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FIRS: Revenue HouseBy Mustapha Sumaila
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) says it has inaugurated a new Automatic Exchange of Information-Common Reporting Standard (AEOI-CRS) system for the use of financial institutions in the country.
FIRS Director, Communications and Liaison, Mr Abdullahi Ahmad, said this in a statement in Abuja on Sunday.
Ahmad said the step was part of the services ongoing reforms to align the nations tax system with global standards.
He quoted the Executive Chairman, FIRS, Mr Muhammad Nami as calling on reporting financial institutions under the Income Tax (Common Reporting Standard) Regulations 2019 to enroll on the portal.
The Automatic Exchange of Information-Common Reporting Standard (AEOI-CRS) system portal is currently live, open and active.
Consequently, all Reporting Financial Institutions (Commercial Banks, Merchant Banks, Discount Houses, Mortgage and Development Banks, Insurance and Life Assurance Companies, Investment Advisers, Trustees, Asset Management Companies, Issuing Houses, Brokers/Dealers, etc) are invited to enroll on the AEOI-CRS portal, he said.
He explained that each Reporting Financial Institution (FI) was required to designate an appropriate officer as Primary User (PU).
According to him, the PU is the custodian of the FIs login details on the portal.
He said a letter signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the FI introducing the PU to the FIRS was also required as part of the enrolment process.
In order to enroll as a PU of an FI and have access to related AEOI-CRS documents, please visit the FIRS website at www.firs.gov.ng and navigate the menu tab on Automatic Exchange of Information.
Please do this only if relevant contact details have been forwarded to the FIRS. FIs are to further take notice that CRS reports for 2019 are due not later than 30th September 2020.
For further information, send enquiries to or , he said. (NAN)
Source: NAN News
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Pastor Enoch AdeboyeBy Henry Oladele
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God(RCCG) Pastor Enoch Adeboye has said that people who were above 70 years needed to check their salvation if they were still afraid of death.
Adeboye said this at the first Sunday Thanksgiving of the RCCG new year calendar, held at the headquarters in Lagos on Sunday.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, old people were advised to stay at home and not come to church which is good advice.
But if you are over 70 years of age and you are still afraid of death, then you should check your salvation,he said.
Adeboye, however, declared that no one would die, adding that everyone would live to declare the word of God.
He added that the Almighty God would turn down coronavirus, adding that no virus would come near the children of God.
God will give us total victory on any virus. The Lord who has kept us to see September will keep us to see the new year, he prayed.
In his sermon, Adeboye told the congregationto always praise the Lord because He had done a lot for the country and everyone in particular.
When we remember some people we grew up with are dead, some are in prison, sick, and we are still alive, then we should have reasons to praise the Lord.
When we know we have the Almighty God, the conqueror of any virus by our side, then we have every reason to thank God, he said.
He added that the Almighty God would never the people.
Everyone should continue to praise God for life, he said.
He urged those that had not given their lives to Christ to do so for them to get Gods blessings. (NAN)
Source: NAN News
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Suicide ropeBy Esenvosa Izah
An NGO, Suicide Research and Prevention Initiative (SURPIN), has raised concerns over a possible increase in phone calls relating to suicide after full reopening of the nations economy as people return to school and begin to face the financial impact of COVID-19.
The National Coordinator, SURPIN, Dr Raphael Ogbolu, expressed the worry in an e-news conference via Zoom held on Saturday in Lagos.
The conference was to herald the commemoration of the World Suicide Prevention Day marked annually on Sept. 10.
SURPIN is an initiative of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), inaugurated in 2017 for suicide prevention through research, crisis intervention, health education and early treatment of depression and drug abuse.
Ogbolu said: This year, Nigeria has been plagued by COVID-19 just like other countries around the world and the attendant uncertainty, disruption of previously normal ways of living have tasked the resilience of a lot of people.
This has exposed many people to several factors that contribute to suicide by compromising mental wellbeing.
We have already seen the impact of this in our hotline calls whereby in the month of May, we received about the most calls since inception in 2017.
