Business
FIRS, EFCC To Tackle High Profile Tax Defaulters

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) is collaborating with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a bid to check tax evasion by high profile individuals in the country.
Head of Audit at FIRS, Mr. AjayiAdepoju, said the organization was enlisting the support of the EFCC to ensure that all taxable individuals pay whatever they are supposed to pay to government.
He spoke during a media chat organized by Voice 89.9 FM Chapel of the Nigeria Union Journalists (NUJ), in Ado Ekiti last Friday.
He described tax evasion as a serious economic crime that must be tackled by all relevant stakeholders to enable government generate revenue to meet the needs of the people.
Those who fail to comply, he said, would be prosecuted in consonance with the extant laws no matter how highly placed.
Adepoju revealed that FIRS generated a tax income of N5.32 trillion last year.
The FIRS chief advised the Ekiti State Government to look more inward to boost its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
He also advised state government to massively develop the agricultural sector, emphasizing on annexing the forestry base of the state.
The FIRS director also noted that the tax base of Ekiti is poor and advised that the government should take a painstaking effort to explore the mineral deposits in the state.
Exploring the mineral resources of the state, according to him, would help boost its tax income and provide more money to meet the needs of the people.
Adepoju added that he, in collaboration with Ado Progressive Union (APU), was working on different workshops to equip youths with skills that will greatly impact their means of livelihood.
Business
Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons
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.