…As Firm Pledges Support To End Multiple Taxations On Goods And Service Nationwide

In his renewed determination to refashion and sanitize the tax regime, guarantee food security, ensure end of all manner of multiple taxations on goods and services across the country, the Managing Director of ATD Global Security Limited, Ambassador Olakunle Johnson, a multitask security service consulting firm, has announced its readiness to close ranks with the Federal Government, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), ministries, Department and Vendors, Consultants as well as all registered Certified Consultant in Nigeria to bring it to an end.

The Company through the Chairman and Managing Director stated that the resolve has become imperative in line with global standards best practices where private concerns are encouraged through enabling environment and Ease of Doing Business to stimulate, promote and harness economic opportunities as well as ensure job creation.

Ambassador Olakunle Johnson noted that such is also in an effort to appreciate the support and endorsements so far given by the Federal Ministries of Agriculture & Rural Development, Special Duties & Inter-Governmental Affairs, Transportation, Petroleum Resources etc and other relevant Departments & Agencies of Governments in ensuring that an end of Multiple taxations on commodities and other allied service were prioritized across the country.

The ATD Chief Executive Officer also recalled that as part of efforts aimed at progressively re-orientating his workforce the firm recently embarked on awareness camping and sensitization drive to promote the laudable initiative by ALGON.

He stated that thousands of prospective and passionate qualified young men and women especially within the youth brackets has been screened and inducted to it’s job opening.

To To advocate for the the most vulnerable He not d that they have been equiped with requisite training at Police Training College, Ikeja for the National Anti-Multiple Taxation Scheme devoid of extortions and racketeering.

It will be recalled that the projects has been given the political will in line with the leadership direction of the present ALGON National Executive led by the ALGON National President, Hon Alabi Kolade David, who has sought the need to give it a go ahead in line with the Constitutional responsibility of Nigerian Local Governments and Councils through ALGON it’s umbrella body as enshrined in the 4th Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (As amended).

The Projects are equally aimed at
supporting the Federal Governments Economic Sustainability Programme (ESP) thereby providing the enabling environment for ease of doing business, (EOD).

ATD Chief Executive observed that its backing has come at no other better time than now in compliance with the Presidential Approval through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMA&RD), which hitherto conveyed the ban on illegal collection of taxes, levies and fees on agricultural produce, Agro-Allied products and general goods on Nigerian roads.

ALGON on its part has initiated partnership programmes to drive the process with other stakeholders through the NAMTAXS and NATIS Projects.

Meantime, the ATD has enjoyed practical demonstration of
support of the Nigeria Local Governments and Area Councils to ensure zero tolerance to the multiple taxations.

Despite the modalities so far put in place by ALGON, the Federal Government and Joint Tax Board, ATD is collaborating with other critical stakeholders to ensure total enforcement, compliance and seamless operation with hope that all illegal road blocks in the country are permanently dismantled, withdrawn and removed, to reduce high cost of goods
caused by illegal taxes, fees and levies on haulage.

The ATD according to Ambassador Johnson is structured in sync with the value proposition of ALGON and the Joint Tax Board as a consultant to permanently eradicate the killings of road users by hoodlums, establish and sustain a reliable security, safety and emergency rescue measures for
drivers, farmers, traders, transporters, dealers, manufacturers miners, Markets, Motor Parks, Terminals, Warehouses, Business Centers and Infrastructures etc as well as bringing in modern technologies.

He further expressed optimism that the NATIS component of the projects which covers all categories of goods in transit on Nigeria roads, Railways, Waterways, and Air transportation, provided are well captured and enumerated into the scheme.

The ATD boss also applauded the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance
Corporation (NAIC), and Cornerstone Insurance Plc for providing Insurance cover in respect of losses on Agricultural Produce and Agro-Allied Products; General Goods as well as other
Petroleum Products respectively.

He, therefore, called for total support to the projects and appeal for an expanded corporation of all the organized private sectors, NACCIMA, MAN, NAAPD, IMAN, MAN2, NURTW, NILODA, NARTO, LUBOAN, NANTS, Amalgamated Trade Unions and Associations Nationwide to make the projects a success.

Katsina State Government has reassured of its resolve to collaborate with other governmental organizations and private bodies toward infrastructural and economic development of the state. 

The State Deputy Governor, Qs Mannir Yakubu gave the assurance when he visited the  headquarters of Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC) in Abuja.

Alhaji Mannir Yakubu said  the objective of the visit is to increase collaboration between Katsina State and the commission towards promoting public private partnership and ensuring that all agencies abide by the terms of contract among others.

He explained that the components of the visit include issue of Funtua Textile and Garment Park, Lambar Rimi  wind mill power project, completion of Funtua Dry Port, among others. 

The Deputy Governor further said the state has been intensifying collaboration with all relevant stake holders to ensure the set goals is achieved. 

Alhaji Mannir Yakubu revealed that in his position as chairman micro ,small and medium enterprises council and state planning commission, the visit is part of the MSME  council’s collaboration with the Federal  ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs)  to ensure rapid economic development of the state.

