Day: September 17, 2023

The Air Component of Operation Delta Safe has in the last two months, destroyed more than 30 illegal oil refining site in the strikes around Cawthorne Channel and Bille, in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers.

The Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, made this known in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Gabkwet said the air strikes ramped up efforts at denying oil thieves and operators of illegal oil refining sites the opportunity to burst pipelines, operate their illegal oil refineries sites while damaging the environment.

He said the air strikes conducted at Cawthorne Channel on Friday, destroyed four active illegal refining sites with dug out reservoirs and surface storage tanks suspected to be containing illegal refined products.

According to him, similar air strikes were also conducted at Bille on Saturday and early hours of Sunday which destroyed three illegal oil refining sites with storage tanks and reservoirs were destroyed.

“In one of the sites, a Cotonou boat suspected to be siphoning crude oil from a flow station was engaged in several passes and destroyed.

“In the last two months, Cawthorne Channel and Bille have accounted for the majority of oil theft and illegal oil refining activities in Rivers State.

“Within this period, over 30 illegal oil refining sites in these two locations have been destroyed by the Land, Maritime and Air Components of Operation Delta Safe.

“These efforts will be sustained in these locations and others until oil thieves and their accomplices desist from their illegal activities,” the statement added. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), has urged Nigerians to endeavour to pay their taxes to boost government revenue and improve service delivery.

The Chairman of RMAFC, Alhaji Muhammad Shehu, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

According to Shehu, less than 40 million Nigerians are presently captured in the tax net and paying taxes.

“That is too low for a country that has more than 200 million population,” he said.

He commended the idea of a Tax Reform Committee recently set up by President Bola Tinubu.

He said that the committee would do a lot to include economic players from the informal sector into the tax net.

“There is all these debate about the informal economy.

“What this tax reform committee that we have set up will do is bring a lot of agencies together, including RMAFC. We are a member of that committee.

“We have articulated our position and we will communicate what we believe that can add value to the discussion.

“At the end of it all, we will have a better society where more people are paying taxes and the money will be utilised for better services and infrastructure so that every Nigerian can benefit, ‘” he said.

He urged the Federal Inland Revenue Service.(FIRS) to collaborate with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to identify certain categories of Nigerians who evade taxes.

“There are some taxes that the government is not getting from Nigerians.

“Somebody will declare an income of N600,000 in a year but that same person will import a vehicle of N40 million into Nigeria.

“I believe the FIRS will look at all those things, aand then collaborate with the NCS for better efficiency.

” If you import a brand new car, your name, your date of birth, your address, your NIN number should all be required.

“They should place a search and see what it is that you filed last year, how much taxes you paid to the government. Thereby, they will get a lot more people to pay taxes,” he said.

He urged all Nigerians to embrace the idea of willingly paying their taxes so as to boost government’s revenue drive.

“I think it is very important for every Nigerian to try and pay their taxes because it is from those monies you get services.

“All the things that people like to tell you about clean environment, good roads, functional infrastructure in other countries, it is the taxes that citizens pay that are utilised for those services.

“People should learn to pay electricity bills, they should pay their water bills they should pay just like you pay for telephone recharge cards.

“The more you pay your taxes, the more money government has to put into road, rail construction, better hospitals, pension, social securities, and better plan to help the needy,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

State Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Mesganu Arga has held productive discussions with Canada’s Deputy Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Scott Harris.

The central focus of their dialogue was to strengthen cooperation between their respective institutions, promote the exchange of valuable experiences, and enhance the capacity of Ethiopia’s counterpart institutions.

Among others, both parties discussed during the meeting ways to facilitate temporary employment opportunities in Canada that align with the labor market needs and requirements of Canada.

This can potentially benefit Ethiopian workers and contribute to their skill development and livelihood.

Another aspect of their conversation centered on expanding higher educational opportunities for Ethiopian students aspiring to study in Canada.

Accordingly, this initiative aims to broaden access to quality education in Canada, further strengthening educational and cultural ties between the two nations.

Simplification of visa procedures was also highlighted as a means to promote more trade, investment, and tourism relations between Ethiopia and Canada. Streamlined visa processes can encourage increased people-to-people exchanges and facilitate the growth of economic ties.

The discussion concluded with both parties reaching a mutual understanding and commitment to collaborate on these important matters of shared interest.

This collaborative effort signifies a positive step toward reinforcing the bilateral relationship between Ethiopia and Canada, fostering economic growth, and creating opportunities for the citizens of both nations, it was indicated.

Ambassador Fitsum Arega, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Canada, and senior diplomats from both sides were present, adding valuable insights to the meeting.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

A gang comprising four women, with three identified as Ateme Belogo Genevieve, Djoukoua Nicole, and Bedjeu Annabelle, alongside their gang leader called Fotieo Etienne Baudelaire, allegedly specialized in the fabrication and injection of counterfeit banknotes in the economy of Cameroon has been dismantled by elements of the Souza Public Security Police in the Moungo Division of the Littoral region.

Arrested recently for counterfeiting the new FCFA 10,000, 5,000, and 2,000 bank notes, the suspects faced the public they were deceiving on September 16, 2023. The sum in their possession was FCFA 30 million.

Also in their possession were clothes, and an automatic pistol, displayed for the population around to see.

It was due to the collaboration of the population, notably traders of the Souza market that the suspects were apprehended, CNA learned.

Security sources hint that two of the gang members are however on the run, assuring they will be tracked down.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

State Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Mesganu Arga has held productive discussions with Canada’s Deputy Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Scott Harris.

The central focus of their dialogue was to strengthen cooperation between their respective institutions, promote the exchange of valuable experiences, and enhance the capacity of Ethiopia’s counterpart institutions.

Among others, both parties discussed during the meeting ways to facilitate temporary employment opportunities in Canada that align with the labor market needs and requirements of Canada.

This can potentially benefit Ethiopian workers and contribute to their skill development and livelihood.

Another aspect of their conversation centered on expanding higher educational opportunities for Ethiopian students aspiring to study in Canada.

Accordingly, this initiative aims to broaden access to quality education in Canada, further strengthening educational and cultural ties between the two nations.

Simplification of visa procedures was also highlighted as a means to promote more trade, investment, and tourism relations between Ethiopia and Canada. Streamlined visa processes can encourage increased people-to-people exchanges and facilitate the growth of economic ties.

The discussion concluded with both parties reaching a mutual understanding and commitment to collaborate on these important matters of shared interest.

This collaborative effort signifies a positive step toward reinforcing the bilateral relationship between Ethiopia and Canada, fostering economic growth, and creating opportunities for the citizens of both nations, it was indicated.

Ambassador Fitsum Arega, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Canada, and senior diplomats from both sides were present, adding valuable insights to the meeting.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency