Business
FG Suspends 5% Telecoms Tax On Services
The Federal Government has suspended the proposed excise duty on telecommunication services.
The suspension was announced by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Pantami, on Monday during the inaugural meeting of the Presidential Committee on Excise Duty for the Digital Economy Sector in Abuja.
According to the Minister, the Information, Technology and Communication sector, especially the telecom industry, is already overburdened by excessive and multiple taxations, which will likely adversely affect the sector, if the government fails to take any precaution.
Pantami noted that the ICT sector has been the backbone of the Nigerian economy both in its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product and taxes collected by the Federal Inland Revenue Service.
“However, in spite of the contributions and achievements of the sector, we have been recording some challenges coming up from time to time that if care is not taken, these challenges could be a barrier to the development of this sector in the next few years to come. One of them is the issue of excessive taxation and sometimes, multiple taxations in the sector”, the Minister said.
He further disclosed that the number of taxes from both federal and state levels paid by firms in the ICT sector rose from 39 in August to 41 in September 2022, within a period of about a month.
“The ICT sector is being overburdened with so many categories of tax,” Pantami stressed, adding, “If care is not taken, this is going to jeopardize the achievements and gains we have recorded so far in the sector.”
The Federal Government, through the Budget Office of the Federation, had earlier revealed that it would begin the implementation of its proposed excise duties on telecommunication services and beverages in 2023.
However, Pantami has maintained that he is against implementing this tax, which would increase the cost of telecommunication services for Nigerians.
The Minister noted that with the increase in operating costs due to inflation and rising diesel, there were more than 15 attempts to increase the price of telecommunication services within three years, which he kicked against.
He also said he rejected the excise duty on telecoms because such a tax is usually introduced on luxury products or services.
He added that in most countries, it is usually introduced to reduce the consumption of certain things in the country, such as cigarettes.
Pantami noted that by implication, it means the government is discouraging Nigerians from using telecommunication services, which have become a necessity for many Nigerians.
He said introducing the tax would likely destroy the sector and further contribute to more hardship for Nigerians.
The Federal Government, however, inaugurated a committee to review the possibility of introducing the excise duty in the digital economy sector and advised the presidency on the necessary steps to take.
Business
NOSDRA Targets Improvement On Oil Sector Environmental Regulations
The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency has vowed to improve environmental regulations in the petroleum sector by accelerating memoranda of understanding with industry operators, ensuring they align with international standards.
NOSDRA’s Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Chukwuemeka Woke, disclosed this in Abuja while playing host to members of the Clean Nigeria Associates Board of Directors, according to a statement from the agency recently.
According to the statement, the visit underscored the agency’s collaboration with industry stakeholders to bolster environmental safety in oil spill detection and response.
Woke expressed gratitude for the CNA’s congratulatory message following his appointment and acknowledged the association’s recognition of NOSDRA’s regulatory role.
He assured CNA that the agency will prioritise their requests and expedite the MOU process to ensure that petroleum companies operate in compliance with global environmental standards.
CNA’s Chairman, Dr. Adeshina Sadiq, who also serves as the General Manager of Health, Safety, and Environment at Seplat Energy, conveyed the association’s congratulations to Woke.
He stated the CNA’s desire to deepen collaboration with NOSDRA and move the MOU beyond paperwork to practical implementation.
Sadiq also proposed that NOSDRA expand CNA’s role in the biennial Global Initiative for West, Central, and Southern Africa summit, advocating for broader regional participation in oil spill response efforts, including in the Gulf of Guinea.
He called for the inclusion of a CNA board member and an executive in future summits to enhance their engagement.
While expressing the association’s quest for regional positioning by collaborating in oil spill response beyond the shores of Nigeria, including the Gulf of Guinea, Sadiq, according to the statement, urged “NOSDRA to expand the representation of CNA’s participation in the biennial GI-WACAF summit to include a board member of the association and another from its executive”.
Business
Customs, Rep Collaborate On Economic Growth, Security
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), through its Industrial Area Command, is set to collaborate with stakeholders to strengthen security, foster economic growth and build a brighter future for the Amuwo Odofin Federal Constituency, Lagos State.
When the member representing the constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon.George Olawande, paid her a courtesy visit, the customs area controller, Odeworitse Rebecca, said the command will collaborate with the constituency in accordance with the comptroller-general of customs, Bashir Adeniyi’s policy thrust.