He noted that katsina state is the highest producer of cotton in Nigeria and Funtua has a lot of Cotton Ginneries which is suitable for the establishment of Funtua Integrated Textile and Garment Park. 

On the issue of Funtua Inland Dry Port, the Deputy Governor said the possess all required facilities including rail line, trunk A road, and electricity supply, among others.

He called on ICRC DG to intimate shippers council for the realisation of the project

Speaking during the visit the Director General of the Katsina State Investment Promotion Council (KIPA), Alhaji Ibrahim Tukur Jikanshi called on ICRC to build the capacity of the state officials in public private partnership.

He also called for the  possibility of linking Funtua rail lines with Kano – Katsina to Maradi rail lines. 

In his remarks the Ag DG infrastructure concession and Regulatory commission Barrister Joseph Aniku Michael said infrastructure concession Regulatory council was to regulate public private partnership endeavors of federal republic of Nigeria.

He added that the aim to address Nigerian  physical infrastructure deficit which hampers economic development.

The DG said part of the collaborative effort include plan to conduct economic summit in katsina state. 

Responding on the need for capacity building the DG ICRC stated it’s readiness to that effect and called for the formation of a technical team to facilitate better collaboration in the area of realisation of Funtua Textile And Garment Park And Inland Dry Port.

…Posts Petroleum Products Sale of ₦288.77billion

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has announced an increase of 80.12% in trading surplus for the month of December 2020 which stands at ₦24.19billion compared to the ₦13.43billion surplus recorded in November 2020. 

This is contained in the December 2020 edition of the NNPC Monthly Financial and Operations Report (MFOR), according to a press release by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the Corporation, Dr. Kennie Obateru.

Trading surplus or trading deficit is derived after deduction of the expenditure profile from the revenue in the period under review.

According to the report, the operating revenue of the NNPC Group in December 2020 as compared to November 2020 increased by 33.44% or N137.00billion to stand at N546.65billion. Similarly, expenditure for the month increased by 27.54% or N112.81billion to stand at N522.47billion.

The December 2020, expenditure as a proportion of revenue is 0.96 as against 0.97 in November 2020.

The report indicated that the 80.12% increase is due mainly to the significant rise in the profit of NNPC’s flagship Upstream entity, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) amid improved market fundamentals and strong global demand for crude oil.

Other contributory factors to the robust trading surplus recorded in the month under review include the improved performance by the Nigerian Gas Marketing Company (NGMC), the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), the National Engineering and Technical Company (NETCO) and Duke Oil Incorporated which recorded noticeable gains in their operations. 

In the Downstream, 2.26billion litres of white products were sold and distributed by PPMC in the month of December 2020 compared to 1.72billion litres in the month of November 2020.

This comprised 2.254billion litres of petrol, translating to 72.72million litres/day, 11.40 million litres of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) and 0.48 million litres of kerosene.

Total sale of white products for the period of December 2019 to December 2020 stood at 18.456billion litres and petrol accounted for 18.325billion litres or 99.29%.

In monetary terms, the volume translates to a value of ₦288.77billion recorded on the sale of white products by PPMC in the month of December 2020 compared to ₦226.08 billion sales in November 2020.

Total revenues generated from the sales of white products for the period December 2019 to December 2020 stood at ₦2.217triilion, where petrol contributed about 99.09% of the total sales with a value of ₦2.197trillion.

In December 2020, 43 pipeline points were vandalized representing about 18.60% increase from the 35 points recorded in November 2020.

Mosimi Area accounted for 56% of the vandalized points while Kaduna Area and Port Harcourt accounted for the remaining 33% and 12% respectively.

In the Gas Sector, natural gas production in December 2020 stood at 213.34Billion Cubic Feet (BCF) translating to an average daily production of 6,881.83million standard cubic feet of gas per day (mmscfd).

The daily average natural gas supply to power plants increased by 3.52% to 816mmscfd, equivalent to power generation of 3,445MW.

Out of the 208.61BCF of gas supplied in December 2020, a total of 146.72BCF was commercialized; consisting of 42.90BCF and 103.82BCF for the domestic and export market respectively.

This translates to a total supply of 1,383.93mmscfd of gas to the domestic market and 3,349.00mmscfd of gas supplied to the export market for the month.

This implies that 70.33% of the average daily gas produced was commercialized while the balance of 29.67% was re-injected, used as upstream fuel gas or flared. Gas flare rate was 6.80% for the month under review (i.e. 457.25 mmscfd) compared to average gas flare rate of 7.15% (i.e. 538.59 mmscfd) for the period December 2019 to December 2020. 

The 65th edition of the NNPC MFOR highlights the Corporation’s activities for the period of December 2019 to December 2020.

In line with the Corporation’s commitment of becoming more accountable and transparent, the Corporation has continued to sustain effective communication with stakeholders through the MFOR which is published on Corporation’s website, national dailies, as well as independent online news portals.

