Author: Ibrahim Abusadiq

Traders in Ogbette Main Market, Enugu have expressed disaffection with the multiple taxation and levies in the market.

The traders also feared a possible outbreak of epidemic in the market due to the overflow of waste from a sewage in the nneigbouring premises of the Nigerian Correctional Service (former Nigerian Prisons Service)

They spoke at a sensitisation programme organised by a non-governmental organisation, called Strengthening Citizens Resistance against Prevalence of Corruption (SCRAP-C) project.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the taxes and levies were introduced by the market leadership as well as state and local governments.

One of the traders, Mr Patrick Ezema, said that they were emburdened with different types of levies and taxes that were affecting their businesses.

Ezema listed some of the levies to include sanitation levy, annual levy, EEDC levy, packing late levy and special security levy.

He said that they were more worried with the introduction of three other levies, including wheel barrow permit, hawkers’ permit and eating permit.

He said that the eating permit was being paid by caterers in the market, adding that stall levies were rising in geometric progression annually.

He said, “Some of these levies are unacceptable to us because their impact was not being felt in the market.”

Ezema wondered why wheelbarrow pushers and sachet water hawkers, who were struggling to survive, would be made to pay levies in the market.

On the overflow of waste into the market, he said, “many of us have fallen sick as a result of the human waste that flows into the market from the neighbouring building.”

Ezema called for urgent measures to check the situation to avert a possible outbreak of epidemic in the market.

Also, Mr James Ukomadu, another trader, appealed to the state and local government to build a clinic in the market to handle minor health issues and emergencies in the market.

Ukomadu also charged the market leadership to build necessary infrastructure in the market to justify the huge levies paid by traders.

Mrs Chinyere Ukatu appealed to the government to sink a borehole in the market, saying that the lack of potable water was affecting them.

In a speech, the Executive Director of DEDSRI, Ms Ogechukwu Enwelum, said that the aim of the sensitisation was to get first hand information on the issue of multiple taxation in the market.

Enwelum said that the organisation discovered from their investigation that the traders were grappling with multiple taxation.

She said that the situation was inconsistent with the reputation of Enugu as a state with a conducive environment for business.

“We call for advocacy to enable us understand the situation. We want businesses to grow in the state,” Enwelum said.

She also said that the group needed to know if there was an accountability forum in the market.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the issue of multiple taxation had been a recurrent phenomenon in the state.

Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi had at different fora expressed willingness to harmonise the levies.

NAN reports that SCRAP-C project, which is funded by the UKaid, is designed to build the capacity of the citizenry in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.

It was a brainchild of ActionAid Nigeria and being implemented in the state in partnership with Divine Era

Development and Social Rights Initiative.
The programme is currently being implemented in six pilot states of the federation. (NAN)

By Muhammad Nasir Bashir

Dutse, Aug. 22, 2018 (NAN) The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) says 4,000 permanent National Identity Cards are yet to be collected by their owners in Jigawa.

The state’s coordinator of the commission Mr Aminu Jakada, made this known during an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Thursday.

Jakada, who described the development as “discouraging”, urged owners, particularly in Hadejia, Kirikasamma and Gumel Local Government Area (LGAs) to visit the commission’s offices in their respective areas to claim their cards.

“As at now, we have 4,000 uncollected permanent national identity cards particularly in Hadejia, Kirikasamma and Gumel LGAs.

“So we are calling on people in these LGAs who had enrolled to go to our offices in their areas and collect their cards,” Jakada said.

He explained that the gesture was to enable the owners obtain the cards and begin to use their National Identity Number (NIN) to forestall embarrassment in future dealings.

The coordinator pointed that the NIN is a valid and verifiable means of identification use to link all records about an individual in the commission’s database.

Jakada also advised applicants to visit any NIMC office in the state nearest to them to enroll and obtain their NIN.

According to him, upon registration, every applicant would be issued two slips; a transaction slip and a second slip after two hours which is the NIN slip.

According to him, NIMC has over 40 registration centres across the state.

“This simply means that there is an enrolment centre close by that every individual can get registered.

“Therefore, residents are hereby advised to enroll and obtain their NIN before the mandatory use of the NIN is enforced,” he added.

NAN

By Muhammad Nasir Bello
The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), has described the appointment of Mr Sunday Dare as Minister for Youth and Sport Development as a chance to enable the youth to participate in the present administration.

Mr Bello Shagari, the NYCN National President, made the assertion in a press statement issued to newsmen in Sokoto on Thursday.

He said that the appointment of Dare came without anticipation but with full satisfaction, “because he is fully equipped and experienced to do the job successfully.

“On behalf of the leadership of the NYCN, I wish to congratulate the new Minister and thank President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing someone who can deliver for the youth.

“Moreover, we expect that the new minister will peacefully resolve the problems surrounding the youth in the country.