According to Odeworitse, the command is working diligently to facilitate trade, generate revenue, and identify new factories for excise control.
“The command is responsible for supervising, collecting, and accounting for excise duty from factories producing excisable goods. We work diligently to facilitate trade, generate revenue, and identify new factories for excise control. Therefore, all corporate social responsibilities (CSR) regarding community development are forwarded to the headquarters for approval of the CGC.
“The Lagos Industrial Area Command’s doors are opened and fully prepared to collaborate with our stakeholders to strengthen security, foster economic growth and build a brighter future for the constituency in accordance with the CGC’s policy thrust.
“Close collaboration between stakeholders and security agencies is essential for sustainable development”.
However, the CAC said in accordance with the World Customs Organization (WCO) theme for 2024 International Customs Day (ICD) celebration ‘Customs Engaging Traditional and New Partners with Purpose’, further stated that, the Lagos Industrial Area Command shares in the constituency’s belief and dedication to the community.
She further called for closer collaboration and continued partnership in ensuring the effective and efficient operations of the Service in Festac Town.
Speaking earlier, Hon.Olawande said he was on a collaboration tour to security agencies within the constituency towards community development of the constituency.
Business
FG, Russian Consortium Sign Agreement On Ajaokuta Steel Plant Rehabilitation
The Federal Government has signed an agreement with a Russian Consortium Company for the rehabilitation, completion and operation of the Ajaokuta Steel Plant and National Iron Ore Mining Company in Kogi State.
The Head, Press and Public Relations Department, Ministry of Steel Development, Salamatu Jibaniya, disclosed this in a statement recently.
According to the statement, the agreement was signed by the Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu, when he led a Nigerian delegation to Moscow, Russia, on a working visit.
According to the statement, “The Federal Government of Nigeria through the Honourable Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, who led a Nigerian delegation to Moscow, Russia from 14th – 21st September 2024, on a working visit, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the original builders of Ajaokuta Steel Plant Messrs, Tyazhpromexport (TPE) and members of their consortium namely; Novostal M and Proforce Manufacturing Limited for the Rehabilitation, Completion and Operation of Ajaokuta Steel Plant (ASP) and National Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO) in Kogi State, Nigeria”.
It explained that the call was accepted by the Russian Federation when a consortium led by Messrs TPE visited the steel plant in Ajaokuta and the iron ore mining site at Itakpe in August 2024 for preliminary inspections leading to the invitation for the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding.
Audu said this is a bold step towards creating a sustainable base for the industrialisation of the Nigerian economy, noting that the revival of the steel sector will also reduce the importation of steel products into Nigeria, which is estimated at over $4 billion annually and will help save scarce foreign exchange.
The statement further said during the visit, the Nigerian delegation met with the Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, Alexey Gruzdev, and the consortium, led by TPE, assured the Nigerian delegation of the readiness of the consortium to meet the expectations of the MoU with the Nigerian government.
In his remark, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Steel Development, Chris Isokpunwu, affirmed the commitment of the Nigerian government to revamp the Ajaokuta steel project and national iron ore mining company.
The President of Metallurgical Holding, “Novostal – M”, Demchenko Ivan Ivanovich, assured the delegation of their readiness to submit a detailed proposal for the project after the comprehensive audit of the plant.
The General Director of Messrs TPE, Egorov Sergei Anatolevich, and the Group Managing Director of Proforce Manufacturing Limited, Adetokunbo Ogundeyin, assured the Nigerian delegation of their commitment to the project because of its critical role in the overall economic development of Nigeria and requested the provision of an enabling environment by the Nigerian government.
“The parties expressed their optimism that the full implementation of the MoU will facilitate the revival of both Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited and National Iron Ore Mining Company and could create over 500,000 direct and indirect jobs for Nigerians and increase the size of the economy by billions of dollars thus contributing immensely to President Tinubu’s desire to grow the economy to over $1trillion by 2030″, the statement continued.
The steel company, located in Kogi State, was built between 1979 and functioned up till the mid-1990s, but it has become moribund.
In September 2022, the Nigerian government agreed to pay $496 million to settle an Indian firm’s claim over the facility.
The dispute followed the Federal Government’s revocation in 2008 of an agreement that handed control of the steelworks and the National Iron Ore Mining Company to the Indian firm.
In cancelling the deal, the Umar Yar’adua administration said the terms of the concession at the time were not favourable to the country.
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