The Nigerian Army has donated houses to 20 wounded-in-action soldiers in Abuja.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, presented the keys to the houses on Wednesday during the commissioning of 400 Housing Units under the Affordable Home Ownership Option for All Soldiers Phase 1 in Abuja.

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, in his remarks, charged other Services of the Armed Forces to key into the project and provide housing units to all ratings and airmen.
He described the project as a true testament to the untiring efforts of the Late Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. T.A. Lagbaja, who had continuously advanced the welfare of the Nigerian Army personnel.

He commended the new Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Olufemi Oluyede, for continuing with the scheme, ensuring that more houses will be built for interested subscribers.

“The importance of owning a decent shelter in a soldiers’ life cannot be overstated as it promises stability, security and peace of mind,enabling them to focus fully on their duties,” he said.

General Musa said the project aligns with the vision of the Renewed Hope Cities and Estate Scheme of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria that every citizen deserves a home and “our personnel must not be left out.”

He urged the Nigerin Army to embark on more of such projects in the FCT and across other parts of the country, adding that such projects would foster overall development, enhance security and bring socio-economic benefits to the residents.

He said: “Such initiatives not only improve the welfare of personnel but also strengthen the bond between the military and the civilian population.

“By prioritising infrastructure and development, the Nigerian Army continues to play a pivotal role in nation building. May I at this juncture, recognize and thank the governors of Akwa Ibom and Edo State for allocating land in their states for the scheme.

“I also want to on behalf of the NA solicit all other governors to allocate land to the Nigerian Army to build houses for soldiers as land in Abuja will not be sufficient to build for all the personnel.

“Finally, I want to recognize and encourage our heroes who are making us proud to have a home in their geopolitical zones and if possible, their home states and not Abuja alone,” he said.

In his remarks, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Oluyede, said the project was initiated by the late COAS Lt-Gen Toareed Lagbaja as part of his sound administrations philosophy and him (Oluyede) being someone who also believes strongly that soldiers are the bedrock of the Army, makes a soldier first the foundation of his command philosophy and prioritised the completion.

The Army Chief said the project represents a landmark achievement in the Service’s ongoing efforts to enhance the welfare and well-being of soldiers and their families.

“The objective is primarily to support the dream of every soldier to acquire suitable and befitting post-service living accommodation in their location of choice from the available site options.

“It is believed that the affordable home ownership option for all soldiers will eventually alleviate the housing challenges of our soldiers,” the COAS stated.

He said the Idu Abuja phase 1 of the AHOOAS project is a pilot project and it took only 15 months of direct labour to complete.

“The phase one of this project will house 400 subscribers and their families. I am committed to driving the process for the immediate completion of the subsequent phases of this development in Idu, Benin City, Ibadon, and Uyo to deliver on our promises to our soldiers,” he added.

ABUJA: Soldiers reportedly acting on the orders of an army general on Wednesday attacked development control officials who were in Sabon Lugbe, Abuja, to remove some illegal structures in the area.

The officials were in the area to remove the fence of a building on Plot 416 said to belong to one Major General.

An official of the department narrated their ordeal this way; “During this operation, there was an incident that happened at Plot 416 Sabon Lugbe that belongs a Major General.

“When the removal was going on, the Major General got information of the removal. He sent two soldiers to his house to ascertain the situation.

On getting to the scene, the soldiers who drove the covered number plate vehicle blocked the way out of the house to prevent the enforcement team from coming out of the premises; threatening that somebody must die today.

“Private Jamilu (surname unknown) went straight to the caterpillar operator, cocked his rifle and pointed straight to him to come down or risk being shot immediately.

“He politely came down but was grabbed by the two soldiers who squeezed his neck with his clothes, beat him mercilessly and tore his shirt.

“Private Jamilu pulled his rifle and fired the four tyres of the caterpillar flat. He then called the Major General to come along with more soldiers for re-enforcement, and he came with them in numbers.

