News

Catholic Bishops Express Concern Over Insecurity, Rising Food Prices, Multiple Taxation Under Tinubu Gov’t

Published

3 weeks ago

September 2, 2024

Admin

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has expressed deep concern over the severe economic hardship faced by Nigerians, attributing it to a combination of high electricity tariffs, high cost of petroleum products, transportation, and inadequate infrastructure.

In a statement issued after the CBCN’s Second Plenary Meeting, the conference highlighted the increasing burden on both individuals and businesses due to these economic strains.

The communiqué, signed by CBCN President Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji and delivered by Bishop Donatus A. Ogun of Uromi, emphasized the growing public frustration stemming from these issues.

The bishops noted that the current economic environment is further exacerbated by food insecurity and malnutrition, which have become more prevalent due to the rising cost of basic food items.

Rev. Ugorji stated that experts attribute the crisis to persistent insecurity caused by terrorists, bandits, and other criminal elements disrupting agricultural activities and livelihoods across the nation.

The communiqué also addresses the impact of multiple taxation on businesses. It points out that businesses are struggling under the weight of various taxes imposed by federal, state, and local government agencies.

“This situation is aggravated by frequent hikes in bank interest rates and ongoing issues with power supply, inflation, and the devaluation of the Naira. These factors contribute to Nigeria’s poor ranking in global ease of doing business indices and create a discouraging environment for both local and foreign investments,” he said.

The CBCN noted that while taxes are essential for government revenue and the provision of public services, the current tax regime has become overly burdensome.

The bishops call on President Bola Tinubu’s government for a more streamlined and fair approach to taxation that supports rather than stifles economic activity.

He said, “We appeal to governments at all levels to take urgent measures to harmonize taxes and address multiple taxation to stem the tide of businesses collapsing in Nigeria, which leads to increased unemployment.

“This will also encourage investors who are already facing high production costs, low sales, insignificant profit margins, and the depletion of business capital.”

Regarding hardship and food insecurity, he said, “We recognize the efforts of governments to address this problem, such as the declaration of a state of emergency on food insecurity, the importation of food, cash transfer schemes, and the distribution of palliatives to the most vulnerable.”

However, he said it is disheartening to observe that, despite these measures, the prices of food items have continued to surge.

He said, “We demand that governments implement policies, programs, and initiatives that address the multifaceted factors adversely affecting food security, with a solid action plan for implementation, such as providing safety and security for farmers and their crops across the country.

“We urge governments to support farmers with subsidies, soft loans, modern technology, and improved seedlings, but not genetically modified seedlings. This also involves supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are struggling to add value to raw local food products through processing, preservation, and packaging technology.

“We encourage families and individuals to engage in farming and call on the government to ensure the security of farmers and their crops, offer incentives to private-sector agribusinesses, and take urgent and decisive steps to achieve food self-sufficiency in our nation.”

Ugorji said there is a need for repentance and concerted efforts.

He said, “We must accept, however, that this situation is largely self-inflicted, especially through corruption in all its forms, from the highest levels of government to the entire body of the nation.

“Therefore, we all need to accept responsibility for what has befallen us: from the highest levels of government to all the citizenry, with special responsibility falling on those in government to manage the affairs of our nation; and from all successive governments, past and present, but especially the present government, which has sought our votes to address these issues.”

He added that there is a need for national re-orientation away from lies and dishonesty towards truth and integrity.

News

Rupture In PDP Governors’ Forum deepens

Published

2 hours ago

September 20, 2024

Austin Ojomah

By Ojomah Austin.

The evolving fall-out, which comes barely days to the contentious National Executive Committee (NEC) of PDP, followed a back and forth between the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike and the Governors forum, who declared support for Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara to be made leader of the party in the state.

After a meeting with some members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) in Bauchi on Wednesday, Governor Mohammed, said “According to our party’s constitution, any leadership vacancy should be filled by someone from the region where it originated,” stressing that Damagum would be replaced soon considering that he hails from North East and not the North Central.

Same day, Makinde, during the groundbreaking of the upgrading of Ladoke Akintola Airport, Ibadan, to an international airport, which was attended by another set of NWC members, led by Damagum, said he would support whatever decision the Damagum-led NWC would take to reposition the party.

Damagum, who is considered a close ally of Nyesom Wike, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, was appointed acting national chairman after the removal of Iyorchia Ayu in June 2023.

Meanwhile, the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP led by Senator Adolph Wabara, met with members of the National Assembly caucus in Abuja.

The close door meeting comes barely hours after the BoT met with Wike in Abuja.

While Wabara refused to comment on the essence of the meeting with the lawmakers, it was noticed that most of the lawmakers didn’t honour the invitation.

News

Tears As Man Takes Own Life Over Tinubu’s Govt Hardship

Published

2 hours ago

September 20, 2024

Naijablitznews

By Mario Deepromoter

Sad development in Marika village, Kiyawa Local Government, Jigawa, where a 40-year-old man, Jibrin Adamu, committed suicide by hanging himself.

According to eyewitnesses, Adamu’s lifeless body was discovered in a classroom at Miftahul Khairat Islamiyya and Primary School Gurdiba on Thursday.

Police spokesperson DSP Lawan Shiisu Adam confirmed the incident, stating that preliminary investigations revealed Adamu had struggled with mental health issues.

“Police received a report on Thursday that at about 1830hrs, a tragic incident was reported at the Command headquarters that one Jibrin Adamu ‘m’ age 40yrs of Jigawar Maroka village, Kiyawa LGA has committed suicide by hanging himself over the ceiling at Islamiyya school,” the Police spokesperson told Daily Post.

The Jigawa State Commissioner of Police, CP AT Abdullahi, has instructed officers to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.

News

Just in: Dangote Petrol Now Available at N765.99 Per Litre

Published

2 hours ago

September 20, 2024

Naijablitznews

By Mario Deepromoter

11plc, Total Energies, AA Rano, and other marketers have begun lifting Dangote Petrol through Nigerian National Company (NNPC) Trading Limited for N765.99 to retail outlets nationwide.

Findings showed some petroleum marketers who were able to complete their payment process on the NNPC trading payment portal commenced the lifting of petrol earlier this week under the existing agreement between marketers and the refinery.

Tunji Oyebanji, managing director, 11Plc confirmed to BusinessDay on Thursday evening that some marketers have started lifting the products at N765.99 from Dangote Refinery through NNPC who remain the sole off-taker of product.

“We were among the first marketers to complete the payment on the NNPC portal. We have no direct arrangement with the refinery,” Oyebanji said.

It was gathered that NNPC Retail, 11plc, Total Energies, A.A Rano are among the marketers that have picked up products from the refinery.

He added, “We don’t know the contractual financial arrangement between NNPC and the refinery but what I can confirm is we are buying at N765.99 from NNPC to lift Dangote petrol”.

Efforts to get the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) to confirm if its members have picked up products at the Dangote Refinery proved abortive at the time of writing this report.

See also Nigeria’s Petrol Landing Cost Revealed
Adedapo Segun, executive vice-president, downstream at NNPC said marketers cannot purchase petrol directly from the refinery because the product is still sold at a subsidised rate.

“That is the same thing happening with Dangote. I said earlier that Dangote is a company and it is going to sell at market price,” he told Journalists.

According to Segun, “The market value of PMS is still higher than what N766 or N765 or N799 that NNPC is selling.

“The situation has not changed there. So, NNPC’s off-taking is only because the others would not buy at the price Dangote will be willing to sell, which is reasonable.

“As soon as the price allows for it, you will see the marketers go to Dangote and buy.”