These were most likely as a result of the lockdown and restrictions; we consider this a first wave of increased calls.
We are concerned that there may be a second wave after full reopening of the economy, as people return to school and begin to face the financial impact of COVID-19, especially such things as bad loans with debtors calling and relationship conflicts, among other things.
Ogbolu, who is also a Consultant Psychiatrist at LUTH, said therefore, that SURPIN planned to step up collaboration with relevant government agencies to address issues surrounding suicide prevention.
According to him, SURPIN will be organising an e-conference on Sept. 12 where invited guests who have national carriage will discuss issues surrounding suicide.
In our own way, we are trying to collaborate with as many agencies as possible.
We have approached the International Directorate of Employment, and has support from the Lagos State Ministry of Social Welfare.
We are hoping to build on these collaborations so that we are ready to help those who will be in that position as things begin to reopen, the coordinator said. (NAN)
Source: NAN News
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Tinubu and Gov. AkeredoluBy Ayodeji Alabi
Chief Bola Tinubu, national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has solicited the support of traditional rulers in Ondo State for the re-election of Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
The News Agency of Nigeria NAN reports that the governorship election in the state is scheduled to hold on Oct. 10.
Tinubu made the appeal on Saturday at the Dome International Event Centre, Akure, during an interactive session with traditional rulers in the state.
The APC national leader, who dismissed insinuations that there was a rift between him and Akeredolu, said that the state needed the governor to continue his good job so that the people could enjoy more dividends of democracy.
Dont listen to them. Some people can go to any length to lie against other people. We are not fighting, Odua people need to be united.
Our monarchs, your support is needed, though you have assured us that you have agreed to ensure Akeredolu comes back for second term, he said.
According to the APC leader, people have seen the good things such as roads, agricultural developments, schools, industrial park and others things that Akeredolu has done in the state since he came on board.
We have commissioned the Revenue House today and he has assured us of bringing back the produce marketing board. He has also guaranteed employment for youths across the state.
Kabiyesis, our schools that you have built and sent us to has brought us where we are today. If we dont invest in education like Akeredolu has done, our children will lag behind.
Youths need jobs, our youths who are left at home need to be catered for because we cannot leave them. We want a second term.
Please, we are here to tell and show that there is no quarrel between children of Oodua. We will not go back to the situation of 1983, the former governor of Lagos said.
Tinubu, therefore, charged the traditional rulers to speak with their chiefs and subjects to ensure that Akeredolu was re-elected.
Earlier, Oba Frederick Akinruntan, the Olugbo of Ugboland, gave assurance of the support of the traditional rulers for the second term bid of the governor.
According to Akinruntan, what makes the monarchs support Akeredolus reelection is the giant strides of his administration since inception.
The flag-off of the deep sea port, Araromi-Lekki-Ibeju Road, Overhead bridge in Ore, and many roads across the state.
He also upgraded traditional rulers from grade D to C, the monarch said.
Also speaking, Akeredolu promised to do more, with the support of the traditional rulers, if he was reelected for a second term.
The governor, who said the election was for Oodua people, explained that it was the turn for a Yoruba presidency by 2023, hence the importance of APC retaining the seat in Ondo State.
This progressive party must continue to be in Ondo. What happened in Oyo state must not happen here. Talk to your people because this election is for Oodua people, he said.
Dignitaries at the event included Gov. Babajide Sanwoolu of Lagos State, Gov. Gboyega Oyetola of Osun, Yahaya Bello of Kogi, and Chief Bisi Akande, the pioneer national chairman of APC. (NAN)
Source: NAN News
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Scene of a road accidentYetunde Fatungase
The Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) in Ogun says no fewer than 109 persons lost their lives while 665 others sustained injuries in various road accidents across the state between January and August.
Mr Babatunde Akinbiyi, the Public Relations Officer of the Corps, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abeokuta on Saturday.
Akinbiyi said that there were 527 road traffic crashes involving motorcycles and motor vehicle accidents.
