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Court Bars DSTV, GOTV From Increasing Tariffs

By
Rhoda Onuzulike
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A Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) sitting in Abuja, has restrained Multi-choice Nigeria Limited from increasing its tariffs and cost of products and services scheduled to begin on May 1.

The three-member tribunal, presided over by Saratu Shafii, gave the interim order on Monday following an ex-parte motion moved by Ejiro Awaritoma, counsel for the applicant, Festus Onifade.

In a ruling, the tribunal restrained multi-choice from going ahead with the impending price increase schedule to take effect from May 1, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed before it.

Multichoice Raises DStv, GOtv Subscription Prices

She also directed all parties in the suit to appear before the tribunal on May 7 at 10 a.m. for the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

The petitioner had dragged Multi-choice Nigeria Ltd and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) before the tribunal.

In the suit filed on April 29, Onifade, also a legal practitioner, sought two orders.

These include, “an order of interim injunction of this honourable tribunal restraining the 1st defendant whether by themselves, her privies, assigns by whatsoever name called from going ahead with impending price increase schedule to take effect from 1st May 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

“An order restraining the 1st defendant from taking any step(s) that may negatively affect the rights of the claimant and other consumers in respect of the suit pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”

The company had, on April 1, 2022, hiked the prices of all its packages.

NFF Appoints Finidi George Nigeria’s 41st National Coach

By
Emenike Agu
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After two matches last March in which Nigeria Super Eagles won one and lost the other, the Nigeria Football Federation Finidi George has been judged as the right man for the vacant Super Eagles job.

He thus become the 41st person to occupy the position since the adhoc engagement of John Finch, former Fulham winger in 1949. According to a press release by the NFF, the board of the federation on Monday approved the recommendation of its technical  development committee to appoint  Finidi George as Head Coach of the  Super Eagles.

George who belong to the Nigeria Golden Generation of Super Eagles of 1994 spent 20 months as assistant to José Santos Peseiro.

In his baptism as an interim national coach, his squad edged Ghana 2-1,  ending an 18-year winless streak against the Black Stars, but then lost 0-2 to Mali in the second game. The loss to Mali was the first time Nigeria had been beaten by Mali since 1972.

As a national team player, George is best known as the player whose goal qualified Nigeria for the World Cup for the first time ever.

It was a goal scored against Algeria on 8 October 1993 – incidentally it was the 44th anniversary of Nigeria’s maiden international match played against Sierra Leone in 1949.

 Finidi played 60 times for Nigeria and was Nigeria’s 40th scoring debutant when he came as a substitute in a 7-1 defeat of Burkina Faso on 27 July 1991.

 He is a winner with the Super Eagles at the 1994 Africa Cup of Nation and had his only World Cup outing at the USA ‘94.

Incidentally, his major task now is to qualify Nigeria to another World Cup in the USA and two other nations. The match is 35 days away from this Monday.

Tinubu Opens Reps Retreat on Economic, Tax Reforms

By
Rhoda Onuzulike
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Few days after hosting a national dialogue on Policing, the House of Representatives is to hold a two-day retreat on economic transformation and development to strengthen the capacity of members on economic development and tax reform.

Spokesman of the House, Akin Rotimi (APC, Ekiti) said the retreat which is expected to be declared open by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday, April 30 will hold at the Abuja Continental Hotel (formerly Abuja Sheraton).

Rotimi said the theme of the retreat, which is organised in collaboration with Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and Konrad-Adenauer Stiftung, will be “Navigating change: Legislative strategies for economic transformation.”

He said the initiative is to collaborate with legislative support institutions and partners to sustain capacity development programmes for Members.

Tax Reforms: VP Shettima Urges Committee to Develop Robust Roadmap

According to him: “In alignment with its Legislative Agenda which prioritises Economic Growth and Development, the People’s House acknowledges the crucial role of the legislature in shaping the economic trajectory of a nation, as well as influencing the economic environment (directly and indirectly) through its lawmaking and oversight powers.

“Thus, this retreat is designed to further deepen the understanding of Members on the significance of the Petroleum Industry Act in transforming the oil and gas sector. Objectives also include exploring parliament’s role in tax reforms, and the importance of effective oversight in public financial management and tax administration, among others”.

