An oil and gas firm, Axxela, has restated its commitment to global best practices in upholding legal processes, community interests, and sustainable development.

Axxela clarified while reacting to a protest by the people of the Emu-Ebendo community in Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State, demanding its exit from the land it acquired in the area through another community.

The Emu-Ebendo community protested on Tuesday against the illegal acquisition of land, claiming ownership based on a 2003 Supreme Court judgment in their favour, including the portion acquired by Axxela for its business operations in the area.

The company, however, clarified a statement issued by its Corporate Communications Manager, Omolara Shitu, which was made available to journalists in Asaba, Delta State, on Wednesday.

Axxela said, “The land it acquired had legitimate titles, registered deed of assignment with the state governor’s consent in 2024.

“Our attention has been drawn regarding a community dispute concerning land acquired for a planned gas processing plant in Umuseti, Delta State.

“As a responsible corporate organisation, we wish to clarify the facts and reaffirm our commitment to global best practices that uphold legal processes, community interests, and sustainable development.

“The land in question was acquired following rigorous due diligence and in full compliance with all relevant legal and regulatory frameworks.

“This includes extensive consultation with the relevant family houses, engagement with related authorities and adherence to all statutory procedures governing such transactions.”

The company said further to this, it also obtained a registered deed of assignment for which the governor’s consent was obtained in December 2024.

The company expressed its commitment to stakeholders’ engagement, adding that it was open to dialogue to ensure a peaceful disposition with host communities.

“Axxela places high value on proactive and strategic engagement with host communities.

“Prior to the acquisition, we engaged in extensive discussions with key stakeholders, including family representatives, local leaders and community representatives, to ensure utmost transparency and mutual understanding.

“We remain committed to resolving any perceived community issues through dialogue with anyone who may feel aggrieved in this matter,” the statement said.

The company also cautioned against misinformation that could escalate tensions.

“We strongly discourage the spread of misinformation that could escalate tensions or misrepresent our brand’s integrity,” the statement read.

The house of representatives has exempted military service members from paying personal income tax (PIT).

The decision was reached on Thursday following the adoption of a report on tax reform bills, which also provides exemptions for certain agricultural businesses and other categories of income.

Personal income tax is imposed by the government on an individual’s earnings, including salaries, wages, bonuses, dividends, and other forms of income.

Section 164 of the Nigeria tax bill outlines the categories of individuals exempted from personal income tax.

While presenting the motion for the report’s consideration, James Faleke, chairman of the finance committee, said certain agricultural businesses are also exempted from personal income tax for the first five years of operation.

“In addition, wages and salaries of military officers have been proposed to be exempt from income tax,” he said.

The report also excludes several categories of individuals and entities from personal income tax.

According to the report, profits or gains from asset disposals are exempted for statutory or registered friendly societies, provided the income is not derived from trade or business.

Similarly, the committee said registered cooperative societies will enjoy tax exemptions if their earnings do not come from commercial activities.

It also said entities engaged in educational, religious, or charitable activities of public interest are also excluded, as long as their profits are not generated from business ventures.

Compensating payments that qualify as dividends or interest in regulated securities lending transactions are exempt, the report said.

The panel also said consular fees collected on behalf of a foreign state, along with the employment income of consular officers, are not taxable unless such earnings come from trade, business, or additional employment in Nigeria.

Income exemptions also extend to funds covered under the Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges Act and pension funds and assets established under the Pension Reform Act.

The report said death gratuities, compensation for injuries, and redundancy lump sum payments or other capital compensation for loss of employment are not taxable, adding that income from bonds issued by the federal or state government of Nigeria is also exempt.

The lawmaker also individuals earning the national minimum wage or less are not required to pay personal income tax.

Proscribed Igbo separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has accused officials of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) of looting goods at the popular Onitsha drug market known as Ogbo Ogwu, located at Head Bridge, Onitsha, in Anambra State.

The Biafra agitators in a statement on Thursday by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said the raids were carried out at night under the guise of searching for fake drugs stored in the market.

In the statement, Powerful also accused the NAFDAC operatives of allegedly blocking all CCTV cameras in the market before breaking into shops and carting away goods, which they later branded as fake drugs.

He further alleged that in all the raids and seizures, NAFDAC did not provide evidence of burning the confiscated drugs as claimed.

The group questioned the agency’s motives, asking why the raid was conducted at midnight in the absence of shop owners and why surveillance cameras were deliberately obstructed, and demanded answers on how NAFDAC determined that the seized drugs were counterfeit and where the confiscated goods were deposited.

The group stated that though it does not endorse the proliferation of fake drugs, but stressed that while tackling the menace of fake drugs is crucial, the regulatory agencies must act with professionalism and respect for citizens’ rights.

“IPOB condemns the peddlers of fake drugs. At the same time, we condemn the criminal raids by NAFDAC on people’s shops in their absence while blackmailing all the traders as dealers of fake drugs.

“The action of blocking the surveillance cameras with black nylon bags is a criminal act, and in every shop at the market the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control broke into people’s stores and shops.

“This criminal activity by the notorious NAFDAC officers was conducted in the middle of the night.

“NAFDAC looted people’s shops in Onitsha and branded all the drugs they carted away as fake drugs without showing the evidence that the drugs were indeed fake.

“The questions that NAFDAC must answer are: Why raid people’s shops in the middle of the night in the absence of the owners?

“Why did NAFDAC criminal officers block the cameras in people’s shops in the market while conducting those raids?

“How did NAFDAC determine whether the drugs they carted away were fake or genuine?

“Where did NAFDAC deposit all the drugs they claimed were fake.
Why did NAFDAC seal the entire drug market punishing both the guilty and the innocent?

“IPOB does not encourage or support the inimical activities of fake drugs peddlers in the Onitsha market, but NAFDAC must apply citizens’ rights, decorum, and professionalism and not act like a rogue agency.

“The Nigerian government agencies always apply a heavy-hand approach at any given opportunity against the Ndigbo and the carrot approach when dealing with other ethnic groups.

“NAFDAC should do well to return the genuine goods their rogue staff looted from the owners at Onitsha’s Head Bridge Drugs market or Ogbo Ogwu,” the group said.