All Posts in "Day: August 25, 2021"

Tribunal Orders Multichoice Nigeria To Pay N900bn Tax Backlog

tax-appeal-tribunal-resolves-42-cases-worth-n288-1bn-5-41bn-in-8months
A Tax Appeal Tribunal (TAT) sitting in Lagos has  ordered Multichoice Nigeria Limited, owners of popular cable television services, DSTV, to pay 50 per cent of N1.8 trillion which the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has determined through a forensic audit to be the amount in taxes that Multichoice Nigeria Limited had failed to pay to the Government of Nigeria in past assessment years.
The five-member TAT led by its Chairman, Professor A.B. Ahmed, issued the order sequel to an application to it by the Counsel to FIRS. The Counsel made the application under Order XI of the TAT Procedure Rules 2010 which requires Multichoice, or any other taxpayer who disputes their tax assessments, to make the statutory deposit required under Paragraph 15(7) of the Fifth Schedule to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act 2007 (FIRS Act) as a condition that must be fulfilled before the prosecution of the appeal brought before TAT.
 In certain defined circumstances to which the Multichoice appeal fits, Paragraph 15(7) of the Fifth Schedule to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act 2007 (FIRS Act) requires persons or companies seeking to contest a tax assessment to pay all or a stipulated percentage of the tax assessed before they can be allowed to argue their appeal contesting the assessment at TAT.
 Multichoice Nigeria Limited filed the matter at the Lagos TAT following its dispute over FIRS’ issuance of Notices of Assessment and Demand Note in the sum of N1, 822, 923,909,313.94k on 7 April 2021.
The amount constitutes what the FIRS calculated as due in taxation to the Federal Government of Nigeria from Multichoice after an investigation over several months to determine the extent to which Multichoice has been evading taxes in Nigeria.
 At Tuesday’s hearing of the matter in Appeal No: TAT/LZ/CIT/062/2021 19/08/2021 (Multichoice Nigeria Limited v. Federal Inland Revenue Service), Multichoice Nigeria Limited amended its Notice of Appeal and thereafter sought through its Counsel,  Bidemi Olumide of AO2 Law Firm for an adjournment of the proceedings to enable it to respond to the FIRS’ formal application for accelerated hearing of the appeal and prayer before the TAT to order Multichoice to produce DSTV’s revenue and subscriber database, among other prayers.
 But, the FIRS counsel prayed the tribunal  to issue an order requiring that Multichoice makes the statutory deposit of 50% of the disputed sum.
 After hearing arguments from both sides, TAT upheld the FIRS Act and directed Multichoice Nigeria Limited to deposit with the FIRS the amount prescribed by the law, which is an amount equal to the tax charged upon Multichoice in the preceding year of assessment or one half of the tax charged by the assessment under appeal (whichever is lesser), plus a sum equal to 10% of the said deposit as a condition precedent for further hearing of the Appeal.
 The tribunal adjourned the Appeal to 23 September 2021 for the continuation of the hearing, subject to compliance with its order.
Online Editor by — August 25, 2021 in Law/Human Rights 0
Buhari Administration Investment In Niger Delta Historic-Group 

