A security expert and a member of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) have revealed that Lakurawa terrorist group, operating in parts of northern Nigeria, has existed for several years.

Recalls that the Defence Headquarters announced the emergence of a new terrorist group, ‘Lakurawa,’ in Nigeria’s North-West.

However, security expert Bulama Bukarti and ACF Publicity Secretary Tukur Muhammad-Baba, clarified that the group has been active for some time.

“The group that is called Lakurawa today has been sporadically living or camping in the northwestern part of Nigeria for over six years now. They first started illegally entering Nigeria around 2016, 2017,” Bukarti stated on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

He explained that Lakurawa members typically cross into Nigeria, stay temporarily, and then retreat to the Sahel region or Niger.

Bukarti added that both the Nigerian Army and the police are aware of the group’s activities.

“In 2018, they (Nigerian Army) fought the same group and pushed them back to the Niger Republic and this group has been staying; camping in northwestern Nigeria since 2016-2017,” Bukarti elaborated.

Muhammad-Baba supported Bukarti’s remarks, adding that the group has been known to security agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS), since its initial appearance.

“This is not a new group. In fact, when they emerged about 2017 and 2018, I think, at least, the DSS is aware of it,” he said.

He recalled an instance where a journalist discussed the issue with the DSS, noting that while the group was initially expected to leave, they requested time to dispose of cattle they had acquired, potentially through zakat.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Monday, called for a halt to Israeli hostilities in Gaza, emphasizing that the long-standing conflict has caused “immeasurable suffering” to Palestinians.

Speaking on Monday at the extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tinubu urged an immediate cessation of violence in the region, highlighting the severe humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.

Addressing leaders gathered to discuss the escalating tensions in the Middle East, President Tinubu expressed his concern over the deteriorating conditions in Gaza, describing them as a humanitarian disaster requiring urgent attention.

Tinubu’s remarks come amid increased international calls for peace and negotiations, with mounting casualties and widespread destruction reported in Gaza.

Read the full speech of the president below:

“1. Let me begin by expressing my appreciation to His Majesty, King Salman Bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, for convening this significant Summit.

“2. It is with a profound sense of duty that I stand before you today as we work to end the Palestinian conflict and realise the two-state solution. This aim is as essential as it is urgent.

“3. The conflict in Palestine has persisted for far too long, inflicting immeasurable suffering on countless lives. As representatives of nations that value justice, dignity, and the sanctity of human life, we have a moral obligation to collectively bring about an immediate end to this conflict.

“4. It is not enough to issue empty condemnations. The world must work towards an end to Israeli aggression in Gaza, which has persisted for far too long. No political aim, no military strategy, and no security concern should come at the expense of so many innocent lives.

“5. In a rules-based international order, States have the right of self- defence. But self defence must take proportionality into account, in line with global legal, diplomatic – and moral – frameworks. An entire civilian population, their dreams and futures, cannot be dismissed as collateral.

“6. Humanitarian aid is not a privilege — it is a basic human right. No individual, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, or religion, should be denied access to the aid in times of crisis. We must also ensure that humanitarian workers on the frontlines are safe to carry out their mission in Gaza.

“Excellencies,

“7. The two-state solution stands as a beacon of hope, representing the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians to self-determination and peace. It is not just a diplomatic article of faith; it is a vision grounded in the principles of equality and mutual recognition.

“8. Achieving this vision requires a commitment to dialogue and respect for history. We all know this conflict did not begin on October 7th 2023. It can only be resolved through principled compromise, based on appreciation of the proper context.

“9. This conflict, in the cradle of history, is so visceral that the ripples of division spread far and quickly. The corrosive impact of the images of endless violence, repeated on a billion smart phones around the world is huge. We need to find new pathways to peace, without delay.

“10. Nigeria has always championed the cause of peace and cooperation among nations. Our own experiences, domestically and regionally, have taught us that identity politics are no substitute for respecting the nuances of diversity.

“11. The path to reconciliation may be fraught with challenges, but it is through honest conversation that we can foster understanding. The international community has the opportunity to bring to bear new thinking on this most relentless challenge. It is our duty to engage in this dialogue with sincerity and resolve, recognising the complexities that each side faces.

“Your Highness,

“12. Let us not forget the human cost of this conflict. We must prioritise the voices of the families torn apart, the children who grow up in fear, and the communities that long for stability. It is our responsibility to advocate for their rights and build a future where their dreams are no longer stifled by nightmares.

