News
Ogun set to host 13th Gateway International Trade Fair
…With improved facilities, raffle draw
By Omobolaji Adekunle
Few days to the commencement of the 13th Gateway International Trade Fair, excitement has continued to build across the Southwest geopolitical zone of Nigeria as stakeholders get prepared to storm Abeokuta, Ogun State for the much awaited yearly event.
The trade fair, which will be held from April 19 to 29, 2024 at the M.K.O Abiola International Trade Fair Complex, Abeokuta, will also feature increased exhibitors and products offering, as well as a more effective transportation system to ease movement of visitors to the Trade Fair Complex.
Speaking to journalists about the Trade Fair, the Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Industry, Oluyemisi Somorin-Dawodu said preparations are well underway to welcome participants to the trade fair.
The theme of the fair is “Achieving Economic Prosperity Through Business Connection, Trade and Investment.”
Somorin-Dawodu added that this year’s trade fair is more than just the exhibition of products as a lot of other economic and trade-related activities have been lined up to make the experience more worthwhile for participants who will be coming from far and wide.
As part of the new innovations, residents of the state and other stakeholders will have the chance to win the grand prize of a two-bedroom bungalow in a raffle draw to be conducted during the fair.
An entertainment village, expected to add more glamour to the event, while meeting the needs of visitors, has also been introduced by the organisers.
Somorin-Dawodu added that new innovations introduced into the event this year are generating excitement among stakeholders as the date draws closer.
She said that both the Ogun State Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (OGUNCCIMA), which organises the annual trade fair and the Ogun State government are working round the clock to give participants unforgettable experiences.
“We decided to make the fair bigger and better. Among other innovations, we have introduced the raffle draw that will help to bring more people to the trade fair, and there will be daily prizes.
“The main prize is a two-bedroom bungalow. And we have also introduced the Entertainment Village where we are going to be selling drinks, food, etc. There will be good music and a live band,” the Special Adviser said.
Also speaking, OGUNCCIMA President , Engr. Mike Akingbade said more participants are being expected at the trade fair as a result of the new innovations introduced by the state government.
“I can tell you that we are working happily towards holding a more improved trade fair,” he said.
News
Stop using repressive laws to intimidate journalists – SERAP, NGE tell FG
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, and Nigeria Guild of Editors, NGE, have called on Nigerian authorities at all levels of government to stop using repressive and anti-media laws to target, intimidate and harass journalists, critics and media houses.
The groups made the demand after an interactive session on ‘the state of press freedom in Nigeria’ held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Ikeja.
In a joint statement, SERAP and NGE said that, “the government of President Bola Tinubu, the country’s 36 governors and FCT minister must now genuinely uphold press freedom, ensure access to information to all Nigerians, obey court judgments, and respect the rule of law”.
They expressed concerns about the escalating crackdown on the right to freedom of expression and media freedom and the flagrant disregard for the rule of law by authorities at all levels of government.
The groups note that the suppression of the press in recent times takes various forms ranging from extrajudicial to unlawful detentions, disappearances, malicious prosecutions and wrongful use of both legislation and law enforcement.
The statement read in part: “We would continue to speak truth to power and to hold authorities to account for their constitutional and international obligations including on freedom of expression and media freedom.
“Nigeria as a country has a long and unpleasant history of press gagging and clampdown on media freedom, which is evidence of extensive state censorship of media and in some cases, the utter control of state-owned media houses.
“This position has not changed considerably despite almost 25 years of unbroken democratic rule in the Fourth Republic.”
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FG adds 625MW to national grid – Minister
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Tax: Court orders FCT-IRS agency to seal off defaulting coys
A Magistrate Court sitting in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, on Friday, ordered the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) to seal off a company, Ifedi A.K. Nigeria Ltd, over allegations bordering on non-filing of annual returns.
The Magistrate, Janada Balami, gave the order after lawyer to FCT-IRS, Michael Towolawi, moved the application to the effect.
Towolawi told the court that the company had failed to file its annual returns from 2019 to 2023 in breach of Section 81 of the Personal Income Tax Act, LFN, 2004, and amended in 2011.
He said all efforts to make the company comply with the law proved abortive.
The lawyer, therefore, applied that the company be compel to appear before the court to explain why it acted in breach of the law.
Balami, who held that the application by the agency against the company had merit, accordingly granted same to seal the No 6, Rudolph Close, Off Katsina-Ala Street, Maitama, Abuja.
She, consequently, ordered the company, the sole defendant in the matter, to appear before the court on May 16.
The Director, Legal Services of the FCT-IRS, Festus Tsavar, told journalists after the proceeding that the service would move against companies that do not file their annual returns as provided by law.
“You know that we have a new minister in FCT that is doing a lot of projects and that hinges on money.
“And of course, you are aware that FCT has come out of TSA.
“So it is the internally generated revenue that will make the government of FCT to be able to do those projects completely within required time,” he said.
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