The  APC Legacy and Campaign Awareness, a voluntary think-tank group of the governing party, has  said President Mohammadu Buhari’s administration has boosted  the Niger region with massive Investment in oil and gas Infrastructure.
The group said that the Train 7 of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) project in Bonny, Rivers State will attract over $10 billion dollars of domestic and foreign investment, while creating several thousand jobs.
It also reiterated  commitment of the President Mohammadu Buhari’s administration to the a prosperous and crisis-free Niger Delta, noting that the 3% Host Community Fund guaranteed in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) will pump over $500 million dollars Investments into the oil rich region
The group,in a statement signed by four chieftains of the party, including Salisu Mohd Lukman, Director General of PGF said also noted that the Ogoni clean up and remediation work that “the procurement process for the clean-up commenced in 2018, while the actual remediation commenced in January 2019, with the handing over of the first batch of 21 sites to the selected contractors, for remediation.
“The project will also make interventions in healthcare facilities and systems in the region. The Clean-Up has so far created hundreds of jobs for locals.Until 2016, there was only one functioning modular refinery in the Niger Delta, with a capacity to refine 1,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
“Today, spurred by the Buhari Administration’s New Vision for the Niger Delta, there are several Modular Refinery construction projects ongoing across the Niger Delta, all led by the private sector.
“The original 1,000 bpd Refinery in Rivers State, which began operations in 2011, has under President Buhari’s watch expanded into an 11,000 bpd facility. In November 2020 President Buhari commissioned the first phase of the Waltersmith Refinery in Imo State.
“The OPAC Refinery in Delta State has also been completed. The ones in Edo and Bayelsa States are under construction, while Waltersmith has flagged off construction of its second phase” the group said.
The group also listed the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) it said, is currently pioneering Oil and Gas Park in Bayelsa State, which is scheduled for completion at the end of 2022 and will on completion be serviced by a 10MW power plant.
“The Presidential Amnesty Programme, inherited from previous administrations, has continued to deliver on its mandate, with the full support of the President. The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is being reformed and repositioned, in line with the President’s vision of ensuring that the people of the Niger Delta benefit maximally from the wealth of their land.
“The administration has recently completed and commissioned the Commission’s Headquarters, 25 years after construction began, and after several spells of abandonment by previous governments.
“A comprehensive forensic audit of the NDDC has just been completed; the first of such audit since the Commission was established. The President is determined to ensure a clean break from the mismanagement and corruption of the past.In terms of physical infrastructure, the 338km East-West Road, running across four States of the region — Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom — is now receiving priority attention, more than a decade after the contract was first awarded. The President is committed to completing the first four sections of the Road by 2022”.
Online Editor by — August 25, 2021 in News 0
OML 11:NPDC,Ogoni People Pledge Partnership On Oil Production