“13. I call upon all of us to come together in solidarity, to stand firm in our resolve, and to work towards peaceful coexistence, free from fear and violence. Together, we can turn the vision of a two-state solution into reality, one that embodies the promise of a better tomorrow for all.

“14. Finally, Nigeria calls for the creation of a dedicated Secretariat comprised of selected Heads of Government (or their senior representatives) to travel globally, canvass support, oversee the implementation of the Summit’s resolutions and provide regular reports to the joint OIC-Arab leadership until permanent peace is achieved.

“15. I thank you all.”

President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, acknowledged the hardship in the country but promised that it would only be for a while.

The President assured that the policies and programmes of his administration are on track, but Nigerians should not expect instant results.

President Tinubu, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, spoke at the 70th birthday of the Serving Overseer of Citadel Global Community, Pastor Tunde Bakare, in Lagos.

He appealed for patience and understanding from Nigerians, assuring that there would be light at the end.

Akume, in his speech, said: “The President acknowledges that times are hard, but at the end of it all, there is always light. And solutions to complex problems can never be as instant as coffee, but we are on the right track.”

Speaking about the celebrant, President Tinubu described Pastor Bakare as a precious human being who has served with dedication, principles of honesty, transparency, and fairness in many aspects of life.

The President acknowledged Bakare’s zeal for a better Nigeria and his dedication to humanity.

He said: “We are here to celebrate a true man of God, a most precious human being. It gives me great joy to honour a man whose life has been an embodiment of passion, integrity and an unwavering commitment to justice and righteousness. PTB has been a beacon of hope and a voice for the voiceless in our society.

“His decades of service and dedication, principles of honesty, transparency, and fairness have been in the respect and admiration of many across this nation. His life journey reflects our commitment not just to spiritual growth, but also to the social and political development of our country.

“I acknowledge your relentless passion for better Nigeria, a country where equal justice and good government prevails. This celebration is a testament to a life of strength and courage, of powerful messages and fearless advocacy, deep volumes of your dedication to lifting humanity.

“It is these values that allow you to make such a difference. As you unveil your token of growth, the vast but definitely not the least, we look forward to gaining insights into the endless experiences that have shaped you into the formidable figure we see today.”

US President-elect Donald Trump is swiftly assembling his administration, appointing key allies to central positions in a bid to kickstart his policy agenda even before inauguration day.

Within days of his election win, Trump has moved to fill crucial roles, appointing well-known loyalists and signaling his intention to circumvent Senate confirmations for some positions.

Among the prominent appointments, Trump has chosen Tom Homan, a hardline advocate for strict immigration enforcement, as “border czar,” entrusting him with overseeing immigration and deportation policies.

Homan, the former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), is well-known for his tough stance on immigration, aligning with Trump’s campaign promise to aggressively combat illegal immigration.

Additionally, New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, a close Trump ally and vocal supporter of Israel, has been picked by Trump for U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Stefanik’s nomination, if confirmed by the Senate, comes as the U.N. faces challenges from ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, where she is expected to play a critical role in representing U.S. interests and supporting allies.

Stephen Miller, a former senior advisor known for his staunch anti-immigration views, is also expected to return as Deputy Chief of Staff. His reappointment suggests a continuity of Trump’s strict immigration policies and signals an emphasis on border security and deportations.

Trump, a former US President, had on Sunday named his co-campaign manager, Susie Wiles as his New Chief of Staff.

Trump’s selection process has drawn intense scrutiny, with the president-elect reportedly encouraging Senate Republicans to support recess appointments to bypass the traditional confirmation process.

With inauguration set for January 20, Trump has begun laying the groundwork for a swift implementation of his agenda.

“As democracy is perfected, the office of the President represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day, the plain follies of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be occupied by a downright fool and complete narcissistic moron” – H.L. Mencken, The Baltimore Evening Sun, July 26, 1920.