Stakeholders expected at the 2-day retreat include Group CEO, NNPCL, Mele Kolo Kyari; Senator Heineken Lokpobiri; Hon. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Oil & Gas, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji; Executive Secretary, NEITI and Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu; Chairman, ICPC.

Others are Taiwo Oyedele; Chairman, Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Mr. Zacch Adedeji, FCA; Chairman, FIRS, Wale Edun; Minister of Finance, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, CON; Minister of Budget and National Planning, and Dr. Olayemi Cardoso, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio; former Speakers of the House, Aminu Bello Masari; Patricia Olubunmi Etteh; Yakubu Dogara and Femi Gbajabiamila who is also the Chief of Staff to the President will also be part of the event.

Rotimi said the event will feature panel and interactive sessions that will equip participants with practical tools and strategies to effect meaningful legislative and oversight work.

Makinde Inaugurates €25m Feed Plant to Boost Agriculture

By
Rhoda Onuzulike
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0

The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, opened a €25m fish and feed plant in Ibadan, the state capital, on Thursday.

During the unveiling, the governor said that his administration would continue to provide a conducive environment for businesses to strive, especially for agricultural development and food security.

Makinde stated that the citing of the plant came at the best time when the need to ensure and guarantee food security and increased production became imperative towards meeting the ever-increasing human needs for animal protein in society.

Makinde says plans to make Ibadan airport regional transport hub intact

The governor, represented by the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Olasunkanmi Olaleye, added that the government had executed a series of Memoranda of Understanding with companies to boost fish food production, haulage, training, and research.

He declared that the government at all levels had been proactive in supporting fish farming in Nigeria and other federating states.

“Let me at this juncture commend the management of Skretting Nigeria Limited, a world-class manufacturer of feeds who started operations in Ibadan in 2014 and has grown the company to internationally recognised standards with a production capacity of 125, 000 metric tons per annum in the state.

“These will, in no small measure, go a long way toward making feeds available at affordable prices to our farmers, thereby ameliorating the challenge of the high cost of feed currently experienced by our farmers,” he added.

Nigerian Telecom Giants Seek NCC Nod For Tariff Hike

By
Rhoda Onuzulike
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Telecommunications operators in the country including MTN Nigeria and Globacom have asked for Federal Government approval through the Nigerian Communications Commission to raise their tariff.

The development came after foreign exchange losses and rising energy costs forced some of the operators to post losses last year.

The telcos’ proposal to raise their tariff came barely 24 hours after MultiChoice, a South African pay television company raised its tariff. Several companies including Discos and brewing companies have also raised their prices in recent times.

On Thursday, the telcos, under the aegis of the Association of Licensed Telecom Companies of Nigeria and the Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria, issued a joint statement asking the government to expedite the approval.

The two bodies in their statement explained, “Despite the adverse economic headwinds, the telecommunications industry remains the only industry yet to review its general service pricing framework upward in the last 11 years, primarily due to regulatory constraints.

“For a fully liberalised and deregulated sector, the current price control mechanism, which is not aligned with economic realities, threatens the industry’s sustainability and can erode investors’ confidence.”

Telecoms Investments in Nigeria Grow To $77bn– NCC

The associations called on the federal government to facilitate a constructive dialogue with industry stakeholders to address pricing challenges and establish a framework that balances consumers’ affordability with operators’ financial viability.

The telecom industry appears to be among a few sectors that have yet to review their prices despite the rising inflation in the country amid other economic challenges. They blamed this on the regulatory restraints that have been preventing them from pricing appropriately.

The NCC regulates prices in the telecom industry, and telecom operators are not allowed to implement any price changes without the regulator’s approval. The regulator has said a cost-based study is being conducted to determine if it would approve price increments for the operators.

The Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria, Gbenga Adebayo, said in a publication on Thursday that cost reflective tariff was non-negotiable.

“We have seen the impact of price control in other segments of the economy, like power. If providers cannot operate sustainable business models, then they’ll stop investing. When that happens, the existing infrastructure starts to crumble.

“For power, a consumer can choose to take ownership of the solution by buying a generator, or a solar panel. For fuel, the government can step in as a provider of the last resort and manage a subsidy regime that mitigates the impact on the population. Those options are not available in the telecoms sector. There is no self-help solution,” he explained.

The industry has faced significant increases in operational costs occasioned by the scarcity of foreign exchange, network expansion, and upgrades, which have also negatively affected the bottom lines of the operators.

