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MAN Wants FG To Drop Planned VAT Increase

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6 years ago

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The President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), has called on the Federal Government to drop the idea of increasing Added Vallue chain (VAT) by 50 per cent. Engr.Ahmed Mansur has also reiterated the recent moves by the association to revive the Federation of West African Manufactures Association (FEWAMA) and Establish African Manufactures Association (AMA).
The President who was in Port Harcourt for the 35th Annual General Meeting of MAN, Rivers/Bayelsa States branch recently, said the effort was geared towards collaborating with other business membership organisations and research institutes in other countries.
Engr. Mansur said his leadership would focus on the development and promotion of value-chain development as a means of achieving greater manufacturing sector contribution to GDP, job section and prosperity for the businesses of MAN members.
MAN President said that the association has,’’ intensified efforts and engagement with heads of government, Ministries, Department and Agencies on policies that impact on the real sector.
‘‘ We have advised the government to jettison the idea of increasing Value Added Tax(VAT) by 50% as recommended by the federal ministry of finance. We have clearly stated that such move will be counterproductive, especially in the light of the still awaited minimum wage’’, he said.
He assured that some key reforms are underway as promised by the chief executive of tax agency, adding that widening the tax reach would be better than increase.
He, however, commended the branch for what he called excellent performance, adding that the branch would host the next association’s national council meeting would hold in Port Harcourt.
The Chairman of the branch, senator Adawari Michael Pepple said that the theme, ‘‘Redeeming our economic potentials through manufacturing’’, would engineer the state and nation to recover and revamp critical industries.
Senator Pepple noted that,’’ if we ignore the role of manufacturing in Nigeria as a tool for redeeming our economic potential, such act will be at our peril.
‘‘A better understanding of the direct and indirect channels through which diversified manufacturing growth can maximise economy and wide employment, particularly in relation to the services sector, is essential to inform appropriate policy choices.
The branch chairman noted the need for a break from the past if Nigeria must move forward, adding that ‘’ the operating environment for manufactures must be conducive and peaceful, free from criminality and fear.’’
He called on the leadership of the two states to include members of the association on boards of department and agencies, so as to bring their expertise and experiences in growing the states as it is done at the federal level and other states.

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Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons

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2 days ago

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September 22, 2025

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Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.

Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.

The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.

Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.

“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.

“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”

Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.

In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.

Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.

Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.

 

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NIS Ends Decentralised Passport Production After 62 Years

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2 days ago

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September 22, 2025

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The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has officially ended passport production at multiple centres, transitioning to a single, centralised system for the first time in 62 years.
Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the disclosure during an inspection of the Nigeria’s new Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja, last Thursday.
He stated that since the establishment of NIS in 1963, Nigeria had never operated a central passport production centre, until now, marking a major reform milestone.
“The project is 100 per cent ready. Nigeria can now be more productive and efficient in delivering passport services,” Tunji-Ojo said.
He explained that old machines could only produce 250 to 300 passports daily, but the new system had a capacity of 4,500 to 5,000 passports every day.
“With this, NIS can now meet daily demands within just four to five hours of operation,” he added, describing it as a game-changer for passport processing in Nigeria.
“We promised two-week delivery, and we’re now pushing for one week.
“Automation and optimisation are crucial for keeping this promise to Nigerians,” the minister said.
He noted that centralisation, in line with global standards, would improve uniformity and enhance the overall integrity of Nigerian travel documents worldwide.
Tunji-Ojo described the development as a step toward bringing services closer to Nigerians while driving a culture of efficiency and total passport system reform.
According to him, the centralised production system aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda, boosting NIS capacity and changing the narrative for improved service delivery.
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FG To Roll Out Digital Public Infrastructure, Data Exchange, Next Year 

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2 days ago

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September 22, 2025

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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced plans to roll out Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and the Nigerian Data Exchange (NGDX) platforms across key sectors of the economy, starting in early 2026.
Director of E-Government and Digital Economy at NITDA, Dr. Salisu Kaka, made the disclosure in Abuja during a stakeholder review session of the DPI and NGDX drafts at the Digital Public Infrastructure Live Event.
The forum, themed “Advancing Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure through Standards, Data Exchange and e-Government Transformation,” brought together regulators, state governments, and private sector stakeholders to harmonise inputs for building inclusive, secure, and interoperable systems for governance and service delivery.
According to Kaka, Nigeria already has several foundational elements in place, including national identity systems and digital payment platforms.
What remains is the establishment of the data exchange framework, which he said would be finalised by the end of 2025.
“Before the end of this year and by next year we will be fully ready with the foundational element, and we start dropping the use cases across sectors,” Kaka explained.
He stressed that the federal government recognises the autonomy of states urging them to align with national standards.
“If the states can model and reflect what happens at the national level, then we can have a 360-degree view of the whole data exchange across the country and drive all-of-government processes,” he added.
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