I was an editorial writer intern on the Editorial Board of The Baltimore Sun and later the Los Angeles Times sometimes between 1996 and 1997 but I do not think that this gives me the right or the entitlement in reflecting on the recent US Presidential elections, November 5, that the legendary H.L. Mencken, master of the English language, master columnist has been proven right on the count of every claim above. Is Donald Trump who has now stormed back as America’s 47^thPresident awaiting inauguration on January 20, 2025, a fool and a moron? He was 45th President and he has now thumped his way back in a decisive manner- the greatest comeback in American history much better than the feat recorded in 1893 by Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24^th President of the United States. In the lead up to the elections, the polls from CNN to New York/Siena predicted that the race was too close to call. There were talks about the seven swing states that would determine the election. Donald Trump has now made history by winning in all the seven battleground states: Michigan, Nevada, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Pennsylvania – a landmark victory that gives him a resounding mandate to reshape America. Yet, this was/is a man who four years ago faced two impeachment trials. He was also accused of inciting an attack on the US Capitol in January 2021. He faced four criminal charges. In the course of the campaigns, two assassination attempts were made on his life. He was even branded a fascist. But he has now ended up as the people’s choice, winning both the popular vote and the electoral college vote, performing significantly better than he did in 2020. 

The magnitude of his return speaks to “the inner soul of the people” to use H.L Mencken’s words, that is the American people who have now re-hired him. At 78, he will be the oldest leader to be sworn into office in the United States. He left office in 2021. He was accused of making the Republicans perform badly in the 2022 mid-term elections. But he is back – the first convicted felon to be elected as US President. He has not just won victory for himself. He has re-invented the Republican party. The ideology of liberalism, touted much since the days of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, America’s longest serving President and a Democrat, suddenly became a byword for intolerance and rigidity as the Republican elite rose and Trump seized advantage of the confusion.  The pollsters were wrong, dead wrong. This outcome in the United States puts a mark on the value of opinion polls in the United States and the place of public opinion in democracies.  Even those members of the Republican Party who lined up behind Kamala Harris, the Democratic Presidential candidate have now been shown that it is precisely the man that they called “fascist”, vengeful and divisive that the average American has now voted for. This is about the American mind. There are perhaps more people in America like Trump than there are of the likes of Kamala Harris.

The questions have been asked: What does Trump 2.0 as the victory is otherwise called mean for America, the world and specifically Africa? Americans have embraced their choice boldly and confidently. The National Coast Guard was called out in the event that there would be a repeat of the violence seen in 2021. The election was described as a possible repeat of the 2000 election between George W. Bush and Al Gore, but nothing of sort happened. It wasn’t close to call and there was no violence. Trump had threatened to challenge the results if the election was adjudged unfair by him. He didn’t have to. Even President Biden says that the thing to do is to respect the wishes of the American people because it is what they want. Most Americans, who turned out en masse – the highest turn-out figure in 50 years, voted Trump because they believed the American economy would do better with him. Despite the achievements of the Biden administration in creating jobs and bringing down inflation, the average American still thought Trump is a better economic manager. Americans held a largely negative view about their country’s economy, and they were suspicious of the incumbents. Trump has promised to place “America First”.  He is first and foremost American, so he would Make America Great Again (MAGA). In this regard, he is determined to impose his right-wing views about biology and medicare. He will drive away undocumented immigrants and make America safe for the citizens – those people from Haiti whom he says eat cats and dogs in Springfield, Ohio and those from “a shithole country.” He will reduce dependency on America by the rest of the world by taking a second look at Nato, climate change and carbon emissions, the oil and gas industry and America’s relationship with the world. He will take aim at the Paris climate accord. He will ease restrictions on the oil industry’s emissions of methane. His win is not surprisingly a major win for the big money elite. All the three major US indexes have been doing well since it became clear that Trump and the Republicans were poised to win. Cryptocurrency has hit $80, 000. Billionaire Elon Musk who supported Trump has been jubilating since. Trump promoted crypto during his campaign, backing a venture that had his sons involved. In his earlier Presidency, he dismissed crypto currency as a scam.  He is forever changing his mind. And yet the people voted for him. 

His provincialism, some say nativism or isolationist approach to global politics has brought upon the world a season of great uncertainty and this has generated conversations and measures around the world about how countries and regions can best protect themselves. Less than a month ago, Russia hosted a meeting of the BRICS economic partners and invited new partners. America is the largest economy in the world and a superior power. With a man who prefers insularity to open engagements with the world, others are obliged to create a multi-polar world whereby America’s superiority can be diluted by the emergence of an alternative axis of power.  Over the weekend, the same Russia in Sochi hosted Ministers of Foreign Affairs from Africa where President Vladimir Putin pledged “total support” for African countries. Yesterday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the UK and President Emmanuel Macron met after Armistice Day ceremonies to discuss free trade and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Trump has threatened to impose a blanket tariff of 20% on imports as part of his America First agenda. This could see the UK economy losing as much as 215 billion pounds next year and affect inflation and interest rates. For about a year, China has been fighting a corrosive deflationary trend with a combination of fiscal and economic stimulus. Trump’s emergence makes China’s situation even more serious.  Russia and Ukraine, North Korea, South Korea, Iran, Taiwan are also at the epicentre of the emerging geo-politics. Trump has promised that he would solve the problem between Russia and Ukraine in 24 hours. Does that mean he would force Ukraine to negotiate and cede territory? Trump’s politics has driven up the self-interest quotient in international politics. In Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim, countries are preparing for the return of Trump. America being the most powerful country in the world explains the fascination with the American election. 

