Author: David Great

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said the aggregate value-added tax (VAT) stood at N948.07 billion in Q3 2023. This is according to the VAT Q3 2023 report released in Abuja on Monday. The report showed a growth rate of 21.34 percent on a quarter-on-quarter basis from N781.35 billion in Q2 2023. It said local payments recorded were N522.08 billion, foreign VAT payments contributed N204.58 billion, and import VAT contributed N221.41 billion in Q3 2023. Agriculture, forestry and fishing recorded the highest growth rate at 91.87 percent on a quarter-on-quarter basis. This was followed by activities of extraterritorial organisations and…

Grammy-award-winning singer Ayodeji Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, has announced plans to donate N100 million to children for Christmas. The music star said he is doing this in honour of his late mom, Juliana Morayo Balogun, who died on August 18, 2023.   Big Wiz, as he has been referred to by fans in recent times, announced this via posts on his Insta story on Monday, stating that this will start in the Surulere area of Lagos State. I want to kiss in movies, shoot guns – Wizkid  He wrote, “100M for the kids for Christmas! Lord bless us all…

Following the announcement of the death of veteran broadcaster and journalist Aisha Bello, Nigerians on social media have continued to pour encomiums on the woman, whom many have described as a professional and model broadcaster. Chronicle NG reported earlier on Monday that Aisha Bello’s death was announced on Sunday in a statement by a member of her family. The statement reads, “Innalilahi wa inna Alaihin Rajiun. May Allah forgive our mother, Hajia Aishat Bello Mustapha. “Mama, indeed, you are a very kind-hearted person. We will miss you, and we hope you are enjoying Rahma. Reacting via X, formerly Twitter, HRH DUKE…

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted 12 consignments of cocaine at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, on Saturday. The consignments consisted of 797 pellets of cocaine weighing 17.6kg. NDLEA’s spokesman Femi Babafemi stated on Sunday in Abuja that a businessman, Augustine Emeka (44), was arrested in connection with the consignments. He added that Mr Emeka, who claimed to be dealing in copper wire, was arrested at the airport upon arrival from Douala, Cameroon, through Addis Ababa on Ethiopian Airline. “During the preliminary interview, the suspect admitted that the cocaine consignments were for delivery to 12…

The poor state of hostels at Baze University, a private tertiary institution based in Abuja owned by Labour Party’s vice presidential candidate in the just-concluded 2023 presidential elections, Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has generated mixed reactions among Nigerians on social media. In a video posted on X, formerly Twitter, by Imran Muhammad, students complained about the poor conditions of the university hostel, including lack of water, electricity, and dirty toilets, after paying over N1 million per room in a year. The hostel lobby, restrooms, and surrounding area were all in poor condition, as shown in the three-part video that Chronicle…

Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish scored three minutes apart as Manchester City came from behind to beat Premier League newcomers Luton Town 2-1 on Sunday and breathe a collective sigh of relief with their first victory in five league games. The win kept the champions – who were missing striker Erling Haaland through injury – in fourth place on 33 points, four shy of leaders Liverpool in a crowded title fight. Luton remain in the drop zone on nine points, four adrift of 17th place. The home fans were celebrating at halftime at a raucous Kenilworth Road after Elijah Adebayo…

The 109 senators of Nigeria’s 10th National Assembly have donated their one-month salaries totaling N109 million to the victims of a drone bomb attack in Tudun Biri, Igabi Local Government Area, Kaduna State. Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin announced this at the Kaduna Government House while leading a high-powered Senate delegation visiting the state. Senator Barau stated in a statement issued by his Special Adviser Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, that the funds will be forwarded to the state governor for distribution to the victims. Kaduna State governor, Uba Sani, who was a member of the…

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Mr Mele Kolo Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer, of Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to “promptly publish details of barrels of oil Nigeria produces and exports every day and the total amounts of revenues generated from oil since the removal of subsidy on petrol in May 2023.” SERAP urged him “to disclose how much of the revenues generated from oil have been remitted to the public treasury since the removal of subsidy on petrol.” SERAP also urged him “to disclose details of payment of N11 trillion as subsidy, and to…

Vice President Kashim Shettima has proffered solutions to Nigeria’s growing problems of poverty and insecurity, noting that, the poor are angry with the government. Shettima on Saturday noted that Nigerian citizens have contempt for politicians and public office holders and that insecurity in the north and southeast perpetuated by Boko Haram, bandits and IPOB can be resolved. He however explained that job creation would resolve most of Nigeria’s lingering problems and bring peace and prosperity to the biggest economy in Africa. “All of us here belong to a tiny segment of the Nigerian population. And you don’t need a soothsayer…

Bishop Matthew Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, has urged Nigerians who are willing to emigrate (Japa in local parlance) to do so, stressing that Nigeria has everything it needs to turn the corner. Speaking at the convocation service of Veritas University, Kukah noted that frustration was a leading factor for many young persons seeking to leave Nigeria. He said for Nigeria to turn the corner, citizens must look away from politicians as they have failed to deliver the change that would put the country on the global growth trajectory. “I encourage young people who want to leave Nigeria to…