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Abuja residents not paying taxes my greatest challenge – Wike
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Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday disclosed that his greatest challenge in office is the refusal to pay ground rent and other taxes by Abuja residents.
FCT Administration had on Monday sealed the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the National Agency for Trafficking in Persons, the Federal Inland Revenue Service, a branch of Access Bank and a TotalEnergies Filling Station, before President Bola Tinubu intervened, granting a 14-day ultimatum within which to pay the owed sum, as well as penalties of between N2 million and N3 million, based on locations within the FCT.
Briefing reporters after inspecting ongoing projects in Abuja, Wike lamented that while residents wanted infrastructure in the FCT, they failed to support the government by paying their taxes.
He said many of the debtors owed as much as 20 years, even though the ground rent has remained the same for many years.
The minister said he will not succumb to blackmail by a section of the elite who continue to violate laws, especially with regards to the payment of Ground Rents.
Wike said, “(My greatest challenge) is the challenge of people refusing to pay their money. I will speak on that in the next media chat. And people just want facilities, people want infrastructure. But nobody asks, where are you getting these funds? Abuja is not one of the oil cities, we only rely on taxes. These are not new taxes. These are taxes that have been here for years.
“It is unfortunate that most elites own houses overseas. They know the implication of not paying taxes, they know such houses are gone. But when it comes to your own country, you don’t want to do that, simply because nobody wants to obey the law, everybody thinks there are no sanctions.
“Look at the years, 20-something years, 30-something years. And how much is it? We have not increased the ground rent, but we are working towards that, we will do that, I can assure. The President has given a waiver of two weeks. Let nobody think that blackmail or whatever will stop us; we will do what we are supposed to do,” he stated.
The Minister also stated that he had recently signed over 1,500 Certificates of Occupancy and Deeds of Assignment, while again encouraging residents to pay their taxes and ground rents to aid development in the FCT.
He said, “If you pay tax, you will see that it will be a different thing. And that’s what we are trying to do.
“I can assure you, the President has given a window of two weeks. Let nobody think that blackmail or whatever will stop us. We will do what we are supposed to do. This is all about leadership. We will not give in to blackmail. We will do the right thing. If you have not paid, we will take”.
Wike dismissed reports of a suicide bombing in respect of Monday’s explosion around the Nyanya axis.
He said the victim had ignorantly carried an explosive material from a quarry site, which exploded on him.
Wike said, “The security never said it was a suicide bomber. So that you don’t go and create an impression and put fear in people. You should try to do what we call investigative journalism. NEMA is not the head of security. Security agencies are there.
“What happened there was that somebody went to where we have these quarries, where they blew up all these rocks and took the explosive and put it in his pocket. Of course, some of them may not even understand the implication of that. And so, it exploded on him.
“So that does not mean that it is a suicide bomber. We should be careful in the story we will plant. And let’s not send the wrong message to the residents. You have said that the residents are also aware that there is a security improvement.
“So that is enough for us. We have a lot to do what we are supposed to do. And to allay the fears of the residents that Abuja is still secure. It is most secure as far as this country is concerned. We are doing everything possible.”
The Delta State Government has announced the indefinite suspension of Hon.Izeze Rume Yakubu Reuben, Commissioner for Works (Highway and Urban Roads) with immediate effect.
According to a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Kingsley Eze Emu, the suspension is to enable the Security Agencies carry out an unbiased investigation of allegations associating him with the assault on the Senior Special Assistant on Protocol, Mr. Simon Mudi also known as (Temple) at the Petroleum Training Institute(PTI) Effurun,recently.
The statement added that the State Government remains committed to the maintenance of public safety in all circumstances which guarantees law and order and the sanctity of lives.This position is upheld even when institutions of state are involved.
The Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Dr Peter Odey, has reportedly escaped an accident involving his convoy in Ugep, Yakurr Local Government Area of the state.
The incident occurred at about 2pm on Sunday while Odey and his entourage were returning to Calabar from Obanliku Local Government Area, where they had attended a stakeholders’ engagement on the proposed concession of the Obudu Ranch Resort.Government Although the condition of the deputy governor could not be independently confirmed as of press time, several members of his convoy were reportedly injured in the crash.