“He ordered his men to take Sector Sodangi and his site officer to his house, beat them even right from outside alongside six enforcement officials who where also taken hostage for hours.

“Three Hilux vehicles were taken to the Major General’s house while the remaining vehicles that they could not lay hands on had their tyres flattened with gun shots.

“On receiving the information, the DPO Trademore came to the scene but the Major General refused to take compliments nor listen to her. She left and said she would come back.

Niger Delta Development Commission has donated two-way radio communication gadgets, including transmitters and several accessories, to the Rivers State Police Command to enhance the command’s performance.

Speaking during the donation at the Police Headquarters in Port Harcourt, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, said the donation is aimed at bringing peace in the Niger Delta region and also to ensure better communication among the police.

According to a press release signed by the NDDC Director of Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, h3 said the donation was part of the commission’s contribution towards enhancing security in the Niger Delta, stating: “This donation is part of our efforts to support the security agencies to fight crime in the Niger Delta region. We believe that the modern communication tools will assist the police to carry out their duties more effectively and ensure the safety of our communities.”

“We will provide the communication equipment and other necessary assistance to all the police commands in the Niger Delta region.”

Ogbuku explained that the rapid development of the Niger Delta region could be achieved only in a peaceful environment, noting that peace and security were critical to creating the necessary environment for the rapid development of the Niger Delta region.

He assured: “The NDDC is committed to giving adequate support to the Nigeria Police and other security agencies to ensure effective job performance. As part of this commitment, we have been able to provide security gadgets and operational vehicles to the police, and we are determined to collaborate with other state police commands and security agencies in the region to enhance their operations.”

Ogbuku said that as an interventionist agency, NDDC would not hesitate to ensure that security agencies were given the necessary support to enhance their capacity to maintain security in the Niger Delta region.

The NDDC boss observed that since NDDC had an obligation to support security agencies, it needed a secure environment to discharge its mandate effectively.

Speaking earlier, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr Bala Mustapha Mohammed, commended the NDDC for its continued support for the police force.

The police boss, represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Samuel Erale, said the communication equipment would boost the security architecture already installed by the Command and effectively nip crime in the bud during this yuletide season and beyond.

He assured that the equipment would be properly maintained and adequately utilised for the purpose for which it was donated.

Speaking through a Zoom link, the immediate past Commissioner of Police in Rivers State and the current Police boss in FCT, Mr. Olatunji Disu, commended the NDDC for cooperating with security agencies working in the Niger Delta region to ensure peace.

He said the police would continue to discharge its duties to the country, including maintaining peace in the Niger Delta region, which he affirmed was necessary for sustainable development to thrive.

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has emphasised the need for integrated strategies to ensure sustainable ecosystem restoration in the Niger Delta region.

The NDDC Director, Environmental Protection and Control, EPC, Engr. Onuoha Obeka stated this during a one-day stakeholders’ engagement under the auspices of the Niger Delta Consultative Forum in Port Harcourt.

Obeka said that the stakeholders’ engagement underscored the collective commitment of Niger Deltans towards revitalising and preserving the rich ecosystem of Nigeria’s oil-rich region.

He stated: “The Niger Delta, known for its vibrant biodiversity and cultural heritage, faces numerous environmental challenges that threaten its sustainability. From oil spills and deforestation to climate change impacts, the need for practical, integrated strategies has never been more urgent.”

The Director observed that the consultative forum was birthed in 2021 with the view to driving the 2020-2030 UN decade of ecosystem restoration in the Niger Delta region. He said: “It provides an invaluable opportunity for dialogue, collaboration, and innovation. We are privileged to have experts from various fields – environmental scientists, policymakers, community leaders and advocates – who will share their insights and experiences.

“I hope that in the course of discussions, we will explore best practices, assess current challenges and develop actionable strategies that align with our shared vision for a sustainable Niger Delta.”

In his remarks, the Abia State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Philemon Ogbonda, said the environment was necessary for all that we do because all acts of men impact the environment. He advised that all should be introspective when dealing with the environment and ensure that the environment was sustained and not damaged by providing solutions that would preserve the environment for future generations.

