Business
Manufacturers Reject Ambode’s LUC, Despite Reduction
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has insisted that the Lagos State Government should have a re-think on its controversial Land Use Charge (LUC).
The association maintained that the new rate rolled out by the government was still high and that the charge would do more harm than good to the economy of the state.
Lagos is Nigeria’s economic capital and home to many industrial concerns.
The President of MAN, Dr Frank Jacob, told The Tide source over the weekend in Lagos that the Akinwunmi Ambode administration needed to think deeper before putting the charges in place.
Jacob argued that the global best practice was to tie increase in charges and rates to the country’s inflation rate.
On March 15, the government reduced commercial charges by 50 per cent, owner-occupier with third party, including industries and manufacturing concerns by 25 per cent and owner-occupied property by 15 per cent.
It also waived penalty for late payments across board and tax credits for LUC charges already paid and introduced installmental payment system.
“We still maintain that the rate is high. The current rate of inflation in the country is between 14 and 15 per cent.
“We think that the increase the Lagos State Government is proposing to do should not be more than 25 per cent of what was paid the previous year and not the current rate reduction of 25 or 50 per cent for property owners.
“If we have 200 per cent increase and it’s reduced by 50 per cent, it means that people are still paying 100 per cent of what they were paying before and that is too high.
“The rate of any increase should not be more than the prevailing inflation rate of the country, so that it would be easy for people to pay and also to maintain survival of the manufacturing sector.
“We hope the government would do more than what they have just done. It is encouraging that they listened to the cries of the people but I do not think they have done enough,” Jacob said.
Similarly, Director-General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr Muda Yusuf, said that the chamber’s stand on the discounted rate would be revealed after diligent scrutiny of its details and economic impact on citizens.
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.