Where does that leave African countries? I doubt if Africa is likely to be such a huge priority on Trump’s agenda. Immigration is likely to affect Africans, especially Nigerians very badly. In 2025, Trump has promised to end the African and Growth Opportunities Act (AGOA) which was introduced by the US in 2000 to assist African countries and promote economic relations between the US and the continent. American aid and security partnerships with African countries may also be reduced. Nigerians like to think that they are such an important part of geo-politics. In the lead up to the American election many of our compatriots back home here were very emotional about the US elections as the country was divided into two camps: Trump vs. Harris. Most of the people involved in this campaign had no right to vote in the American election. There was even no way their choices would affect America’s electoral process. In Northern Nigeria, the video was shown of persons waving the American flag and declaring support for Trump. Kamala Harris supporters were all over the local media pushing the narrative that a Trump Presidency would be bad for the world and that Trump is this or that. It appeared as if Trump’s supporters were more of the right-wing evangelical extraction, with the firm opinion that anybody who mentions the name of God was bound to win. Those who opposed Harris felt a woman no matter how gifted should not be allowed to lead men.  With the possible exception of those Nigerians who have American citizenship and who chose to vote from overseas, most people simply talked. And Nigerians like to talk. And they have not stopped talking since the election was won and lost. No one should be surprised if before Trump’s inauguration in January 2025, some of his fans in Nigeria begin to organize owambe parties and buy aso ebi.

Whatever anyone says, Kamala Harris lost the election not because she was not good enough for the job, but because she joined the race rather late, only after President Biden, her boss, was pressured to step down in July.  She deserves commendation for her determination, verve, and the energy with which she sold her narrative which re-energized the Democratic Party. Age, mental acuity and physical health are big issues in American elections. Biden, 81, looked frail and more fragile than Trump, 78. By the time Democrats brought a much younger Harris into the mix, she had a shorter time of preparation.  She galvanized tremendous financial support, but she could have done better if she had been in the race much earlier. Biden has been blamed by the Democrats for being the main cause of her failure. Perhaps, he should have withdrawn from the race earlier. With all the support she had, Trump had a bigger war chest over time. American-style Presidential politics is an expensive deal, requiring a lot of money. Trump had his own resources. He got remarkable support from the likes of Elon Musk. 

Be it in the US or Nigeria, money is the engine oil of politics. Those who are hoping that they could beat President Tinubu and the APC at the polls in 2027 had better begun now to stock-pile the funds, otherwise they might as well struggle in vain. There are other ways in which the American election reminds us of Nigeria. As soon as Trump was declared winner, his supporters, friends and party members trooped to his golf resort in Mar- a -Lago hanging around, trying to get Trump to notice them. He has made it clear that he would reward those who stood by him in the last three years and the few appointments that he has made so far clearly reflect that. Rogue and desperate guests have taken up hotel rooms and apartments in Palm Beach for the next three months, struggling to get themselves invited to the Golf Club.

Trump’s family members are also likely to feature prominently in the new administration as they did in his first term: his children and in-laws and of course his wife. I am thoroughly amused that some Nigerians are pushing the narrative that Trump has family connections with Nigeria. One of his daughters is said to be married to a Lebanese-Nigerian, from a prominent family and that Nigeria needs not worry about all those things Trump says. He has to be nice to his in-laws. It is only for President Tinubu to explore that advantage. How naïve! As in Nigeria all the pending court cases that Trump has in court are likely to disappear.  And by the way, Trump is not complaining because he won. He has been congratulated by President Biden, and he has been invited to the White House on Thursday, this week, for lunch. When he lost in 2020, he did not congratulate Biden. He did not attend the inauguration. This is the man who is now back in the saddle as America’s President.   