He explained that of the 109 deaths recorded during the period, 83 were males while 26 were females. Of the 665 injured, 487 were males while 178 were females, he added.
Akinbiyi also disclosed that 35 persons died from motorcycle accidents while 74 died from incidents involving motor vehicles.
He blamed most of the accidents on speeding, tyre burst, dangerous driving and wrongful overtaking.
The TRACE spokesman said that the command would continue to work towards ensuring safety on the roads via continuous sensitisation of motorists.
He advised motorists to continue to abide by safety rules and regulations and always be careful snytime they approach road diversions. (NAN)
Source: NAN News
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IDPs in NigeriaBy Amen Gajira
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kaduna State Chapter, has reached out to displaced victims of the recent attacks in the Southern part of the state with food items and clothing.
Presenting the items on Saturday at the IDP camp in Zonkwa, Zango Kataf Local Government Area, the State CAN Chairman, Rev. John Hayab, said the gesture was meant to cushion the hardship victims were facing.
We are here on behalf of all the Christians in Kaduna State to identify with the victims of attacks in this part of the state.
And we didnt come empty handed but have brought some food items and clothing for them to use in this hard times, he added.
Hayab enjoined the people of Southern Kaduna not to despair as after every calamity comes blessings of God.
The challenges, hardships, pains and troubles you are currently going through shouldnt discourage you but make you stronger.
We know this is a trying period for you all but we strongly believe that this phase will pass away and launch you to greatness, he said.
He said that CAN would continue to seek divine intervention for lasting solution to the security challenges bedeviling the region.
The state CAN chairman decried the politicisation of the crisis in the region, saying it was evil to play politics with human lives.
Our only problem as CAN is that some people till today are playing politics with the issue of the crisis which is unfortunate.
They are bringing up narratives that are not okay. Once a human being is killed, we should desist from reading meanings into it that are not true, he said.
Hayab commended those managing the facility for the sacrifices they had been making to cater for the IDPs in their period of need.
According to him, CAN was in talks with well spirited individuals and organisations to help victims rebuild their homes.
Receiving the items, the Camp Coordinator, Rev. Gambo Waziri, thanked CAN for the gesture and assured of judicious use of the items for the purpose for which it was given.
Waziri noted that the camp was set up on July 11 to cater for displaced persons from over 13 communities.
NAN reports that the items distributed included bags of beans, rice, maize and clothing.
Prayers were offered to victims nursing injuries within the camp and at various hospitals in the state. (NAN)
Source: NAN News
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Middle East Airline making its first trip to Nigeria after five months of international travel lockdownBy Yunus Yusuf
There was palpable joy on Saturday as the first international flight landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this was coming after five months of closure of the Nigerian airspace due to the lockdown occasioned by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The Middle East Airline (MEA), which took off from Beirut, Lebanon, made history as the first international flight to land anywhere in the country as it touched down at the MMIA at exactly 2.30 p.m.
The aircraft was ceremonially welcomed with a water cannon demonstration by the officials of the Aerodrome and Rescue Fire Fighters, a Department in the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
NAN also reports that officials of FAAN, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Port Health Services (PHS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and other relevant agencies were on ground to attend to the passengers brought in by the airline.
On arrival at the terminal, passengers presented their documents, including COVID-19 PCR test results for screening by the Port Health Services officials, while their travelling papers, passports and visas were handled by the immigration officials at the airport.
However, there was no much work to be done by the officials on ground as the aircraft landed with just 200 passengers as approved by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.
The passengers, comprised Nigerians and foreigners, conducted themselves orderly and went through the protocols as approved by the PTF.
At the arrival and departure halls of the airports, the arriving and departing passengers observed the social distancing protocols, just as it was being currently observed on the domestic routes.
Speaking on the procedures, Mr Abdullahi Usman, Comptroller, NIS, MMIA, said the process was seamless and passengers were cooperative while travelling documents were requested from them by the officials.
Usmanexplained that on arrival, Nigerians onboard need not to fill another travel card, saying that when necessary; the immigration service would give them the right form to fill.