President Muhammadu Buhari has described the revolution in rice production across the country as a product of his administration’s clear sighted policy and the deligent execution of it by institutions of state such as the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

The President gave this indication at the Commemoration of the national rice festival and the flag-off of the North East 2021 and 2nd cycle 2021 dry season rice cultivation programme and 2020 wet season harvest aggregation and sales of paddy to millers held in Gombe.

Represented by the Kebbi State Governor, Sen. Atiku Bagudu, the President expressed gratitude to the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN for solving the problems of financing in Agriculture and State Governors for championing the cause of rice production and other agricultural commodities, singling out Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for special commendation for reviving the cotton value chain for which the State was once known for.

The President said despite limited resources his administration has achieved monumental results in the Agricultural production and its value chain, saying a lot of infrastrastural projects that will galvanize economic activities are being undertaken across the country for the benefit of all Nigerians.

Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya said but for the policy direction of the President and the sound support of the CBN, the heaps of rice pyramids on display would not have been possible.

“The pyramids are back and we are happy to see this and let me recall that only in January the Management of Central Bank with the National Cotton Association were here in Gombe and they kick-started the aggregation process of cotton farmers who equally paid the facilities they took in kind to signal the return of cotton production”.

He said Gombe state is a shining example in the anchor borrower programme of the Central Bank of Nigeria owing to the fact that farmers in the State are poised on taking advantage of the programme to boost agricultural production and eventually pay in kind facilities obtained to maintain sustainability.

Governor Inuwa Yahaya said Gombe State has a favourable climatic condition for the production of sorghum, sesame seeds, and other Agricultural commodities, making it a perfect destination for Agriculture revolution in the North East sub-region.

“Gombe is an agrarian State, with 85% of our people engaged in farming activities. Agriculture is therefore an important source of livelihood to our people and the bedrock of our economy”

“Gombe has tremendous potentials in rice production. We have three major Dams in Dadin Kowa, Balanga and Cham. We are working with UNIDO to tap into those potentials for both irrigation agriculture and hydropower generation. Our Government is working on the Gombe State Industrial Park in Dadin Kowa. The park has a huge Agricultural Industrial Park section that’s geared towards commercial production and processing of agricultural products”.

He said the support farmers in the State got from the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN enabled them to produce en mass, leading to the realization of the rice pyramid on display at the tanker bay along Gombe/Bauchi road.

The Gombe State Governor, said the State is open and ready to key into any initiative that will assist farmers have access to facilities and inputs that will improve their capacity to engage in the production of Agricultural commodities.

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for displaying leadership in the nation’s march towards food sufficiency, as the nation can now boast of eating what it produces and produces what she eats.

The Jigawa State Governor, Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar said the rice pyramid on display is an indication of the commitment and steadfastness of President Muhammadu Buhari through the Central Bank Nigeria CBN to revolutionise Agriculture in the country and guarantee food security.

He said before the coming of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, farmers in the country used to get between 1.7 to 2.5 tons per hectare but that at the moment farmers are getting 6 tons per hectare on the average owing to the Federal Government’s extension services, financial support and provision of farm inputs to small holder farmers among others.

The Governor of the Central Bank Nigeria CBN, Godwin Emefiele said since the anchor borrower programme was launched by president Muhammadu Buhari some five years ago, it has become a game changer in Nigeria and will ultimately help in achieving some of the goals of the Government’s economic sustainability plan.

He said under the wet season farming, CBN/RIFAN Partnership will finance 221 thousand farmers to cultivate two hundred and twenty one thousand hectres in 22 States, saying of this number, the North East sub-region will have forty four thousand eight hundred and seven farmers to cultivate over forty four hectres representing over 20 percent of the total number of farmers and hectres respectively.

The President of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, RIFAN Mohammed Aminu Goronyo said Nigeria has come of age in rice production to conveniently feed its growing population, attributing the feat to President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision in that direction.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has begun the disbursement of a N20,000 cash grant to rural women in Imo State to enable them start small businesses with a view to alleviating their sufferings.

The flag off of the event began on Thursday the 3rd of December in the Imo State capital, Owerri.

While flagging off the disbursement at the Ahiajioku Center in Owerri, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, informed over 200 beneficiaries that 150,000 rural women across the 36 states of the federation would also benefit from the programme adding that the grant for rural women programme was introduced in 2020 by her Ministry as part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s social Inclusion and poverty reduction agenda.

Hon Farouq, also explained that the agenda included the realization of the national aspiration of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years. The cash grant for rural women is designed to provide a one-off grant to some of the poorest and most vulnerable women in rural Nigeria.

The special adviser to the Imo state Governor on SDGs and Humanitarian services, Hon. Princess Christina Ude, who headed the event thanked President Buhari for remembering the vulnerable at a difficult time like this.

Mrs Ude also stated that the one off cash grant is expected to increase access to financial capital for rural women which is required for economic activities.

“It is my hope that the beneficiaries of this special cash grant will make good use of the money, increase their income, better their food security, and generally contribute towards improving their standard of living”, she said.