A Trump Presidency should be seen in the light of risks, opportunities and lessons. One stand-out lesson is how Trump is first and foremost an American. He wants to Make America Great Again. Similarly, those who want to lead Nigeria should seek to Make Nigeria Great Again. (MANGA). Let our leaders begin to talk about MANGA!  

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has delivered sensitive materials for this Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State.

In a post via its official X handle on Monday, INEC said the materials were transported by the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, and have been received by officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

The post read, “Sensitive materials for the Ondo State governorship election, scheduled for Saturday, 16th November 2024, have arrived in Akure, the state capital, and have been received by officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

 

“The materials were conveyed to Akure by the Nigerian Air Force.”

The leader of the world’s Anglican communion faced growing pressure on Monday to resign after a damning report which concluded the Church of England had covered up a serial abuse case.

Three members of the General Synod, the Church’s national assembly, have started a petition demanding that Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby quit in the wake of the revelations.

It found the Church had repeatedly failed to act over “abhorrent” abuse carried out by John Smyth, a lawyer who organised evangelical summer camps in the 1970s and 1980s.

He is believed to have attacked as many as 130 boys and young men at his home in southern England after grooming them at the camps, which would make Smyth the most prolific known serial abuser associated with the Church.

The findings of the long-awaited independent review into the case found that Welby “could and should” have formally reported the abuse to authorities in 2013, when he claimed to have first learned of it.

Smyth died aged 75 in South Africa in 2018 while under investigation by British police and never faced any criminal charges.

Welby, the Church of England’s highest-ranking cleric, said last week he was “deeply sorry that this abuse happened” and that he “had no idea or suspicion of this abuse before 2013” when he became archbishop.

He told Britain’s Channel 4 News that he had considered resigning but decided not to.

“If I’d known before 2013 or had grounds for suspicion, that would be a resigning matter then and now. But I didn’t,” he told the broadcaster.

However, the petition by three members of the General Synod — which comprises 483 lay members and clergy — urges Welby to step down.

It argues that Welby “held a personal and moral responsibility to pursue this further… which he failed to fulfil”.

“Given his role in allowing abuse to continue, we believe that his continuing as the Archbishop of Canterbury is no longer tenable,” it adds.

By Monday morning, it had garnered more than 1,600 signatures, while a growing number of priests were speaking out against him.

Giles Fraser, the vicar of St Anne’s Church in southwest London, told BBC radio on Monday it was “a terrible situation”.

“I’m afraid he’s really lost the confidence of his clergy,” he said.

“He’s lost the confidence of many of his bishops, and his position is completely untenable.”

A United States man, Anthony Nephew, shot himself, his wife, ex-partner, and two children after the November 5 election that brought President-elect Donald Trump into office.

According to authorities who spoke to the New York Post on Sunday, the 46-year-old Minnesota father had expressed anger over Trump’s election.

The shooter, aged 46, had a “pattern of mental health issues,” Duluth Police Chief Mike Ceynowa said on Friday — one day after authorities found five people dead inside two homes in the city.

Authorities found Anthony Nephew’s ex-partner, Erin Abramson, 47, and their son, Jacob Nephew, 15, dead from apparent gunshot wounds inside their home on Thursday afternoon, police said.

After identifying Anthony Nephew as a suspect, police found his 45-year-old wife, Kathryn Nephew, and their 7-year-old son, Oliver Nephew, dead from gunshot wounds inside their family home nearby.

Before the tragedy, Anthony Nephew had been sharing left-wing and anti-Trump posts on his Facebook account.

“My mental health and the world can no longer peacefully coexist, and a lot of the reason is religion,” Anthony Nephew wrote in July.

“I am terrified of religious zealots inflicting their misguided beliefs on me and my family. I have intrusive thoughts of being burned at the stake as a witch or crucified on a burning cross.

“Having people actually believe that I or my child are Satan, or the anti-Christ, or whatever their favourite boogeyman they are afraid of this week.”

In another post, he accused Republicans of “making it harder for women to leave” abusive relationships.

“Gilead here we come,” he wrote, referencing The Handmaid’s Tale, a dystopian novel turned Hulu series in which women, stripped of their rights, are forced to reproduce for the ruling class.

Anthony Nephew also shared other political posts, including an image of former President Barack Obama, Trump, President Joe Biden, and Vice President Kamala Harris. The word “hate” was under Trump’s face, while the words “hope,” “heal,” and “grow” corresponded with the Democratic politicians.

“Not that anyone cares, but as an Independent voter, I would really like to see both the political parties in our country pick better candidates,” he wrote in July. “We can do better than a binary choice between fascism and not fascism.”

