Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) says it has shut 34 corporate organisations and 23 hotels for failing to remit personal income taxes (PIT) of their employees and consumption taxes, respectively. This is according to a statement by Monsurat Amasa-Oyelude, head of corporate communications at LIRS, where she stated that Seyi Alade, LIRS director of legal services, disclosed the shutdown while addressing a state-wide tax law enforcement exercise conducted by the service on Monday. Alade said the tax liabilities of these companies and hotels amounted to more than N356.12 million, adding that this has caused the state a huge…

Uchenna Kanu, Rasheedat Ajibade and Oshoala were on target as Nigeria’s Super Falcons pounced Ethiopia 4-0 at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja to reach the final qualifying round for the 2024 Paris Olympics Women’s Football event. Both teams started the second leg fixture tied 1-1 on aggregate from the first-leg at the Abebe Bikila Stadium, Addis Ababa. Nine-time African champions, Nigeria took the lead on the stroke of halftime courtesy of striker Uchenna Kanu. The Nigerian Ladies will consolidate on their grip of the contest when matchday skipper, Rasheedat Ajibade scored in the 50th minute to put the Falcons 2-0…

Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has reacted to the crisis rocking Rivers State. The relationship between Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his successor, went sour less than six months after handover. The crisis reached its height few days ago when the chamber of the State House of Assembly was set ablaze and the subsequent move to impeach the governor. Fubara had stormed the Complex on Monday alongside his supporters, vowing to fight the impeachment threat. President Bola Tinubu had waded into the crisis by summoning the duo who are of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to…

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, says he has been in talks with the Nigeria Salaries and Wages Commission to upgrade the salaries of paramilitary officers to be on a par with the personnel of the Nigeria Police Force. He also said like the military, the Federal Government was considering the establishment of a pension board for personnel of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Federal Fire Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Nigeria Correctional Service. According to him, the paramilitary personnel deserve an improvement in their salaries as well as a pension board, due to the hazards involved…

Data from the National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF) has revealed that over 65 million Nigerians actively engage in betting, spending $975m daily on online betting. Executive secretary of NLTF, Bello Maigari, made this known yesterday at the second edition of the biennial national gaming conference held in Lagos. He said Nigerians spend billions of dollars on betting each year, despite economic hardship. “Currently, there are over 65 million Nigerians actively engaging in this activity, spending $15 on average everyday. It is on record, each day, 14 million bet takes and payments are made online in our country. “It is expected…

President Bola Tinubu has intervened in the crisis rocking the executive and the legislature in Rivers. Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State stated this while briefing State House correspondents after a closed-door session with Tinubu, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday. “We had a closed session where very serious national issues were discussed that has serious security implications. That is the problem emerging in Rivers. “The president in his usual leadership position intervened and then it will appear that there will be peace in that respect. “He has showed that he is a president for everybody – a president for…

The National Police Service Council has confirmed the former acting Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, as the substantive IGP and Head of the Nigeria Police Force. Briefing State House correspondents after the Council Meeting, the Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Geidam, announced the confirmation of Kayode Egbetokun as the substantive Inspector General of Police. Geidam also said members endorsed President Tinubu’s proposal on the confirmation of Egbetokun, following his pedigree and experiences on the job. He said Egbetokun’s confirmation follows his satisfactory discharge of duties in the past three months since his appointment on June 20. Geidam further said…

The Federal Government has reinstated its position that only a two-state solution will end the Israeli-Palestinian age-long conflict. Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, disclosed this while speaking with the press after a meeting with the Palestinian Ambassador to Nigeria, Abdallah Abu Shawesh, on Tuesday evening. He said Nigeria believes both parties have a right to an independent state. The Minister lamented that innocent civilians were being killed in the conflict, calling on both parties to stop hostilities. “I reiterated to him [Palestinian Ambassador to Nigeria] Nigeria’s position which is for a two-state solution and we are totally…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has denied a report suggesting that it plans to redenominate the country’s legal tender, the Naira, with effect from January 2024. The rebuttal followed the wide circulation of a text message suggesting that the Bank plans to redenominate the Naira. In a release signed by the Director of Corporate Communication, Dr Isa AbdulMumin, the Apex bank said: “We are concerned that this narrative, which we had refuted before now, appears to be gaining traction with several debates on the implication of such a policy for the Nigerian economy. “We wish to reiterate that the…

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reversed the nullification of the candidacy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November governorship election, Chief Timipre Sylva, thus clearing the coast for his participation in less than 12 days to the poll. The appellate court in a judgment delivered on Tuesday held that Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court was wrong in ordering the sack of Sylva as a candidate of the APC in the November 11, governorship election in Bayelsa State. According to the judgment, the trial court erred by assuming jurisdiction in the matter on grounds…

Vinícius Júnior has extended his contract at Real Madrid until June 2027, the LaLiga club announced on Tuesday. The Brazil forward, 23, joined Madrid in July 2018 and has established himself as one of the club’s most important players. “Real Madrid CF and Viní Jr. have agreed the extension of the player’s contract, who will remain at the club until June 30, 2027,” Madrid said in a statement. “Viní Jr. arrived at Real Madrid in July 2018, aged just 18 years old, and made his debut for Real Madrid Castilla on August 26. In his six seasons wearing the first team shirt he has played…

Saudi Arabia is set to host the men’s 2034 World Cup after Australia decided against bidding to stage the tournament. Football Australia confirmed its decision only hours before Fifa’s deadline for declarations of interest on Tuesday. Saudi Arabia is the only other nation to bid. “We have reached the conclusion not to do so for the 2034 competition,” read a statement from Football Australia. Australia’s governing body says it intends to focus its efforts on hosting the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 2026 and the Club World Cup in 2029. The 2026 World Cup will take place in the US,…