Business
Nigeria formally Accepts WTO’s Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies
Nigeria has deposited its instrument of acceptance for the World Trade Organisation’s ((WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.
The Agreement prohibits support for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, bans support for fishing overfished stocks, and ends subsidies for fishing on the unregulated high seas.
Ambassador Adamu Mohammed Abdulhamid presented Nigeria’s instrument of acceptance to WTO Director-General, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in Geneva, Switzerland, yesterday.
Ambassador Abdulhamid said: “The Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies presents a unique opportunity for Nigeria to promote sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth and the improvement of livelihoods while preserving the health of ocean ecosystem, believing that the Agreement shall put a stop to all harmful fisheries subsidies such as illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing activities by all WTO members.”
“By this instrument of acceptance, Nigeria reassures its commitment to a rule-based multilateral trading system by guaranteeing its compliance with the Agreement as well as refraining from introducing any new subsidies that harm the marine environment while recognizing the need for appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries which can be achieved through adequate policy space to develop its fisheries sector and technical assistance and capacity building in order to implement the discipline.
Nigeria calls on other WTO members who are yet to ratify this agreement to do so as soon as possible so as to contribute to our global effort of preservation of the global fish stocks,” he said.
DG Okonjo-Iweala said: “I am profoundly grateful to Nigeria for formally accepting the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.
I am proud to see the country’s continued commitment to sustainable development and its vote of confidence in the work of the WTO.
Nigeria’s acceptance adds to our growing tally of members that have accepted the Agreement — we have received about one-third of the total that we need for the Agreement to enter into force.
I hope that Nigeria’s action serves as an inspiration to other governments in Africa and the rest of the world to move swiftly to implement the Agreement and foster global cooperation for the benefit of our shared future.”
Nigeria is the fifth-largest African fishing nation and is estimated to lose about USD70 million each year to illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
The sector accounts for as much as 5 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP and supports the livelihood of about 24 million people.
Business
FG Releases Tax Act 2025 Transition Guidelines
The Guidelines are intended to promote uniform implementation and support effective administration across the Nigeria Revenue Service, State Internal Revenue Services, the FCT Internal Revenue Service, Local Government Revenue Committees, tax practitioners and taxpayers nationwide.
• Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele.
The Federal Government has issued the General Guidelines for the implementation of the Tax Acts 2025, setting out the process for transition from the repealed tax laws to the new tax framework effective from January 1, 2026.
Issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Guidelines provide direction to taxpayers, tax practitioners, revenue authorities and other stakeholders on how to address various issues arising from the old regime to the new framework.
Under the Guidelines, the Tax Acts 2025 comprising the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, the Nigeria Tax Act, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act apply from the respective commencement dates as enacted in each law. In particular, January 1, 2026 for the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025.
Tax liabilities, assessments, audits, investigations, disputes and enforcement actions relating to periods before that date will be treated under the repealed tax laws.
Tax returns relating to accounting periods ending before January 1, 2026, will be filed under the previous tax laws, while returns falling due from January 1, 2026, onward will be administered under the new tax framework.
The document also covers the treatment of income taxes, transaction taxes, development levies, tax incentives, exemptions, record-keeping obligations and transactions that span both the old and new tax regimes.
Existing tax incentives and exemptions granted under the repealed laws will remain in place until their expiration dates. New applications and pending requests, however, will be considered under the provisions of the Tax Acts 2025.
Speaking on the release of the Guidelines, the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, said that the document provides a framework for managing transitional issues while ensuring that the new laws are not applied retrospectively.
He described the Tax Acts 2025 as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s tax reform programme, noting that the Guidelines set out how existing obligations, ongoing matters and future transactions will be treated under the new regime.
According to the Minister, the Guidelines are anchored on three key principles – clarity, fairness and administrative certainty.
The Guidelines are intended to promote uniform implementation and support effective administration across the Nigeria Revenue Service, State Internal Revenue Services, the FCT Internal Revenue Service, Local Government Revenue Committees, tax practitioners and taxpayers nationwide.
The Government reaffirmed its commitment to building a transparent, efficient and modern tax system that supports economic growth, strengthens revenue administration, encourages voluntary compliance and improves Nigeria’s investment climate.
Business
Naira Exchange Rates To Foreign currencies Thursday, June 18
Black Market
US DOLLAR (USD) Buy ₦1, 400 Sell ₦1,405
GREAT BRITISH POUND (GBP) Buy ₦1,865 Sell: ₦1,885
Official CBN Exchange Rates
US DOLLAR (USD) ₦1,360. 07
GREAT BRITISH POUND (GBP) ₦1,824.81
EURO (EUR) ₦1,577. 96
SWISS FRANC (CHF) ₦1,715. 75
JAPANESE YEN (JPN) ₦8.49
CHINESE YUAN (CNY) ₦201. 22
WEST AFRICAN CFA (XOF) ₦2.40
WEST AFRICAN UNIT ACCOUNT (WAUA) ₦1,855.08S
AUDI RIYAL (SAR) ₦362.39
SOUTH AFRICAN RAND (ZAR) ₦84.04
BLACK MARKET RATES
US DOLLAR (USD) Buy ₦1, 400 Sell ₦1,405
GREAT BRITISH POUND (GBP) Buy ₦1,865 Sell: ₦1,885
EURO (EUR) Buy ₦1, 585 Sell ₦1, 605
CANADIAN DOLLAR (CAD) Buy ₦1,030 Sell ₦1,100
SOUTH AFRICAN RAND (ZAR) Buy ₦75 Sell ₦90
UAE DIRHAM Buy ₦350 Sell ₦370
CHINESE YUAN Buy ₦180 Sell ₦200
GHANA CEDI (GHS) Buy ₦95 Sell ₦110
WEST AFRICAN CFA Buy ₦2, 380 Sell ₦2, 460
CENTRAL AFRICAN CFA Buy ₦2, 220 Sell 2,300
AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR Buy ₦800 Sell ₦900
Business
Enugu Air, airport concession to support state’s $30bn economy goal –Commissioner
“We looked at Enugu as an economic hub where tourism, hospitality, investment, and aviation can work together to drive growth.”
The Enugu State government said its new airline, Enugu Air, and the concession of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, will support its plan of growing the state’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion by 2031.
In a statement, the Secretary to the State Government, Chidiebere Onyia, outlined how the state government plans to use aviation, tourism, and agriculture to drive economic growth.
He said that the airport concession is part of a broader strategy by Governor Peter Mbah’s administration to re-position Enugu as a major economic hub in the South East.
“We looked at Enugu as an economic hub where tourism, hospitality, investment, and aviation can work together to drive growth,” he said.
Mr Onyia said that the state expects an increase in visitor traffic in the coming years and believes air transport will play an important role in supporting that growth.
He further explained that the government’s projections are linked to plans to attract tourists, investors and businesses to the state
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