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Bala Mohammed urges President to reconsider Tax Bills

Published

2 years ago

November 8, 2024

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Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reconsider any proposed tax reform laws that might deepen regional divisions in Nigeria.

Mohammed said this at the opening of the State Executive Council (Exco) meeting at the Government House yesterday in Bauchi.

The governor said there was a need for policies that reflect fairness and unity across the country.

He expressed concern about the ongoing discussions around the national tax reform law, saying it might overlook the interests of the North.

“As one nation, Nigeria should avoid enacting laws that could potentially marginalise any region.

“I urge President Tinubu to refrain from approving any measures that could disadvantage certain regions,” Mohammed said.

Also, concerned leaders in Borno South Senatorial District have expressed support for the position of their senator, Mohammed Ali Ndume, for opposing Federal Government’s plan to reform tax administration in the country.

In a statement yesterday in Abuja by their spokesman, Bulama Ali Haruna Sawa, the district’s leaders, under the aegis of Southern Borno Concerned Citizens, said they supported behind Ndume, who had urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to jettison his proposed tax reforms.

The statement said: “We fully identify with the positions of the Northern Governors, our revered Northern Elders and the National Economic Council, and, of course, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, over the matter.

“The said Bashir Adamu, if he actually exists, is at best a meddlesome interloper who is not known to anybody in Southern Borno.

“We challenge him to make a physical appearance as proof of his real identity, and to tell the world at which meeting it was agreed that the people of Southern Borno differ with their senator over the tax reform Bill.

“It is not only true that the Bills have the tendency to deepen the pedagogy of the Nigerian masses but are heavily skewed against our people and indeed the people of the North.

“We had expected Adamu Bashir to take up arguments based on issues raised by the senator in the interview rather than rush to the public with a poorly scripted demagogue on behalf of his paymasters.

“It is rather a paradox that Bashir talks about recalling Senator Ndume at a time we are getting pleased and satisfied with Ndume’s work as our senator.”

The group added: “It is also unfortunate that somebody somewhere has decided to trivialise the very serious issue of a Bill that will further cause harm to an already despairing populace, for obvious pecuniary gains.

“Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume has often made us proud every time he comments on national issues, including the most recent one about the Tax Bill.

“While his views may sound repugnant to the powers that be, they are very pleasing to us and reflective of the mood of Nigerians in general. Never has Senator Ndume spoken about issues, and his views were found to be contrary to the general public’s expectations.

“To every right-thinking Nigerian, Senator Ndume merely re-echoed the prevailing sentiment in the country to the effect that some of the fiscal reforms being introduced in Nigeria are at variance with the general mood and antithetical, injurious, and painful to the citizen.

“It is a truism that at a time the governments of other countries, our neighbor, Ghana, are reducing taxes for their citizens, ours has become so insensitive, to the extent of increasing taxes.

“The Nigerian government ought to learn from the recent experiences of Kenya, where planned fiscal reforms plunged the country into a nationwide catastrophe.

“We are happy with Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, and we are satisfied with his outing so far.

“He represents what we stand for, and he epitomises our aspirations. As our representative, Senator Ndume has done so well and has our mandate to say all that he was quoted to have said in that particular interview, and of course others.”

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Wike Declares Abuja ‘Closed’ to Critics, Says Tinubu’s Projects Have Silenced Opposition((Photos)

Published

13 minutes ago

July 17, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

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Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr Nyesom Wike, on Friday declared that President Bola Tinubu’s extensive infrastructure delivery in Abuja has effectively neutralised political critics, insisting that visible performance remains the strongest response to opposition.

Speaking during the commissioning of the reconstructed Arab/Gbazango Road in Kubwa, Bwari Area Council, Wike said the scale of projects executed under the Tinubu administration had transformed governance in the FCT and provided residents with tangible evidence of government performance.

“If there are opponents of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with what you have done in their lifetime, they cannot do anything again. If they go to the people of Gbazango, the people will ask them, ‘When you were there, what did you do?’ This is what we call ‘operation show your report card.’ If you call Tinubu today, he will show you his report card on the satellite towns and on the city. Abuja is shut down. Abuja is closed,” Wike declared.

