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REMITA: Reps Query Four Banks Over Non Remittance Of N11.6trn

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By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has queried four Commercial Banks for over N11.632 trillion revenue collected on behalf of the Federal Government through REMITA platform between 2015 and 2022 fiscal years.
Naijablitznews.com reports that the four banks that appeared before the Committee are, Access Bank, Citi Bank, Ecobank and Fidelity Bank.
This was at the resumed investigative hearing on the “Alleged revenue leakages through REMITA platform and non-compliance substantively with standard operating procedure and other allied service agreement’, organised by the House Committee on Public Accounts, chaired by Hon. Bamidele Salam.
The Chairman demanded for all the agreements signed between all the participating domestic banks and Systemspec/REMITA during the period under review.
According to the records, Access Bank collected total sum of N2.661 trillion for 3,502,486 transactions between 2015 and 2022.
Access Bank record submitted to the Committee, total sum of N2,660,974,062,151.62 revenue was collected for the period under review while the sum of N858,734,455.99 fee was earned for the service rendered.
On its part, Citi Bank collected the sum of N643,427,225,110.96 between 2016 and 2022.
According to Citi Bank record submitted to the Committee, the sum of N2,435,932.34 fee was earned for total of N34,656,636,415.24 transactions carried out in 2016, while N9,134,312.05 fee earned for total of N61,023,589,404.01 transaction carried out in 2018.
The bank however failed to disclose the fees earned for 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 fiscal years, respectively.
Records further showed that Ecobank collected the sum of N1,480,576,309.08 from 1,557,487 transactions carried out between 2015 and 2022.
From the amount, Ecobank earned the sum of N253,848,598.05 fees for the period under review.
Available records on the transactions carried out by Fidelity Bank showed that the sum of N6.847 trillion was collected on behalf of Federal Government in 11,696,547 transactions carried out between 2015 to 2022.
From the transactions carried out, the bank generated N789,294,408.86 fee for the period under consideration.
Addressing the banks’ Representatives, the lawmakers requested for all the agreements signed by the Banks with Systemspec/REMITA to collect the revenue on behalf of Federal Government for the period under review.
The lawmakers also demanded for breakdown of Value Added Tax (VAT) and Withholding Tax (WHT) collected within the period and evidence of payment into relevant government coffers.
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Customs disolves border patrol team amidst smuggling, brutality allegations

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The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the dissolution of its Joint Border Patrol Team (JBPT).

The Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Abdullahi Maiwada, in a statement Tuesday, said the decision was made after due consultation with the office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

The House of Representatives had, on December 11, mandated its Committees on Customs and Excise, Defence, to investigate the operations and activities of the NCS across the nation’s borders over alleged complicity in aiding smuggling and involvement in brutality against Nigerians.

The committees were also directed to examine the role of military personnel attached to Customs patrols in order to ensure their operations comply with legal frameworks and human rights standards.

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The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by Rep. Sesi Whingan who alleged that rather than prevent smuggling, recent reports showed that Customs’ personnel across the borders were aiding and abetting smuggling.

But the Customs spokesman explained yesterday that the dissolution of the joint border patrol team was part of the NCS’ efforts to strengthen border management and reinvigorate its 2025 enforcement strategy.

The JBPT, coordinated by the ONSA, evolved from an ex-swift response team to become a tripartite operation comprising Benin Republic, Niger Republic and Nigeria.

The patrol team was tasked with combating smuggling, irregular migration, and other transnational organised crimes along the nations’ borders, among others.

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Maiwada said the team’s dissolution would not compromise border security or trade facilitation, but represents a significant step towards modernising Customs’ operations, improving trade compliance and strengthening national security.

The NCS said the move was part of the organisation’s ‘2025 enforcement strategy’.

“This strategy is aimed at removing bottlenecks associated with trade, strengthening border security, combating smuggling, and facilitating legitimate trade,” he said.

Maiwada also disclosed that Adewale Adeniyi, NCS Comptroller-General, had approved the reduction of customs checkpoints across the country to streamline its operations and to ease movement of goods and persons.

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According to the statement, Adeniyi said the NCS would shift reliance to intelligence.

“Moving forward, customs operations will rely more on actionable intelligence and strategic risk management frameworks to enhance efficiency and effectiveness,” the statement quoted the CG as saying.

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Nigerians Are In Pains Because We Chose Darkness In Place Of Light — Bishop Kukah

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The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, has stated that Nigerians are pains because they refused to be liberated from “darkness.”

The priest said this in his Christmas message at the Holy Family Cathedral Catholic Church, Sokoto Diocese on Tuesday night.

He emphasised that embracing transparency, accountability, and integrity in public service, politics, and individual conduct could significantly improve the country’s current state.

He said, “Nigeria’s lack of visible and measurable progress is tied to the fact that we have chosen darkness rather than light.

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“Imagine if we let the light shine on our public service, on our politics, on our individual, community, and national life, and on our public institutions. Imagine what Nigeria would be like if we chose light instead of darkness.

“They will know we are Christians by our love,” highlighting that the country’s journey to greatness remains constrained by ethnicity, nepotism, and greed.

“We are still unable to embrace the ideals of our national anthem that says: ‘Though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand.’ Diversity is a gift from God. Let us use it effectively as a tool for national mobilization and cohesion,” he advised.

Kukah also lauded the passage of the “Not Too Young to Run Bill” in 2018, which opened doors for increased youth participation in politics.

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However, he acknowledged the ongoing challenges, such as the high costs of political participation and issues of internal democracy, which still hinder young people’s active engagement.

He also commended the enactment of the Student Loan Act 2024 and the establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund by the federal government.

These initiatives, he noted, have the potential to expand opportunities for Nigerian youth, including those pursuing vocational and technical skills.

“It is significant that the Act does not limit access to university students alone. We hope this project will be free of bureaucratic bottlenecks and favoritism, ensuring that poverty does not exclude anyone from receiving a good education,” Kukah said.

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He encouraged the youth to take full advantage of these opportunities while also expressing concern about the ongoing security challenges in the country, which he described as a persistent obstacle to national stability.

Kukah, however, called on all Nigerians to choose the path of light, unity, and love, stressing that these values are essential for the nation’s progress and development.

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Omole celebrates christian faithful, says this is time for renewal of faith in nation and state

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As Christians across the globe celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Foundation of christianity today, the Coordinator of the Osun PDP Dynamic Support Group, Comrade Omole Oluwasegun has called on Christians in Osun State and Nigerians as a whole to renew their faith in our country, insisting that our nation must be great again.

Omole noted that Nigeria is blessed with enormous material and human resources.

He said Nigerians should believe in the greatness of our nation and support the Government to achieve the required dividends.

He called on Christians to use the occasion of the birth of Jesus Christ to rededicate themselves to the advancement of the ideals of nation building. He also called for prayers against societal ills such as terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.

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Omole said Nigeria and its leaders need all the prayers and support at this time to positively change the fortunes of our fatherland.

“May this Christmas present for you an opportunity to renew and grow your faith in God and our nation, Nigeria. And may you and your family be blessed beyond measure”, he prayed.

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