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Closure of Dangote Cement Factory by Kogi Govt, Shocking, Hasty – NACCIMA, LCCI, ACCI

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Organised Private Sector (OPS) operators under the aegis of the National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) have berated the Kogi State government over the closure of Dangote Cement, Obajana Plant, describing the action as being hasty.

 

This is just as Lagos and Abuja branches of the Chamber in separate statements described the action of the state governor, Yahaya Bello as “shocking and disappointing” at the least, regretting that for every day the factory is shut, millions of naira are lost and the reputation of Kogi state takes a negative hit.

 

NACCIMA expressed regret that the issues between the company and the state over tax dispute ought not to have led to sealing of the company but should have been resolved in a conciliatory and amicable atmosphere.

 

The body, in a statement signed by its Director-General, Olusola Obadimu and issued in Lagos, said the state government should have trodden a path of caution and called for the immediate reopening of the factory for normal production activities to resume.

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Obadimu stated that NACCIMA’s position was based on some key considerations bordering on the impact of the factory’s closure on the economy and thousands of people whose means of livelihood depend on the production activities of the factory.

 

“It is vital to note that it is a huge production plant that supplies key domestic input (cement) into the economy and employs hundreds of thousands of Nigerians, directly and indirectly. This is aside from its substantial budget for corporate social responsibility outside of taxes.

 

“Shutting off the factory does not necessarily help the controversial issue of compliance on tax remittable to Kogi state government. Rather a continuous operation of the plant would more likely facilitate a faster resolution of the dispute,” he said.

 

The NACCIMA boss then urged that the factory be reopened as quickly as possible to enable it continue its operation and fulfil its necessary responsibilities, not just on tax obligations, but also keep the hundreds of thousands of Nigerians in its direct and indirect employment dutifully engaged; while sustaining its crucial services not just to the people and government of Kogi State but Nigeria in general.

 

The LCCI, in its statement signed by its Director General, Dr Chinyere Almona said the attack on the cement factory reflected the poor handling of investment protection issues in the country.

 

The Chamber said it believed there are more decent ways to handle regulatory and legislative matters concerning businesses in Nigeria than resorting to violence. According to the Chamber, the invasion of the Dangote Cement Factory by youths that led to the shooting of factory workers is unfortunate, ill-construed, and avoidable.

 

“We advocate a win-win situation for businesses and the government. We will therefore call on all parties to exercise caution and be protective of jobs, assets of production, and government revenues from corporate organisations like Dangote Cement Factory”, she added.

 

The LCCI boss noted that the Federal Government and Kogi State Government had hitherto benefited from business revenues and social investments, and added that, “It is therefore expected that the government would be interested in creating an enabling business environment that can attract both local and foreign investors. And where there are infractions, handling such should be in accordance with best practices and the rule of law that protect investors’ rights and human lives.”

 

The body, therefore, called for a meeting of all government agencies connected with the acquisition of the cement plant to resolve any differences thereof. This process, it said, “can be taken without necessarily shutting down the factory and endangering jobs, products, and government revenues. This point is critical as wrong handling or unprofessional approaches to resolutions can send negative signals to potential foreign investors.”

 

The Chamber noted that the growing mining industry in Kogi State has benefitted from the production activities of the Dangote Cement Factory, which offers both infrastructural and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects to enhance the standard of living in the State.

 

“We see a role for the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), the Nigeria Investment Protection Commission (NIPC), and the Kogi State Government in resolving this issue. We, therefore, expect to see a swift intervention by these agencies toward a win-win resolution”, LCCI advised.

 

The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry in a statement signed by its Director General, Ms. Victoria Akai urged the state government to employ dialogue in resolving whatever differences it has with the cement company so as to protect the image of the state as an investment destination.

 

She said both the state governor and the owner of Dangote Cement Plc, Alhaji Aliko Dangote are men of peace who should resolve any business dispute through consensus without jeopardizing the multi-billion naira investment and thousands of jobs of Kogi indigenes.

 

“We therefore call for the immediate re-opening of the factory and commencement of alternative dispute resolution. Dangote Cement is a company with commendable sustainability records. The company has blazed the trail within Nigeria and across Africa.

“Nothing should therefore be done to truncate the growing business at a time other African countries are opening their doors wide for Dangote investment. The factory has been able to take many out off the street thereby reducing unemployment that has been a major problem in the country.

“The closure of the factory will further increase unemployment. It is in the best interest of Kogi state to reopen the factory so as not to scare away local and foreign investors”, the statement noted.

 

 

 

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Gombe Approves 2025 SSCE Fees for Over 20,000 Students

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The Gombe State Executive Council (SEC), presided over by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON, has approved the sum of 580 million for the payment of registration fees for over 20,000 students sitting for various Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) in 2025 across the state.

This was announced by the Commissioner of Information, Culture and Ethical orientation, Hon. Mijinyawa Ardo Tilde, when he led other council members for a press briefing after the 45th executive council of the State.

Speaking further on the council’s approval for the payment of the SSCE, the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Aishatu Umar Maigari, stated that the Gombe State Government has consistently funded SSCE payments since 2019 to ease parents’ financial burdens and ensure indigent students complete their secondary education without obstacles.

“Today, at the council meeting, approval was granted for the payment of registration fees for various Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) for 20,477 students across the state. Out of this number, fees were paid for 18,723 indigent students for WAEC, 110 students under the Exchange Programme Officer, 58 students from Special Schools, 1,368 students for NABTEB, and 219 students from Arabic colleges for NBAIS”, the Commissioner stated.