OML 11: Ogoni pledge cooperation with NPDC on oil production - SweetCrudeReports
The Ogoni Liberation Initiative have pledged to cooperate with the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) in the exploration and production of oil and gas resources in its territory.
The  group made the pledge Tuesday at the Ogoni Liberation Day which held in Bori with the Managing Director of NPDC, Mr. Mohammed Ali-Zarah, as an invited guest.
The Convener and leader of the Ogoni Liberation Initiative, Rev. Douglas Fabeke, commended the Court of Appeal for the judgement confirming NPDC as the valid operator of Oil Mining Lease (OML) 11, adding  that the Ogoni people welcomed with great joy the intervention of the Federal Government and the takeover of the oil assets by NPDC following the judgement of the Appeal Court in Abuja.
A statement by Mr. Garba Deen Muhammad, Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of NNPC, quoted the Ogoni leader as describing the  verdict that handed OML11 to NPDC as liberation for the Ogoni people, stressing that the people of Ogoni have “looked forward to this freedom over the years”.
He  commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his administration’s commitment to the development of Ogoniland, adding that his people would support all efforts aimed at restoring the environment and exploring its huge natural resources for the benefit of all.
According to him,Ogoni leaders have resolved to  shun bitterness and work with the Federal Government to ensure that the people benefitted from the resources in their land.
He said:“The Ogoni people are ready for oil and gas business in the land to entrench development in partnership with the NNPC and the Federal Government of Nigeria through a transformed template and practical community development delivered by the host communities.
The Ogoni people are ready to do all forms of businesses with the State, Federal and Global Corporate Communities for the development of their land, provided the business is anchored upon Ogoni development”.
He submitted a communique on behalf of the people of Ogoni to the Federal Government as the request of Ogoni people and as condition for the mutual relationship between the people and NPDC.
The communique, among other things, requested that “the issue of clean-up in Ogoniland should be re-visited and the Government should mandate the handling agency to expedite actions and clean the land in tune with the UNEP Report’s recommendation or allow the Ogoni people to bring experts that would perfectly implement the recommendations of the UNEP Report to the letter”
It also called on the Federal Government to expedite action on the provisions of infrastructure to the Ogoni people.
“The Ogoni people will not work under any political manipulation that will affect the development and smooth operation in the land without capturing the interest of the people. We stand by every word drafted here and will implement it to the letter, and also ready to give the Federal Government of Nigeria maximum cooperation to achieve its aim for the success and benefit of the nation and the Ogoni people.” the communique stated.
Speaking, the Managing Director of NPDC, Mr. Mohammed Ali-Zarah, said the company understood the concerns and yearnings of the Ogoni people and shared in their pain.
He promised that the NPDC and the Federal Government would work with the Ogoni people to bring development, employment and growth to the land, remediate the environment and ensure that future exploration and production activities do not impact negatively on the environment.
He noted that the large turn-out of people, including traditional rulers, at the event was a huge moral boost to NPDC’s confidence in its re-entry plan.
“Indeed, this is a clear testimonial and demonstration of the strong cordial relationship that has existed between us over the years. This, for us, is our social license to operate in this peace-loving community”, the Managing Director said.
He observed that it was in the best interest of the country to speedily restore the environment of Ogoniland and create the needed condition for the social economic development of the communities.
“As a viable partner, we would join you to pursue the greater good of our people and the nation. We stand with you and would work with you to achieve this within the shortest possible time,” he said.
On the communique submitted by the Ogoni Liberation Initiative signed by leaders of various communities that make up Ogoniland, Ali-Zarah assured them that he would send the document to the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation for onward transmission to the relevant quarters, including the Presidency.
Oil production operations were suspended in Ogoniland in the early 1990s due to disruptions caused by local unrest. The oilfields and other installations have since largely remained dormant.
Hope was, however, rekindled last week following an Appeal Court judgment that paved the way for NPDC to take over the operatorship of the oil assets in Ogoniland from Shell.
The Appeal Court sitting in Abuja upturned the August 23, 2019, ruling of the Federal High Court, Abuja which held that the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) was entitled to the renewal of the Lease on OML 11.
In the ruling, the Appellate Court held that the Minister of Petroleum Resources has the discretion whether or not to renew the OML 11 Lease in favor of SPDC. The Court further held that the Minister rightly exercised his discretion in awarding the OML 11 Lease to NPDC, a subsidiary of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
Online Editor by — August 25, 2021 in Oil&Gas 0
Five Disabled Nigerians Bag Chevening Scholarships

