Business
Mining Stakeholders Hails Return of Fatima Umaru-Shinkafi to drive non-oil sector
The Association of Small Scale Miners of Nigeria (ASSMN) Zamfara State Chapter , and the Nigerian Chamber of Mines and Geological Workers have applauded the reappointment of the Executive Secretary of Solid Minerals Development Fund/Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Initiative (SMDF/PAGMI), Fatima Umaru-Shinkafi, by President Bola Tinubu.
In separate statements, the leadership of the associations expressed gratitudes to President Tinubu: “It’s a well-considered appointment that will further consolidate, deepen, and strengthen the solid minerals sector.”
The Chairman of ASSMN, Abubakar Rabiu, also congratulated Fatima Umaru-Shinkafi on President Tinubu’s renewal of her appointment and urged her to justify the confidence Nigerians reposed in her to drive the non-oil sector of the economy in tandem with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda of a prosperous, equitable, and just democratic nation.
The association praised Fatima Umaru-Shinkafi for her dedication and commitment to developing the solid minerals sector in Nigeria.
This sector has attracted foreign investors, empowered local miners, and provided jobs to thousands of youths, thus contributing significantly to the country’s gross domestic product.
According to the association, Fatima Umaru-Shinkafi is a paragon of excellence and will be motivated to take the solid minerals sector to the next level.
“The association is proud of Fatima Umaru-Shinkafi and will support her leadership of SMDS/PAGMI in revamping the nation’s economy and providing citizens with democratic dividends.
“We urge Nigerians to support this woman of destiny in our collective quest for a better society,” said Abubakar Rabiu.
Similarly, the Nigerian Chambers of Mines, Geological Workers, also throw its weight behind Fatima’s reappointment.
With a deep understanding of the solid minerals sector’s challenges and prospects, she will effectively tackle illegal mining, poor regulatory compliance and formulate policies that promote best practices in the industry.
The Association’s Chairman, Silas Kefas, described her reappointment as a well thought out decision and underscored the government’s confidence in her impactful leadership aimed at harnessing the solid minerals sector’s full potential and economic diversification essential for sustainable development and prosperity.
“A visionary leader and master strategist in the solid minerals industry, Fatima Umaru-Shinkafi’s laudable reform has revolutionalized the sector, attracted local and foreign investors and repositioned Nigeria as a competitive player in the global minerals market.
“With a renewed mandate, the solid minerals industry will witness significant advancement in the promotion of artisanal gold mining and value chain development, capacity building, job creation, infrastructural development, enhanced export capacity, financial prudence and significant contribution to the country’s gross domestic product that will revive the economy and foster prosperity to citizens.
With a deep understanding of the solid minerals sector’s challenges and prospects, she will effectively tackle illegal mining, poor regulatory compliance and formulate policies that promote best practices in the industry.
“We recall with pride the recent SMDF’s empowerment programme for 1000 women entrepreneurs in gemstone mining and utilisation as part of efforts towards contributing to the nation’s economic diversification starting with 100 womenparticipants in Lagos.
We are optimistic that thousands of women and youth will benefit from this worthy programme that will improve their well-being and make them self-reliant.
“We identify with Fatima Umaru-Shinkafi’s remarkable leadership and will always partner with SMDF/PAGMI to take the solid minerals sector to greater heights.
“We are all in it together to diversify and revamp the economy in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Congratulations to the great Amazon of the solid minerals sector. It is a well-deserved re-appointment for continuity, development and advancement of SMDF/PAGMI.”
Business
Nigeria First Policy: Customs Championing Made-in-Nigeria Vehicles Procurements
In terms of aesthetics, I am satisfied with what I see here. In terms of functionality, we have been assured by the manufacturers that the vehicles are quite efficient.”
The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi has assured members of the Nigeria Automotive Manufacturers Association (NAMA) that the Service would champion the procurements of locally assembled vehicles from the auto manufacturers inline with the government’s Nigeria First Policy Directive.
CGC Adeniyi gave the assurance when he inspected vehicles produced by members of the Nigeria Automotive Manufacturers Association (NAMA) at the Service’s headquarters, Maitama, Abuja.
After the inspection, the CGC commended the association for turning up in full strength and expressed satisfaction with the quality of the vehicles.
He remarked, “In terms of aesthetics, I am satisfied with what I see here. In terms of functionality, we have been assured by the manufacturers that the vehicles are quite efficient.”
“What gives me joy is that in all the vehicles I have seen today, there is an imprint of Nigeria, which shows that they are fully assembled here. It gives me joy that Mr President’s policy is on the right course,” he added.
He further praised President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Nigeria First policy initiative in the automobile industry.
He pledged that the Nigeria Customs Service would continue to patronise and support the sector for the growth and well-being of the nation’s industrial economy.
In response, Ilekuba Anslem Chairman, Chief Executive Officer of Cedric Masters Group, commended the CGC for his unwavering support for the automobile industry.
Also, Oluwatobi Ajayi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nord Automobile Limited, praised the CGC.
“Even before this policy was announced, you had been championing made-in-Nigeria vehicles.
With Mr President’s announcement, we are confident that you will be the first CEO of a government parastatal to fully champion this policy,” he said.
He assured the CGC that the company would not abandon its vehicles after sales.Similarly, Jonas Ojukwu, a Director at Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Limited (IVM), assured the Nigeria Customs Service of the company’s commitment to delivering the best to the Service.
Other stakeholders who spoke at the event included representatives from Mikano Motors Nigeria and Stallion Motors Nigeria.
Business
Lagos Marks 39 Building in Lekki Axis for Demolition
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, explained that government swung into action following a series of petitions on encroachment of the Ikota River.
Lagos State government has marked no fewer than 39 buildings located in two highbrow estates for demolition for building on the Right of Way, RoW, of Ikota River, at Eti-Osa Local Government Area. Ikota is part of the Maroko Okun Alfa Ward in the Lekki axis.
This is coming as the state government issued indefinite quit notices to affected occupants to enable them move their properties and families before the demolition exercise commences.
The affected buildings, located at Oral Extension Estate, Westend and Megamound Estate, Eti-Osa, LGA, include 20 buildings to be totally removed, eight marked for partial removal, while 13 buildings are to go down at Westend Estate.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, explained that government swung into action following a series of petitions on encroachment of the Ikota River.
Wahab said: “We had several complaints. We have been on this for a while now, and we found out at the ministry level that while we are engaging to find a win-win solution that will mitigate the negative impact on the environment and they don’t affect the people so much. Some developments were also going on to further push back the RoW, and the alignment of the Ikota River.
Business
Senate Constitutes Abdullahi Yahaya Tax Harmonisation Committee
Altogether, the four Tax Reform bills were Executive Bills transmitted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the two chambers of the National Assembly in November last year.
The Senate on Thursday constituted a committee saddled with the responsibility of harmonizing its amendments to the tax reform bills with the House of Representatives version for final transmission to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced this during plenary after the passage of the bills.
Akpabio named senator Abdullahi Yahaya (Kebbi North) as chairman of the committee.
The members of the committee as announced by the Senate President are Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South), Chief Whip, Tahir Mongumo (APC, Borno North), Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), and Solomon Adeola (APC, Ogun West).
Earlier, the remaining two Tax Reform Bills — the Nigeria Tax Bill 2025 and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill, 2025.
This was in addition to passage of the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, 2025, and the Nigerian Tax Administration Bill, 2025.
Altogether, the four Tax Reform bills were Executive Bills transmitted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the two chambers of the National Assembly in November last year.
The passage of the bills was sequel to the consideration and adoption of a report of the Senate Committee on Finance presented by its Chairman, Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East).
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