by members of the public, adding that children to be admitted into the school would be between eight and 16 years.
“Sports are a catalyst for development. What we are doing is for the interest of everybody. To tell our footballers, we will do everything to support you”, he said.
In his remarks, President of International Sports Press Association, Mr Gianni Merlo said Real Madrid as the best club in the world would develop a new set of stars from the academy in Rivers State.
Merlo said: “This is an important project for the whole world. It will mould international stars, who will shape the game in the future”.
President of Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinick said that with the Real Madrid Football Academy, Nigeria would ensure the emergence of another generation that will keep the nation’s flag flying in the international football circle.
In his remarks, Rivers State Sports Commissioner, Mr Boma Iyaye said that with the establishment of the Real Madrid Football Academy, Wike has shown unprecedented love for soccer.
He said the academy would contain a club house, classrooms, conference centre, training pitches and 1,000-capacity spectator stand, among other facilities.
The General Manager of Real Madrid Football Academy in Port Harcourt, Tareh el-Hajj said that the academy was in full swing as the management of Real Madrid, in liaison with the Rivers State Government, has set in motion modalities to ensure it succeeds.
He said coaches and medical staff for the academy would be accredited for the commencement of the process.
Other officials of Real Madrid who graced the occasion include, Manager, Real Madrid Foundation, Africa/Middle East, Inigo Arenillas, and Real Madrid Fund-Raising Officer, Oscar Diaz.
President Bola Tinubu yesterday signed into law four tax reform bills aimed at transforming Nigeria’s fiscal and revenue framework.
The four bills include: the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill.
They were passed by the National Assembly after months of consultations with various interest groups and stakeholders.
The ceremony took place at the Presidential Villa, yesterday.
The ceremony was witnessed by the leadership of the National Assembly and some legislators, governors, ministers, and aides of the President.
The presidency had earlier stated that the laws would transform tax administration in the country, increase revenue generation, improve the business environment, and give a boost to domestic and foreign investments.
“When the new tax laws become operational, they are expected to significantly transform tax administration in the country, leading to increased revenue generation, improved business environment, and a boost in domestic and foreign investments,” Special Adviser to the President on Media, Bayo Onanuga said on Wednesday.
Before the signing of the four bills, President Tinubu had earlier yesterday, said the tax reform bills will reset Nigeria’s economic trajectory and simplify its complex fiscal landscape.
Announcing the development via his official X handle, yesterday, the President declared, “In a few hours, I will sign four landmark tax reform bills into law, ushering in a bold new era of economic governance in our country.”
Tinubu made a call to investors and citizens alike, saying, “Let the world know that Nigeria is open for business, and this time, everyone has a fair shot.”
He described the bills as not just technical adjustments but a direct intervention to ease burdens on struggling Nigerians.
“These reforms go beyond streamlining tax codes. They deliver the first major, pro-people tax cuts in a generation, targeted relief for low-income earners, small businesses, and families working hard to make ends meet,” Tinubu wrote.
According to the President, “They will unify our fragmented tax system, eliminate wasteful duplications, cut red tape, restore investor confidence, and entrench transparency and coordination at every level.”
He added that the long-standing burden of Nigeria’s tax structure had unfairly weighed down the vulnerable while enabling inefficiency.
The tax reforms, first introduced in October 2024, were part of Tinubu’s post-subsidy-removal recovery plan, aimed at expanding revenue without stifling productivity.
However, the bills faced turbulence at the National Assembly and amongst some state governors who rejected its passing in 2024.
At the NASS, the bills sparked heated debate, particularly around the revenue-sharing structure, which governors from the North opposed.
They warned that a shift toward derivation-based allocations, especially with VAT, could tilt fiscal balance in favour of southern states with stronger consumption bases.
After prolonged dialogue, the VAT rate remained at 7.5 per cent, and a new exemption was introduced to shield minimum wage earners from personal income tax.
By May 2025, the National Assembly passed the harmonised versions with broad support, driven in part by pressure from economic stakeholders and international observers who welcomed the clarity and efficiency the reforms promised.
In his tweet, Tinubu stressed that this is just the beginning of Nigeria’s tax evolution.
“We are laying the foundation for a tax regime that is fair, transparent, and fit for a modern, ambitious Nigeria.
“A tax regime that rewards enterprise, protects the vulnerable, and mobilises revenue without punishing productivity,” he stated.
He further acknowledged the contributions of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee, the National Assembly, and Nigeria’s subnational governments.
The President added, “We are not just signing tax bills but rewriting the social contract.
“We are not there yet, but we are firmly on the road.”
The Senate has issued a 10-day ultimatum to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) over its failure to appear before the Senate Committee on Public Accounts probing alleged financial discrepancies amounting to over ?210 trillion in its audited reports from 2017 to 2023.