The United Kingdom Government has  awarded five  disabled Nigerians with  Chevening scholarship for the 2020/2021 academic year to foster their inclusion in the society.
Acting Head of British High Commission in Nigeria, Ms Gill Atkinson, disclosed this in Abuja during a presentation to exhibit  the Chevening Scholarship to persons with disabilities and putting them through the application process.
According to Atkinson,the inclusion of persons with disabilities into the programmes is a way the UK government shows them that they are just like every other person with great abilities.
“Chevening gives real opportunities to some of the best people in the country to study, meeting their passions and bringing those skills and experiences that they have had back to Nigeria.I have seen recent Chevening graduates who have just began in the system and also people who are 20 years into their career.
“The Head of Communications of Baze University is a Chevening graduate, and so are other great personalities in Nigeria.
“Persons with disabilities cannot be left out because they also have a lot to impact on society which is why the inclusion.
“Nigeria is one of the biggest beneficiary in the globe which is a big credit,” Atkinson said.
Chevening Programme Officer in Nigeria, Mrs Layo Ladepo, explained that the inclusion of persons with disability is also aimed at improving Nigeria with the positive impact they will bring the country.
She added that persons with disabilities were very smart and that when given the opportunity, they give back a lot in building the society.
According to her, twenty persons with disabilities have benefitted from the programme since 2014 when the UK government started including Persons with Disabilities as beneficiaries.
She also urged as many others to apply for the 2022 session to the UK institutions listed on the Chevening site and ensure that they meet the deadline, adding that applications opened on August 3 and closes November 2.
“That is the basic thing, partnering with Nigeria, to improve Nigeria and also to gain from Nigeria because you know if we have these people going, we are also having strong people coming back to build Nigeria.
“The UK now has a relationship with those Scholars that are returning. So whenever they want to evolve into the system it will be a lot easier as an Alumnus.Like the Acting Commissioner said about the struggles, they are trying to make reasonable adjustments in different environments to ensure that Persons with Disabilities are captured in everything being done.
“I would ask them to come back home because they have invested in them and have so much knowledge and skills that should be impacted in Nigeria.
“They have told us a story in their essays on what they intend to better in the country upon return and we expect them to come and fulfill that”, Ladepo said.
Mr James Lalu, Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities appreciated the U.K government for including Persons with Disabilities in the programme.
Lalu said it is an opportunity which would be properly utilized, adding that he looks forward to more Persons with Disabilities benefitting.
“I am very happy for the detailed explanation which will guide Persons with Disabilities through the application process and what to expect in the U.K.It is also an opportunity to learn from the U.K and bring back to Nigeria and build our own country because the U.K and other developed countries were built by their own people and not spirits.
“We need people to go there and learn and bring in policies that will help push for more inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in the Nigerian society”, Lalu said.
Online Editor by — August 25, 2021 in Education 0
Seplat’s Awards Evidence Of Hardwork,Resilience-Orjiako

Seplat, Orjiako win global awards for outstanding indigenous performance - New Dawn Nigeria
Board Chairman of Seplat Energy Pls,Dr.ABC Orjiako,says hardwork and resilience was responsible for  the awards given him and the company at the Energy & Corporate Africa Leadership Award Night/Dinner  in United States of America.
The award was the climax of the Annual Sub-Saharan Africa Oil/Gas Conference that started from 12th August to 13th August with the theme: The Future of Upstream, Advancing Digitalization and Gas Development Options in Sub-Saharan Africa.  Dr. Orjiako delivered the keynote address at the event.
Seplat was recognized as the largest indigenous domestic supplier of gas whilst Dr. Orjiako won the top indigenous entrepreneur award in the energy sector.
Speaking on the awards, Dr. Orjiako, on behalf of the Board, management and staff of the Company, thanked Energy & Corporate Africa, the organisers of the events, for the honour and recognition accorded the Company and himself.
 He expressed the company’s appreciation, saying the awards highlight the hard work and resilience consistently displayed over time.
He added: “Since inception, Seplat has continued to strive for operational excellence and sustainable value creation for all our stakeholders. The awards will continue to propel us to greater achievements”.
 Orjiako’s keynote address at the confab brought to the fore statistics highlighting the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region as an excellent hub for future upstream growth with opportunities and a ready market for diversification into other allied areas such as refining, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and power.
He implored  Africans and foreign investors  to harness the growth potential of African developing countries to boost development and global growth. He added that the challenges of SSA present a significant opportunity for those seeking returns.
He also urged energy corporations to show responsibility in neutralising their respective emission footprints and sign up for climate change policies to protect the environment.
The Seplat Energy Chairman said that as the world moves toward energy transition with Climate Change/ESG Advocacy/Policy Changes dominating the energy discussion, gas will continue to play an increasingly important role.
He affirmed that the new way of thinking had led the Company to change its name from Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc to Seplat Energy Plc.
He added: “Our unique business direction reflects our renewed focus on the entire energy value chain while incorporating cleaner and more sustainable forms of energy to power Nigeria / Africa’s present and future demand.”
Online Editor by — August 25, 2021 in Next Level 0
Drugs Hawking Is Prohibited,NAFDAC Insists