“The total amount approved for this year’s SSCE is N580,870,900. This amount will be shared between the state and local governments. Let me also reemphasize that the payment of SSCE fees has been an annual practice of this administration since 2019, and is aimed at alleviating the financial burden on parents and ensuring that our students across the state have the opportunity to complete their secondary education,” the Commissioner added.

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The commissioner further stated that before Governor Inuwa’s led administration came on board, only 23% of students who sat for various SSCE exams obtained five credits, including English and Mathematics, saying with the continuous reforms in the education sector and the increased annual payment of SSCE fees, the number has risen to about 70%.

In a related development, the Education Commissioner announced council’s approval for a new sanitation roadmap in schools and healthcare facilities aimed at improving hygiene and environmental standards across the state.

She explained that the roadmap seeks to ensure regular sanitation exercises in public schools and healthcare centers, stating that the initiative will compliment the monthly sanitation exchange being conducted during the last Saturday of every month to enhance a healthier environment.

To ensure adherence to the provisions of the new roadmap by all public institutions, the Commissioner announced council’s composition of a committee which include the Commissioner of Environment, Water and Forest Resources as Chairman, while Commissioner for Education and the Commissioner of Health are to serve as members with the mandate to ensure increased supervision on the schools and healthcare facilities as well as government offices.

In another development, the commissioner of Works, Housing and Transport, Engr. Usman Maijama Kallamu, announced the council’s approval of N530,770,128 for the procurement of furniture for the newly completed Sharia Court of Appeal in the State in order to immediately put the edifice into use.

 

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House of Representatives Passes Tax Reform Bills

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The House of Representatives has passed for second reading of the four Tax Reform Bills submitted to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu.

These bills—the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, the Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill—seek to overhaul Nigeria’s tax system, ensuring efficiency, transparency, and improved revenue collection.

The tax reform bills scaled second reading after five months of consultations among lawmakers, during which critical concerns were addressed to achieve consensus on contentious provisions.

During deliberations, legislators emphasized that the proposed reforms would harmonize tax administration, eliminate multiple taxation, and create a structured framework for tax dispute resolution.

The bills also propose the establishment of an ombudsman system to expedite tax-related conflicts between taxpayers and the government.

Expected impact of the tax reforms 

The lawmakers noted that the reforms are aimed at:

Expanding the tax base by integrating more businesses and individuals into the formal tax system.

Ensuring uniform tax policies across different levels of government to prevent arbitrary levies.

Enhancing tax collection efficiency, reducing revenue leakages, and improving government earnings.

Promoting ease of doing business by simplifying tax compliance processes for businesses.

Call for judicious revenue utilization 

While supporting the bills, lawmakers advocated for the prudent application of tax revenues by all tiers of government. Some legislators raised concerns over revenue mismanagement and lack of accountability in tax utilization, urging the executive to ensure that increased tax revenue translates into improved infrastructure, social services, and economic development.

With the second reading secured, the bills will now proceed to the committee stage, where lawmakers will fine-tune provisions before a final vote. Stakeholder engagements, including input from tax experts, business leaders, and government agencies, are expected to shape the final versions of the bills before they are passed into law.

What you should know 

Earlier, the Northern Governors’ Forum, chaired by Gombe State Governor Muhammed Inuwa Yahaya, earlier opposed the derivation-based VAT distribution model.

In a communiqué, the forum argued that the proposal undermines the interests of the North and other sub-national regions.

Despite this opposition, President Tinubu encouraged governors and stakeholders to engage in the legislative process.

The Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, also addressed concerns, noting that the current VAT distribution model is unfair not only to Northern states but also to all geopolitical zones.

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Breaking:Dangote Refinery Reduces Diesel Price

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Aliko Dangote

Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals has reduced the cost of its diesel product to N1,020 per litre, down from N1,075 per litre at the gantry price, in an effort to better serve its customers and Nigerians in general.

Since it began diesel production in January 2024, the refinery has reduced the price of diesel more than three times, from an initial N1,700 per litre to the current rate, thus providing much-needed relief to manufacturers and consumers alike.

The latest reduction of N55 per litre for diesel follows the revelation by Development Economist and Public Policy Analyst, Prof. Ken Ife, that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery sacrificed over N10 billion to ensure the availability of petrol at a uniform price across the country during the yuletide period. He also praised the refinery for setting a new benchmark in Nigeria’s energy sector by unlocking vast opportunities for export revenue.

Speaking on the transformative impact of the refinery on Arise TV, Prof. Ife explained that for years, the equalisation fund had been responsible for managing the price differentials and transportation costs involved in distributing petroleum across the country. However, it has been reported that the fund owes marketers over N80 billion, according to the development analyst.

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“What has actually happened is that the president has shifted the subsidy burden away from the public purse and onto the private sector. The equalisation fund, which was meant to cover the price differential and transportation costs, plays a crucial role. If petroleum is to be sold across the country at a set price, then transportation costs must be accounted for to ensure this is possible. That’s the purpose of equalisation. However, the equalisation fund is reported to owe around N80 billion to the marketers, and this issue is still under discussion.

“During the Christmas season, which is traditionally the most challenging period, we often face shortages of petroleum, petrol hoarding, and arbitrary price hikes, all of which impact the cost of food. In response, during this last yuletide, the Dangote Group made the decision to absorb the costs. They equalised the price themselves, at a cost of over N10 billion. In doing so, they effectively absorbed the subsidy,” he said.

Prof Ife also said the facility is steering Nigeria away from its traditional focus on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) towards a diversified range of petroleum-based exports.

He added that with major international players such as BP and Saudi Aramco purchasing refined products from Nigeria, the country is swiftly becoming a key player in the global petroleum market. The analyst expressed confidence that Nigeria is on the path to self-sufficiency in petroleum products, while simultaneously positioning itself as an energy export powerhouse.

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