Although the condition of the deputy governor could not be independently confirmed as of press time, several members of his convoy were reportedly injured in the crash.
A Government House press bus conveying some appointees and staff attached to the Office of the Deputy Governor was said to have veered off its lane near an Army checkpoint in Ugep before crashing into three sandbag barricades.News One of the occupants, whose identity was not immediately known, reportedly sustained an injury to the leg, while another was said to have suffered bleeding from the nose.
The extent of the injuries could not be immediately ascertained, as those involved were expected to undergo medical assessment.History Sources also disclosed that several vehicles were damaged in the accident, although the extent of the damage remained unclear.Lakes & Rivers The incident is reportedly the third accident involving the deputy governor’s convoy in the past two months, raising concerns over the condition and availability of vehicles attached to his office.
Further checks indicated that the fleet attached to the Office of the Deputy Governor had been depleted, with vehicles from the governor’s convoy reportedly being deployed for official movements when necessary. Officials in the Office of the Deputy Governor declined to comment on the incident when contacted. Further details on the crash, including the condition of the deputy governor and other persons involved, were still being awaited as authorities assess the incident.
The Osun State First Lady, Titilola Adeleke, on Monday led a protest by women in the state against what they considered “indiscriminate arrest and violence” ahead of Saturday’s guber election.
Adeleke, who was joined by women from different groups of traders and artisans in the state, led the march, which commenced along the Osogbo-Ilobu Road and terminated at the road leading to the Osun State Police Command along the West Bypass.
Also present at the protest were the State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Ayobola Awolowo, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Market Affairs, Eniola Omotosho, among others.
The protesters, armed with placards bearing inscriptions such as “Election is not war,” “Stop indiscriminate arrest of our husbands,” “We want a free and fair election” and “Police must be neutral,” were prevented from proceeding to the main entrance of the command.
They were, however, attended to by the Commissioner of Police in charge of the election, Samuel Etaifo, who assured them that the command would address their concerns.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Adeleke said the women were on the streets to demand a peaceful election and called on the police to invite some notable chieftains of the All Progressives Congress for questioning over the rising incidents of violence in the state.
She said, “We are demanding a free and fair election in the forthcoming poll. We want peace; let there be peace. Invite APC chieftains for questioning. They should stop killing our husbands and children. Make them sign an undertaking. From what we heard, we learnt that they will start picking our leaders up this week.
Last Friday, they picked up the Commissioner for Environment. He was brought here, stripped naked. This is not good enough. They should leave our people alone.”
The governor’s wife subsequently presented a letter containing the protesters’ demands to the police commissioner.
Responding, Etaifo said the command had worked hard to de-escalate tension in the state since his arrival and assured the protesters that their demands would be considered.
“I have been here for the past two weeks. The IG was here because of the heightened tension in the state. For the first time in history, the IG directed the CP election to come three weeks to the election.
“If you notice, since I came, we have relative peace in the state, but the problem we have is that we cannot continue to tolerate what you have done today because it will not contribute to peace; it will cause tension again. Let us assume that you come out now and the other party comes out, then both of you meet; what will happen?” Etaifo said.
He added, “We are going back and restrategising to attend to all your demands. Why I am discussing with you is because we don’t want tension before the election; we want peace. We cannot conduct an election in an insecure environment.
“I have a mandate from the IG to come to the state to stabilise things, give an enabling environment for every political actor to exercise their franchise, and create public confidence for everyone to come out to vote on election day.”
Etaifo warned that the police would not tolerate any act capable of negatively affecting Saturday’s election, adding that anyone caught violating the law would be arrested and taken to Abuja.
“If you are a manipulator of any election, that is even the worst.
The IG and Nigeria will not forgive you. I will arrest you and take you to Abuja because this election is a federal election; we must get it right,” he said.
The police commissioner commended the protesters for conducting a peaceful demonstration but urged them to return home to prevent any incident.
“I want to applaud you for this protest being peaceful, but I want to implore you to go back so that nothing will happen to you. I will assign my men to escort you back to where you started the protest from,” he said.
Delta Govt Suspends Commissioner For Works(Highway and Urban Roads) Hon.Izeze Indefinitely
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