“Especially, the NYCN fictionalisation and save it from over aged men and political hijackers who have continued to invest in the disunity of the Nigerian youth for years”.

Shagari further restated that the objective of the Nigerian youth had always been in line with the policies of Buhari.

NAN

The Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Mr Maruf Akinderu-Fatai, on Wednesday said the state was ready to compete with other smart global cities through the provision of affordable housing for all.

Akinderu-Fatai told newsmen in Alausa that several people migrate to Lagos everyday from all parts of the country without any plans of returning to their hometowns, hence, the need to bridge the housing deficit.

“Lagos is the unique destination of choice for not only Nigerians but also nationals of neighbouring countries. People come to Lagos for every reason. They do not have any plans for going back, thereby increasing the housing deficit on daily basis.

“We have to provide decent accommodation for them all,” he said in a statement by Mrs Adeola Salako, Director, Public Affairs of the ministry.

The commissioner, who was a former member of the Lagos State House Committee on Housing at the Federal House of Representatives between 2007 and 2015, said that in spite of the challenges of the huge gap, the incumbent administration was capable of resolving the issues through sustained efforts.

He added that the “Ministry of Housing will speedily complete some of the ongoing housing schemes, while private sector participation will be energized to yield an added value in the sector”.

He said that Lagos had the wherewithal to compete favourably with smart cities of the same category all over the world in provision of housing.

“Actualising the vision of building a 21st century economy with decent shelter for all is within reach. Lagos is blessed with the potentialities and we are strongly committed to bringing it to fruition.’’

He called on all stakeholders in the housing sector to support the government in order to speedily achieve the vision of providing qualitative and affordable homes for all classes of Lagos residents.

Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Mrs Adetoke Benson-Awoyinka, said the ministry would look into the provision of temporary shelter for the distressed and vulnerable people to reduce the problem of homelessness and destitution.

NAN

By Peter Uwumarogie
Mr Tunji Olarinde, a public health expert, has appealed the private sector to assist in building public toilets to check open defecation and improve public health as part of their corporate social responsibilities.

Olarinde made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Gombe.

According to him, with constant increase in population, if nothing is done in that direction, we may have a serious public health issues on our hands in the near future.

“The provision of public toilet is one aspect that many companies in developed countries invest in as their corporate social responsibility.

“We are yet to see that in the country.

“ We must find ways to improve public health and curb open defecation through the provision of public toilets.

“I call on private companies to assist in the provision of such facilities.

“This is one area that companies can leverage to improve public and environmental health for the good of Nigerians.

“Public toilet play significant role in public health and improves environmental health and mental well-being.

“When clean public toilets are available, people can enjoy outings and other outdoor activities without fear to meet their psychological need when it occurs.

“When nature calls, you can’t really tell such a person not to indulge in open defecation but with functional public toilets, no human will chose to ignore such facilities and go for open defecation,’’ he said.

Olarinde said there were many health issues associated with lack of public toilet, adding “whatever can cause any challenge to public health is a big threat to life.

“ Private companies should look into provision of public toilets to curb open defecation and minimise the risk of water borne diseases, especially in rural areas, where streams and rivers serve as sources of potable water.’’

He also advised individuals, who could engage in toilet business to do so, to create job for themselves and others as obtained in some developing countries. (NAN)

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday presided over the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Osinbajo, who chairs the NEC, is the head of Nigeria’s Economic Management team.

The meeting comes on the heels of the inauguration of new ministers by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday.

The NEC meeting, held monthly, deliberates on the coordination of the economic planning efforts and economic programmes of the various levels government.

The council comprises the 36 state governors, the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Minister of Finance, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and other government officials and agencies whose duties hinge on the economy.

NAN

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Thursday said it was set to strengthen the capacity of its staff for effective and proactive disaster management in the country.

Alhaji Mustapha Maihaja, NEMA Director General, disclosed this at a five-day retreat with the theme “Re-Engineering the Agency for Effective and Proactive Disaster Management” in Minna.

The News agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the training aimed at re-designing the agency had participants drawn from NEMA, Minna Operations Office.

Maihaja, who was represented by Mr Bashir Garga, Assistant Director in the Agency, disclosed that the training was held simultaneously across the agency’s formations in the country.

He said that the training was to avail staff of the agency the opportunity to rethink, refocus and reposition them towards effective performance.

Mrs Lydia Wagami, Head of Operations of NEMA, in charge of Niger and Kwara, said staff training and retraining was the most effective vehicle to acquiring latest knowledge on disaster management.

Wagami, who was represented by Mr Ahmed Sani, Head of Finance/Account Unit of the agency in Niger, said that the training would make the staff to be more useful in their job especially, in the face of the impending flood disaster.

She said that a report and recommendations are expected to be forwarded to the agency’s head office at the end of the training.

NAN report that papers were presented on General Principles of Disaster Management in Nigeria, Humanitarian Activities in Emergencies and Public Service Rule and Procedures.

NAN