Investment in the sector has also dwindled to $134m in 2023 from $456.8m in the previous year, a decline of $322m, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

The decline represented a decrease of approximately 70.5 per cent.

NNPCL Blames Logistics Issues For Fuel Scarcity

By
Rhoda Onuzulike
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0

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) says logistics issues were responsible for the resurfacing of fuel queues in some parts of the country.

According to a statement by its spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, the issues have now been resolved.

“The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) wishes to clarify that the tightness in the supply of Premium Motor Spirit currently being experienced in some areas across the country is as a result of logistics issues and that they have been resolved,” the Thursday evening statement read.

“It also wishes to reiterate that the prices of petroleum products are not changing.”

NNPCL is therefore calling on Nigerians to “avoid panic buying as there is a sufficiency of products in the country”.

NNPCL Debunk Report On Adjusting Fuel Pump Price

READ FULL STATEMENT BELOW:

PRESS RELEASE

NNPC Ltd Says Cause of Tightness in Fuel Supply Resolved

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) wishes to clarify that the tightness in the supply of Premium Motor Spirit currently being experienced in some areas across the country is as a result of logistics issues and that they have been resolved.

It also wishes to reiterate that the prices of petroleum products are not changing.

It urges Nigerians to avoid panic buying as there is a sufficiency of products in the country.

Olufemi O. Soneye

Chief Corporate Communications Officer,

NNPC Ltd

Abuja.

25 April, 2024.

Good Tax System, Attracts Foreign Investment – CITN

By
Rhoda Onuzulike
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0

The Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria has said that there is a need for a good tax system to enable the country to attract foreign direct investment.

The Chairman of Ikeja District Society of CITN, Abiodun Oke, disclosed this during his investiture in Lagos, recently.

“We desire to have an environment where they would be able to work and bring funds to the country. Recently, we have been talking about the foreign direct investment; it won’t come if we don’t have a standard tax system,” Oke said.

He advised that if the Nigerian tax law was considered archaic, then there was a need to update it.

“Look at laws because they would always tell you what is in the law. And so if the law is archaic, it is no longer up-to-date. We need to find a way to bring them on board,” he stated.

Oke expressed hope that, with the inclusion of tax professionals in decisive positions, the issue of multiple taxation would be addressed.

FIRS will not Introduce Additional Taxes – Chairman

“So, multiple taxation has always been there but now our professionals in the tax space have been called upon to sanitise it, and I am sure something good would come out in the near future,” he noted.

He further stated that Nigerians don’t pay taxes because the process was not digitised.

“People don’t pay tax here in Nigeria. There are small businesses that do not pay taxes. A businessman can do billions of naira business in a year and would come and pay personal income tax, maybe because the person runs an enterprise and because he is not a limited company.

“But when such personal transactions are captured digitally, the person can be monitored. So the era of digital technology is what we want to leverage,” Oke affirmed.

He added that his administration would look at the welfare of members to improve relationships

“We have to look at the welfare of our members and see how we can be able to relate to our members almost seamlessly,” he stated.

According to Oke, to be able to do that, the administration needs to have an e-platform where it can reach its members.

He said digitising a lot of processes would enable his administration to keep tabs on members, especially the elderly ones who had given all they had to the district and the institute.

Also, the President of the CITN, and a member of the Tax Reforms Committee, Samuel Agbeluyi, said the committee was planning to reduce taxes payable in Nigeria to 10 from over 60.

“And I tell you they are taking it step by step and from what we are seeing, away from 62 different taxes we pay in Nigeria, we are looking at reducing it to a maximum of 10,” he declared.

Manchester City Beat Brighton To Dim Arsenal’s Premier League Title Hopes 

By
Emenike Agu
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0

Arsenal’s hopes of winning the Premier League title this season suffered setback as Manchester City beat Brighton 0-4 to close in on reclaiming top-spot.

Manchester City showed their strength by defeating Brighton in an important Premier League match on Thursday night.

This victory has put pressure on Arsenal, who are currently leading the league. Manchester City now only trail Arsenal by one point, and they have an extra game left to play.

The match against Brighton started with Manchester City controlling the game and Brighton trying to counterattack.

Despite some shaky moments in defense, Manchester City took the lead within the first 20 minutes. Kevin De Bruyne scored the opening goal with a header, showcasing a brilliant team effort.