NAFDAC destroys counterfeit drugs, products worth over N613m in Kano - Vanguard News
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has insisted that drug hawking is prohibited in Nigeria.
The agency also advised Nigerians to stop patronizing drugs from hawkers and unauthorised outlets, saying that they should prioritise their healthcare by buying drugs from pharmaceutical outlets that are registered with the agency.
Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, the NAFDAC Director General, who spoke during the agency’s  sensitization campaign in Bauchi, urged Nigerians  to use the Mobile Authentication System inscribed on drugs to identify fake or genuine drugs.
She was represented at the event  by the Director Planning and Research of the Agency, Fori Tatami.
She explained that the key objective of the sensitization programme was to intensify and expand the scope of informal and formal behaviour change communication strategies in order to reach the vulnerable communities especially at the grassroots.
“The advent of COVID-19 pandemic has aggravated the problem with the challenge posed by substandard and falsified Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs). The Sensitization campaigns will therefore contribute significantly to Federal Government’s concerted efforts to inform, sensitize, educate and alert the public about inherent dangers of intake and use of those spurious regulated products”
“These campaign themes are intended to address the following public health challenges such as dangers of buying medicines from hawkers, abuse of codeine and self-medication especially among youths.The dangerous effects of using Kerosene tanker to load groundnut oil, Dangerous practice of using potassium bromate to bake bread, Use of Azo-dyes in Palm oil which causes cancer,
Dangers of using Sniper to preserve any type of food or to keep flies away from meat amongst others” she said
Online Editor by — August 25, 2021 in Health 0
Research:FG Approves N292.6bn For Tertiary Institutions

FG Approves N292.6bn For Public Higher Institutions
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund says gotten approval from the Federal Govermment to disburse the sum of N292.66 billion to public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education across the country.
The money would be spread to higher education institutions in each of the six geo-political zones in the country,Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Prof. Suleiman Bogoro, said.
He spoke Bogoro a one-day stakeholders briefing, at the Nigeria Airforce Conference Centre, Abuja,also explained that the responsibility of completing the National Library Project in Abuja has been given to  TETFund.
He said the library project represents an important national asset that shouldn’t be ignored on account of funding challenges.
Bogoro also emphasized the importance of research to national development, saying the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has been consistent in approving funds to see that academics churn out quality research that would address emerging challenges bedeviling the country.
He added that this accounted for the setting up of the National Research Foundation which has consistently increased from N3 billion to N8.5 billion in recent times.
Professor Bogoro, who expressed delight that Nigeria is moving closer to an emergence of a National Research and Development Foundation,  challenged academics in the country to turn around the fortunes of the country through cutting- edge research.
“Let us apply our innovative research outcome to solve the security problem, let us bring back value addition to the solid minerals that we are blessed with, it is one gold we have not explored to any significant level,” he said.
On the 2021 research grants to lecturers, Bogoro called on the nation’s academics to live up to expectations by churning out good proposals, saying that the Fund is always ready to finance such academic exercise.
“I have signed the letters of allocation for the research grants that we are issuing out, 217. This is the highest research grant ever. It has never gone beyond 200. We have 217 research grants that have recently been approved,”  Bogoro said.
Online Editor by — August 25, 2021 in Education 0
Flash Flood Threatens,Lagos,Abuja Others

NiMet Predicts Hazy, sunshine From Monday To Wednesday | aljazirahnews
The Nigeria Meteorological Agency, NiMet, says,there are  slim chances of flash floods across 34 states in the federation between Tuesday and Thursday
The moderate to heavy rainfall which could lead to flash floods are expected to commence from Tuesday, 24th, through to Wednesday 25th and Thursday 26th of August, 2021.
Muntari Yusuf Ibrahim, General Manager,  Public Relations, noted that the development could affect states such as, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, Kebbi, Niger, FCT, Plateau, Adamawa, Taraba, Kwara, Oyo, Lagos, Ondo, Ogun, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, Anambra, Abia and River States.
He  advised that the slim chances of flash flood events on roads, settlements, farmlands and bridges could be more pronounced and as a result there are increased likelihood of cars skidding off the road and chances of car crashes.
He cautioned the public to take heed and avoid damages from rain related hazards occasioned by the predicted flash flood.
He advised Nigerians not  dismiss the flash flood threat with wave of hand as the previous three-day forecast issued towards the end of last month was 100 percent accurate with disheartening tales of lives and property affected significantly.
Online Editor by — August 25, 2021 in News 0
PIA:How NNPC Would Be Managed -Kyari

The Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation(NNPC) has explained how the corporation would be managed following the birth of the Petroleum Industry Act.
He said  the new oil firm would have government shareholders to be represented by the ministers of finance and petroleum resources.
He added:“So, these shareholders can decide, as the law provides that over time, they can reduce the shareholding into some private shareholding. That means it can be floated subsequently as a company that is quoted on the stock exchange.The intention at the very onset is not to go to that step but there is provision in the law that allows us ultimately to sell shares of this company.”
According to him, NNPC Limited would serve as a holding company for all its subsidiaries, adding that the subsidiaries would operate on their own without encumbrances from the government.
 He  assured that the royalties and taxes to be paid by the oil firm would get to all tiers of government.
He said:“This is very simple. This company will pay taxes and royalties, which are revenues that accrue to the federation. So every part of this country and every subnational institution or government will benefit from it.
“Secondly, this company will pay company income tax that also comes to the federation for the benefit of all. So, what is different is that this company will now have profit to make and declare dividend, which will be decided by the board of directors of this company.”
He said the whole concept of host community trust fund was created by the executive and that the fund would be completely managed by host communities of oil installations.
Kyari noted that the country had failed in ensuring that host communities had stakes in the continuous operation of oil assets in their various areas.
“The very reason that they don’t have a stake is that till now, we have failed as a system to make sure that those values that should have come and many other interventions did get to them,” he stated.
Kyari said that changing, adding that more importantly, the PIA would consolidate interventions and make them work for the communities.
Online Editor by — August 25, 2021 in Oil&Gas 0
FG Targets 40m Jobs From Methanol Fuel Policy

Onu: Low Content of Science Technology, Innovation is Bane of Nigeria's AgricultureTHISDAYLIVE
The Federal Government is targeting 40million jobs  from  the implementation of the methanol fuel policy technology  in the country.
Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, disclosed this  in Abuja at the sensitisation workshop  of the public on methanol fuel production technology policy, where he emphasized the need for Nigeria to adopt a different approach in the development of methanol fuel production.
He said that over the years, the nation had failed to add value to its abundant natural resources, which has resulted in revenue loss, stagnated job creation and increased poverty in the country.
He lamented lack of value addition to the nation’s vast natural resources which has turned Nigeria to importer of certain items it has comparative advantage to produce and export in order to boost its economy.
He said: “We exported cocoa but imported chocolate.We exported groundnuts but imported peanut butter. We exported wood but imported toothpicks.We exported crude oil but imported petroleum products.This has reduced revenue generation, stagnated job creation, aggravated poverty in the country and weakened both our currency and the economy.”
According to him,methanol-driven economy is beneficial in job creation, technology development and domestication, electricity generation, clean household energy services, stoppage of gas flaring and achieving environmental sustainability.
He said with the introduction of methanol, manufacturers will use it as a feedstock for several product lines.
He added:”As a fuel in the transport sector, it is cheaper than PMS(petrol), friendly to the environment, has higher octane rating and enhances performance of vehicles.Furthermore, methanol can be blended with PMS at 15% methanol and 85%PMS. This blend can be used in all vehicles without requiring any significant modification.
“The use of kerosene and wood for cooking darkens pots and may lead to some health challenges, if one is exposed to the fumes for long, during cooking.Methanol, being a cleaner and cheaper fuel, will help to solve this problem”
Online Editor by — August 25, 2021 in Oil&Gas 0