The minister made the remarks as the FCT Administration concluded its 31-day project commissioning programme, which began on June 9 and ended on July 17, 2026.

Describing the exercise as unprecedented in Nigeria’s history, Wike said no President had ever commissioned and flagged off projects continuously for such a long period.

“Everything that has a beginning has an end. Today we are taking a break to refill and energise ourselves before returning before the end of the year. We thank God that from June 9 till today, everything went smoothly. There was no accident, no incident that we would regret, no fighting. Everybody came and left happily,” he said.

According to him, the successful completion of the commissioning exercise reflected the administration’s commitment to delivering development rather than making promises.

“It is unprecedented in the history of this country for a President to commission and flag off projects continuously for 28 days. When something unusual like this happens, you can see the joy on the faces of the people,” he said.

Wike noted that residents of Kubwa and Gbazango had experienced firsthand the impact of good governance through the reconstruction of a road that had long impeded movement and commercial activities.

“For them, this is the impact of positive governance. For them, government has finally come home. If you see what this road looked like before now, you will understand why the people are rejoicing,” he said.

He added that improved road infrastructure would stimulate economic activities and improve the livelihoods of traders and other business operators in the area.

“Governance is not difficult. Governance is about commitment. Governance is about making the people happy, and today the people here are happy because they have been positively impacted by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he stated.

The minister disclosed that since Tinubu assumed office, the FCT Administration had commissioned more than 53 projects, describing the achievement as evidence of purposeful leadership.

He assured residents that the pace of infrastructure development would continue, announcing plans to commission at least 10 additional projects before the end of the year.

“We are taking a short break, but before the next round of national political activities, we will return to commission another 10 projects,” Wike said.

Responding to a request by community leaders for improved water supply, the minister directed the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority to urgently address the challenge.

“Go home and give your people water. That is your responsibility. You must be prepared to solve the problem,” he directed.

The Arab/Gbazango Road project marked the final commissioning in the FCT Administration’s anniversary programme, which featured the inauguration and flag-off of major road, transport, housing and public infrastructure projects across Abuja under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

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FG Renames Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway After President Tinubu

Published

2 hours ago

July 17, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

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The Federal Government has renamed the 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing the multi-trillion-naira infrastructure project as the fulfilment of a vision conceived by the President nearly three decades ago.

According to CityNews, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, announced the decision on Thursday during a briefing, saying the ministry resolved to immortalise Tinubu by naming the flagship highway after him.

The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is one of the signature infrastructure projects of the Tinubu administration and is estimated to cost about ₦15 trillion upon completion.

Addressing journalists, Umahi said the decision followed consultations with the leadership and management of the Federal Ministry of Works.

According to him, the ministry considered the President’s longstanding commitment to the project before arriving at the decision.

“By the power conferred on me as the Honourable Minister of Works, and in consultation with the Permanent Secretary, the Minister of State, the directors and the entire staff of the ministry, we have decided to name the entire Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“This is a dream that Mr President had about 27 years ago,” Umahi said.

The 750-kilometre coastal highway is designed to connect Lagos to Calabar, traversing several coastal states and providing a major transportation corridor expected to boost economic activities, tourism, trade and regional integration.

The project is regarded as one of the Tinubu administration’s flagship legacy initiatives, with sections of the highway already nearing completion.

Government officials have repeatedly argued that the road will reduce travel time, improve connectivity and unlock investment opportunities along Nigeria’s coastline.

Despite its strategic importance, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway has generated widespread public debate since construction commenced in March 2024.

Critics have questioned the project’s cost, procurement process and alignment, with concerns also raised over the demolition of properties along parts of the route.

The Federal Government, however, has consistently defended the project, maintaining that all due processes were followed and insisting that the long-term economic benefits outweigh the initial challenges associated with its execution.

Estimated to cost about ₦15 trillion upon completion, the coastal highway is expected to become one of Nigeria’s largest road infrastructure projects. GeographicReference

The government believes the road will serve as a catalyst for economic development by improving access to ports, facilitating interstate commerce and attracting investments to coastal communities.