Manchester City extended their lead thanks to a stroke of luck when Phil Foden’s free-kick deflected into the net. Before halftime, Phil Foden scored again after Brighton lost possession near their penalty area, putting Manchester City comfortably ahead by three goals.

In the second half, Manchester City focused on maintaining their lead by slowing down the pace of the game. They managed to score another goal when Kyle Walker’s effort allowed Julián Álvarez to tap the ball into the net.

This impressive victory sends a strong message to Arsenal and the rest of the league. With their powerful attacking play and solid defense, have now moved into second place, just one point behind Arsenal, and their performance has elevated them above Liverpool in the standings.

Sports Minister Refutes  Links With Peseiro For Eagles

By
Emenike Agu
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0

Sports Minister, John Owan Enoh has refuted the report making the round that he was in advanced talks with former Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro over a potential return as Nigeria’s senior national team manager. 

Enoh in a press statement signed by his Special Adviser Diana Mary Nsan, said the author of the report fabricated it with the sole intent of sensationalism and spreading falsehood. 

He  noted that  it was not his job to influence or interfere in critical decisions designated to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and that his immediate task is to ensure that the NFF properly functions and the sports sector is revamped under the Renewed Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

“We have been made aware of some news circulating in certain media channels about the Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, supposedly in advanced talks with José Peseiro for a potential return as Coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria. We want to clarify that this news is entirely false and has been fabricated to create sensation,” the Sports Minister as quoted as saying. 

“The Sports Minister, Senator John Owan Enoh, does not interfere or influence critical decisions of the federations, particularly in this case, the NFF. He operates with utmost decorum and ensures that the federations meet the required expectations and standards in the discharge of their duties.

“The Honourable Minister of Sports is committed to ensuring that the sports sector in Nigeria achieves monumental success under the Renewed Hope Agenda. Therefore, we urge Nigerians who love sports , critical stakeholders, including the media, to continue supporting the Federal Ministry of Sports Development and disregard this false news.

“All updates from the Ministry of Sports Development and the Federations will be communicated through authorized and appropriate channels.”

Oil Theft: Fubara Seeks Tougher Action to Curb Menace

By
Rhoda Onuzulike
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0

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has pledged full support of his administration to the Nigeria Navy in intensifying the fight against oil theft in the state.

Governor Fubara emphasised the need to prevent anyone from undermining the state’s economy during this crucial period.

He stated this while hosting the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla and other senior navy officials during their courtesy visit to the Government House in Port Harcourt on Thursday.

The Chief of Naval Staff during the visit informed Fubara of the Navy’s decision to move the headquarters of its training command from Lagos to Rivers State.

Governor Fubara expressed confidence that the visit by the Naval Chief would help change the negative narrative associated with the state.

Nigeria Lost N4.3tn to Oil Theft in 5 Years- FG

He commended the Navy’s achievements in combating crude oil theft and assured continued moral and logistics support from the state government.

Appreciating the Navy’s decision to relocate the training command headquarters to Rivers State, Governor Fubara encouraged the Navy to transfer more facilities to the state, highlighting the strategic advantage of its riverine terrain.

He urged the naval chief to step up efforts to curb waterway crimes, emphasizing the navy’s vital role during national crises.

Governor Fubara reaffirmed his dedication to protecting the interests and safety of the state’s residents and ensuring the provision of essential services, despite the ongoing political unrest. He stressed that genuine development is only possible in a peaceful environment.

Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla disclosed that the headquarters of the training command would be situated at the Ambassador Nne Furo Kurubo Model Secondary School in Eleme, a facility donated by the state government. He said the relocation is set to take effect tomorrow, Friday.

He also announced that the Naval Training College in Onne, also in Eleme LGA of Rivers State, would be relocated to the new facility.

Seizing the opportunity, the Naval Chief updated Governor Fubara on the successful naval operations in the state. He mentioned that following the President’s directive in January, the Navy and other security agencies had intensified efforts against oil bunkering, resulting in the relaunch of Operation Delta Sanity.

Rear Admiral Ogalla reported that since January, the operation has led to the arrest of over 14 large crude-carrying vessels and many suspected crude oil thieves.

He further noted that multinational companies have recognized the Navy’s efforts, leading to improvement in crude transportation through underground pipelines.

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