He recommended periodic environmental assessments, noting that all hands must be on deck to save the environment for future generations.

Giving a goodwill message, the Delta State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Jamani Ejiro, stated that while appreciating the NDDC for being at the forefront of environmental restoration, the stakeholders present had a significant role to play in tackling the root causes of environmental degradation, such as gas flaring and illegal crude mining.

He stated that stringent laws should be implemented to tackle the pollution menace in the region, adding that it threatened critical infrastructure. He stressed: “There is a need for targeted intervention to tackle natural disasters, such as flooding, by implementing flood control measures, such as desilting drainages, coordinated dredging, and curtailing illegal building of structures along waterways.

Ejiro called for strict compliance with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sherriff Oborevwori had implemented it in his state.

In his message, the Imo State Commissioner for Environment, Barr. Major Emenike highlighted factors that mitigate environmental degradation. He said it included educating the populace, planting trees and other preventive measures, taking remedial actions on flood sites, and sponsoring afforestation.

“Others are massive education and support for orientation, urban renewal, curtailing oil and gas spillage, provision of adequate publicity, and a change in the mindset that will positively impact the environment.”

He added that the stakeholder’s meeting should be rotated among the states for balanced information distribution amongst stakeholders.

The significant increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) collections in Q3’24 compared with the previous quarter partly mirrors the impact of the naira’s depreciation as well as the persistently high cost of living in the country, analysts at CSL Research have said.

The analysts stated this in a report which focused on the VAT report for Q3’ 2024 released recently by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Nigerians have, in the last two years, grappled with surging inflation, which recently hit a 28-year high, occasioned by factors such as elevated food prices, insecurity in agricultural regions, high input costs, supply chain disruptions from flooding and a persistent naira depreciation.

Dissecting the Q3’24 VAT data, the CSL Research analysts stated: “Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows that aggregate Value Added Tax (VAT) for Q3’24 grew by 14.16 per cent to N1.78 trn from N1.56 trillion in Q2’24.

“A breakdown of the Q3 figures shows that local VAT payments amounted to N922.87 billion, a 16.44 per cent quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) growth.

Foreign VAT payments totalled N448.85 billion, rising by 13.42 per cent QoQ, while import VAT contributed N410.62 billion, showing a 10.10 per cent QoQ growth.

On a year-on-year (YoY) basis, VAT collections in Q3’24 surged by 88.00 per cent compared to Q3 2023. “The most significant YoY increases were recorded in foreign VAT payments (+119.40%) and import VAT payments (+85.46%).

Within the local VAT segment, mining and quarrying experienced an exceptional growth of +200.96 per cent YoY.

These figures reflect, in part, the impact of currency depreciation and the persistently high cost of living in the country compared to previous quarters.”

The analysts, who noted that VAT is a critical source of government revenue in Nigeria, as it has accounted for approximately 5–8 per cent of Federal Government revenue recently, also pointed out that with 85 per cent of VAT revenue statutorily allocated to state and local governments, it a key pillar of subnational financing.

Commenting on the raging debate over the VAT distribution formula contained in the tax reform bill proposed by the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, the analysts disagreed with the view that the proposed formula will significantly reduce VAT allocations to many northern states.

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The analysts said: “The new bill suggests a 60 per cent: 20 per cent 20 per cent t allocation formula among states based on derivation, equality of states, and population, respectively.

This contrasts with the current formula of 20 per cent, 50 per cent 30 per cent. Contrary to widespread concerns that the proposed changes would significantly reduce allocations to many northern states, we believe the impact may be less severe than anticipated.

Two key factors support this view: The proposed reduction of the Federal government’s VAT share from 15% to 10% would leave a larger pool of VAT revenue for distribution among the states (and) shifting from the current system where VAT is attributed to the states where payments are made to one that credits states based on where consumption occurs would ultimately increase the VAT revenue retained by states.”