Despite being summoned, no officials or external auditors from NNPCL showed up yesterday.
However, representatives from the representatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and Department of State Services were present.
Angered by the NNPCL’s absence, the committee, yesterday, issued a 10-day ultimatum, demanding the company’s top executives to appear before the panel by July 10 or face constitutional sanctions.
A letter from NNPCL’s Chief Financial Officer, Dapo Segun, dated June 25, was read at the session.
It cited an ongoing management retreat and requested a two-month extension to prepare necessary documents and responses.
The letter partly read, “Having carefully reviewed your request, we hereby request your kind consideration to reschedule the engagement for a period of two months from now to enable us to collate the requested information and documentation.
“Furthermore, members of the Board and the senior management team of NNPC Limited are currently out of the office for a retreat, which makes it difficult to attend the rescheduled session on Thursday, 26th June, 2025.
“While appreciating the opportunity provided and the importance of this engagement, we reassure you of our commitment to the success of this exercise. Please accept the assurances of our highest regards.”
But lawmakers rejected the request.
The Committee Chairman, Senator Aliyu Wadada, said NNPCL was not expected to submit documents, but rather provide verbal responses to 11 key questions previously sent.
“For an institution like NNPCL to ask for two months to respond to questions from its own audited records is unacceptable,” Wadada stated.
“If they fail to show up by July 10, we will invoke our constitutional powers. The Nigerian people deserve answers,” he warned.
Other lawmakers echoed similar frustrations.
Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) insisted that NNPCL’s Group CEO, Bayo Ojulari, must personally lead the delegation at the next hearing.
The Tide reports that Ojulari took over from Mele Kyari on April 2, 2025.
Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi (Ebonyi North) said the two-month request suggested the company had no answers, but the committee would still grant a fair hearing by reconvening on July 10.
Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) warned the NNPCL against undermining the Senate, saying, “If they fail to appear again, Nigerians will know the Senate is not a toothless bulldog.”
Last week, the Senate panel grilled Segun and other top executives over what they described as “mind-boggling” irregularities in NNPCL’s financial statements.
The Senate flagged ?103 trillion in accrued expenses, including ?600 billion in retention fees, legal, and auditing costs—without supporting documentation.
Also questioned was another ?103 trillion listed under receivables. Just before the hearing, NNPCL submitted a revised report contradicting the previously published figures, raising more concerns.
The committee has demanded detailed answers to 11 specific queries and warned that failure to comply could trigger legislative consequences.
The National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA) said over 17 million Nigerians travelled out between 2023 and 2024.
This is as the association announced that it would be organising a maiden edition of Eastern Travel Market 2025 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital from 27th to 30th August, 2025.
Vice Chairman of NANTA, Eastern Zone, Hope Ehiogie, disclosed this during a news briefing in Port Harcourt.
Ehiogie explained that the event aims to bring together over 1,000 travel professionals to discuss the future of the industry in the nation and give visibility to airlines, hospitality firms, hospitals and institutions in the South-South and South-East, tagged Eastern Zone.
He stated that the 17 million number marks a significant increase in overseas travel and tours.
According to him, “Nigerian travel industry has seen significant growth, with 17 million people traveling out of the country in 2023”.
Ehiogie further said the potential of tourism and travel would bring in over $12 million into the nation’s economy by 2026, saying it would be a major spike in the sector, as 2024 recorded about $4 million.
“The potential of tourism and travel is that it can generate about $12 million for the nation’s economy by 2026. Last year it was $4 million.
“In the area of travels, over 17 million Nigerians traveled out of the country two years ago for different purposes. This included, health, religious purposes, visit, education and others,” Ehiogie said.
While highlighting the potential of Nigeria’s tourism, he said the hospitality industry in Nigeria has come of age, saying it is now second to none.
The Vice Chairman of NANTA, Eastern Zone further said, “We are not creating an enabling environment for business to thrive. We need to support the industry and provide the necessary infrastructure for growth.”
He said the country has a lot of tourism potential, especially as the government is now showing interest in and supporting the sector.
Ehiogie emphasized that NANTA has been working to support the industry with initiatives such as training schools and platforms for airlines and hotels to sell their products.
He added, “We now have about four to five training schools in the region, and within two years, the first set of students will graduate. We are helping airlines sell tickets and hotels sell their rooms.”
Also speaking, former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of NANTA, Stephen Isokariari of Dial Travels, called for more support from the industry.
Isokariari stated, “We need to work together to grow the industry and contribute to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.
“With the right support and infrastructure, the Nigerian travel industry has the potential to make a significant contribution to the nation’s economy.”