Business
NACCIMA Tasks FG “Don’t Stripe FTZs of Tax Exemptions “
FTZs association and companies were not formally consulted before February 20, 2024, when the chairman of the fiscal policies and tax committee, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, who as a panelist at the 3rd Nigerian Economic Zones Association conference informed the FTZ community of the intended substantial amendment of the rules and laws regulating investment in the FTZs.
▪︎ Mr Taiwo Oyedele
The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA) is urging the National Assembly to reassess the implications of stripping investors in the country’s Free Trade Zones of tax exemptions, as proposed in the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024 on the Free Trade Zone Scheme.
There are 50 FTZs in Nigeria and 48 were developed through private-sector investments.
The National President of NACCIMA, Dele Oye, expressed grave concern over the proposed amendments, particularly Sections 57, 60, 198(2), and 198(3), which threaten to dismantle key incentives that have sustained FTZ investments since the scheme was introduced through the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Act in 1992.
In the provisions outlined for the FTZs, the government seeks to introduce minimum tax rates and remove long-standing tax exemptions for businesses operating within FTZs.
Dele Oye, highlighted that stripping away established tax exemptions is a drastic measure that will diminish investor confidence and jeopardize Nigeria’s standing in the global investment community.
Dele Oye, who is also the Chairman of Nigeria’s Organised Private Sector, OPS, noted that since the inception of the FTZ scheme in 1992, through the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Act, businesses operating in these zones have significantly contributed to Nigeria’s economic landscape.
With special tax incentives, these zones were designed to attract investment, promote job creation, and foster industrialization.
However, the proposed amendments in the Tax Bill, particularly Sections 57, 60, 198(2), and 198(3), directly contradict this framework by introducing minimum tax rates and eliminating existing exemptions that have been instrumental in attracting investments.
He noted that the tax exemptions within the zones had been crucial in attracting investors, creating jobs, and generating over N650 billion in government revenue through Customs duties and related economic activities.
He noted that stakeholders were also not consulted before the tax reforms were announced.
“FTZs association and companies were not formally consulted before February 20, 2024, when the chairman of the fiscal policies and tax committee, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, who as a panelist at the 3rd Nigerian Economic Zones Association conference informed the FTZ community of the intended substantial amendment of the rules and laws regulating investment in the FTZs.
Business
Reps summon Dangote and NMDPRA over fuel imports feud
The lawmakers have formally invited both parties to provide detailed explanations, stressing that only a full understanding of the issues will allow the National Assembly to broker lasting solutions.
The House of Representatives Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream and Midstream) has intervened to halt rising tensions between the Dangote Refinery group and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The joint committee on Monday summoned Alhaji Aliko Dangote and the NMDPRA leadership to present their grievances before the committee, while both sides are ordered to cease all media hostilities pending a swift investigation.
The committees, jointly led by Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere and Hon. Henry Okogie, convened an emergency meeting to address what they described as “growing tension” threatening the stability of the downstream petroleum sector.
Ugochinyere said that the intervention was necessary to prevent further escalation at a critical time when government and industry stakeholders are working to stabilise supply, pricing, and regulation in the post-subsidy era.
“The renewed tension in the downstream sector, stemming from allegations by Alhaji Aliko Dangote against the NMDPRA, demanded urgent attention,” he said.
“The committee is committed to protecting the stability achieved in the sector.”
The lawmakers have formally invited both parties to provide detailed explanations, stressing that only a full understanding of the issues will allow the National Assembly to broker lasting solutions.
Business
Dangote appoints ex-CBN director Mahmud Hassan, as chief economist
In his new role, Hassan will serve as the Group’s top adviser on economic strategy, market trends, and policy implications, reporting directly to the President of the Group, Aliko Dangote.
The Dangote Group has appointed renowned economist and former Central Bank of Nigeria Director, Dr Mahmud Hassan, as its Group Chief Economist.
In a statement released on Monday, the Group said the appointment would strengthen its economic advisory capacity at a time of heightened global and domestic market volatility.
In his new role, Hassan will serve as the Group’s top adviser on economic strategy, market trends, and policy implications, reporting directly to the President of the Group, Aliko Dangote.
Dangote Group said Hassan brings more than 30 years of experience in economic policy formulation, financial sector regulation, and central banking to his new role.
During his long career at the CBN, he held several senior positions, including Director of the Trade and Exchange Department and Director of the Monetary Policy Department.
He also served as Secretary to the Monetary Policy Committee and as Special Assistant on Economic Policy and Research to the CBN Governor
Business
NBS says rebasing behind inflation’s dropping
NBS, in the report published on its website on Monday, headline inflation further declined to 14.45 percent compared with 16.05 percent recorded in October 2025.
The National Bureau of Statistics (nbs) attributes the droppings in headline inflation to the rebasing exercise it carried out five months ago, with the new base year set at 2024 instead of 2009.
NBS, in the report published on its website on Monday, headline inflation further declined to 14.45 percent compared with 16.05 percent recorded in October 2025.
NBS said that the Consumer Price Index rose to 130.5 points in November 2025 from 128.9 points in October, reflecting a 1.6-point increase from the preceding month (128.9).“
Looking at the movement, the November 2025 Headline inflation rate showed a decrease of 1.6 per cent compared to the October 2025 Headline inflation rate,” the NBS report read.
On a month-on-month basis, headline inflation stood at 1.22 per cent in November, higher than the 0.93 per cent recorded in October, indicating that average prices still increased at a faster pace during the month despite the moderation in annual inflation.
The statistical agency noted that on a year-on-year basis, headline inflation in November 2025 was 20.15 percentage points lower than the 34.60 per cent recorded in November 2024, largely reflecting the effect of the rebasing exercise, with the new base year set at 2024 instead of 2009.
Data from the report showed that the average CPI for the twelve months ending November 2025 increased by 20.41 per cent compared with the average of the preceding twelve months, representing a sharp slowdown from the 32.77 per cent recorded in November 2024.
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