Anthony Nephew had previously issued a chilling warning about his struggles with mental health, writing in an op-ed for the Duluth News Tribune in 2021, “For millions of Americans, a breakdown leads to suicide — or homicide before suicide.”

“Mental health in this country is stigmatised, ignored, or treated as a burden for the individual to bear alone, with little help and even less understanding,” he wrote.

“Americans deny they have mental health struggles — because they have to, because they’re told to, or because they don’t realise their mind is broken.”

Police in Duluth, a city of nearly 90,000 residents about 135 miles north of Minneapolis, have not yet determined a motive for the shootings.

Police said there is no ongoing threat to the community.

Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has cautioned members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to move away from personal ambition and focus on the party amid the current leadership crisis.

Addressing a gathering of PDP members in Abuja, Saraki said the PDP has come a long way and should not be sacrificed for individual aspirations.

Saraki’s caution comes amid the bickering within the former ruling party, which dates back to the build-up of the 2023 presidential election.

Chieftains like Nyesom Wike, Governor Seyi Makinde, and some other former governors had worked against PDP’s presidential candidate in 2023.

Since the last presidential election, the PDP has continued to witness a leadership crisis.

However, Saraki said: “The party was built on ideas, philosophies, and policies. Let us move away from building ideas on personal ambition. We cannot have an ambition if we don’t have a party. We cannot have a party if we don’t have ideas. This is where it starts.

“Let us stop talking about who is running for councillor, governor, or president in 2027. Let us focus on what the PDP represents. What are the issues and policies that we must address? This is what Nigerians want to know.

“The message we send to Nigerians is that this is a serious party. We are leaders. Let PDP lead in that way.”

Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, has explained why the Value Added Tax, VAT, distribution proposal before the National Assembly is generating so much controversy.

Oyedele stated that the current VAT system is fractured, with the major issues centred on disputes over VAT administration between some states and the Federal Government, among others.

He gave the explanation on Monday via a post on his X handle, titled, “10 most frequently asked questions about the Tax Reform Bills”.

DAILY POST reported that President Bola Tinubu had on September 3 transmitted four tax reform bills to the National Assembly for consideration.

The reforms stemmed from the recommendations of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal and Tax Reforms headed by Taiwo Oyedele, for the review of existing tax laws.

At the heart of the debate is the proposed shift to a derivation-based model for Value Added Tax distribution.

The Bills had generated mixed reactions across the country.

Giving further explanations on the gains of the proposed tax bills, Oyedele said his committee’s analysis showed that a central collection system is more efficient and benefits all states in the country.

He also stated that the reform seeks the discontinuation of all consumption taxes other than VAT.

Oyedele said: “Why is the VAT proposal generating so much controversy? Are we trying to fix what is not broken?

“The current VAT system is fractured. The major issues include:

“(i) disputes over VAT administration between some states and the federal government resulting in some landmark judgements and pending court cases. This is compounded by the fact that VAT is not stated in the 1999 Constitution thereby creating a lacuna. Our analysis shows that a central collection system is more efficient and benefits all. Once the contentious issues have been resolved, then VAT can be properly included in the constitution. The current sharing formula of FG 15%, States 50% and LGs 35% is proposed to become FG 10%, States 55% and LGs 35%.

“(ii) imposition of parallel consumption taxes in some states along with VAT which increases the tax burden on the people and contributes to multiple taxation. The reform seeks the discontinuation of all consumption taxes other than VAT.

“(iii) basis of distribution – the current formula for sharing VAT among states is based on 20% derivation, 50% equality and 30% population. The tax reform proposes a different model of derivation which will attribute VAT to the place of supply and consumption rather than the current model which attributes VAT to the state where it is remitted thereby favouring states with companies headquarters. Further, derivation under the new model will account for 60% of VAT distribution for better equity and to discourage any state from seeking to administer VAT as a state tax, which will not only result in much lower revenue for all tiers of government but will impose a higher burden on businesses.

“The proposed derivation model is contained under S.22(12) of the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill which states that “For the purpose of attribution, any return under this section shall provide details of derivation of taxable supplies by location.

“The controversy has arisen from the perception that the proposed formula would lead to lower revenue for some states. However, the 5% to be ceded by the FG can be set aside for equalisation transfers to cater for any shortfall to a state under the new model. This ensures that no state is worse off in the short term while significantly enhancing economic activities and revenue for all states in the medium to long term.”