He said: As you can see, the passengers are coming in quantum, not in a mass.
The control of the passengers start from the disembarkation of the aircraft and you can see it yourself how orderly things were done.
The procedures remain the same. Social distancing is there. Nigerians have no need to fill another card.
Once we have any other information to get from them, we will give them another card. We want to ensure seamless passengers clearance at the counters.
Also, Mrs Victoria Shin-Aba, Regional Manager, South-West, FAAN, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and the management of FAAN for ensuring smooth return of flight services on the international scene. (NAN)
Source: NAN News
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Nigerian soldiersAbdullahi Shugaba
Troops of Operation Sahel Sanity of the Nigerian Army have arrested 418 bandits and 315 illegal miners in the North-West.
The Acting Director, Defence Media Operation, Brig.-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, stated this while briefing newsmen on the success recorded by the Army Operation at the Special Army Super Camp 4, Faskari, Katsina State, on Saturday.
Onyeuko explained that Operation Sahel Sanity launched by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, in July 2020, was to support Operation Hadarin Daji to fight banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, arm robbery and all form of criminalities in North-West and some parts of North-Central.
He stated that troops of the Operation Sahel Sanity had recovered 43 Ak-47 rifles, 100 locally made guns, 3,261 live ammunitions and 151 local bullets from bandits across the five states of Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kaduna and Niger.
He said that from July to date, the troops have neutralised 100 bandits, 20 informants, and six arms dealers that specialised in supplying arms to bandits.
According to him, during the period under review, 81 bandits camps were destroyed including that of notorious bandits leader, nick named Dangote who was killed on July 24.
Onyeuko announced that a total of 3,984 cattle, 1,627 sheep and goats, and three camels were also recovered from the camps.
He said the animals have been handed over to relevant authority who would return them to their owners.
Onyeuko assured communities in the affected states of the armys determination to rid the zone of all criminalities, urging them to provide relevant information to security agencies in the ongoing operations. (NAN)
Source: NAN News
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Sen. Ifeanyi AraraumeBy Ikechukwu Iweajunwa
Sen. Ifeanyi Araraume has been declared winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries for the forthcoming Imo North senatorial by-election which held on Thursday.
He was declared winner by the Chairman of the APC Primary Election Committee for Imo North, Umar Gana Nguma, at the collation centre in Onuimo Civic Centre.
According to Nguma, Araraume scored the highest votes of 22,944 votes while Chidinma Uwajumogu came a distant second with 3,757 votes.
Nguma also announced votes scored by other aspirants to include, Mark Uchendu, 1,877; Frank Ibezim, 1,216 and Athan Achonu, 934 votes.
Others were, Matthew Omegara, 698; Acho Ihim, 212; Bright Nwachukwu, 126; Eze Okoro, 53 and Uchenna Uchewuba, 51 votes.
He disclosed that the number of registered voters was 37, 228 while the number of total votes cast was 32,464.
Nguma said the result was a collation of the direct election held in all the wards within the six council areas in the senatorial district.
He commended members of the party in the senatorial district for conducting themselves in a most peaceful manner during the exercise. (NAN)
Source: NAN News
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PTF on COVID-19By Abujah Racheal
The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has adjusted the curfew from 12 midnight through 4a.m. as it continued the gradual easing of lockdown measures imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
The National Coordinator, PTFon COVID-19, Dr Sani Aliyu,disclosed thisduring the PTF briefing on COVID-19 at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, on Thursday.
Aliyu, however, explained that people on essential service and travellers returning from abroad were exempted from the curfew.
I will first of all start with general movement. We are modifying the curfew to commence from 12 midnight to 4 a.m. nationwide effective from 12:00 tonight.
This does not apply to people on essential services and international travellers that may be returning from abroad, he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the PTF, following the lifting of the lockdown occasioned by the pandemic, had on May 4, 2020, imposed a nationwide curfew from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m.
Also in June, the PTF reduced the nationwide curfew from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. in a bid to limit social interactions and reduce the risk of transmission of the virus. (NAN)
Source: NAN News