By: Emmanuel Adefeso Esq.
The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has introduced a compulsory programme referred to as the Minimum Industry Safety Training for Downstream operations (MISTDO). It said the programme was initiated to safeguard operations in the downstream sector of the Nigerian oil and gas industry. Mr Paul Osu, Head, Public Affairs, DPR, made this known in a statement issued, on Sunday, amidst protest by marketers.
By: Emmanuel Adefeso Esq.
The Federal Government has approved a Federal Roads and Bridges Tolling Policy and Regulations, presidential aide, Tolu Ogunlesi has said.
According to Ogunlesi, who is a Special Assistant to the President on Digital and New Media, the government made the decision on Wednesday at a Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja. In a statement posted on his official Facebook page, he quoted the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, to have said that the regulations were developed after extensive consultations with various stakeholders within and outside the government, including transport unions like National Union of Road Transport Workers, Road Transport Employers’ Association Of Nigeria, amongst others. He listed the recommended tolling fees in the approved policy and regulations to include “Cars: N200; SUVs: N300; Private Buses: N300; Commercial Buses: N150; Luxury Buses and Trucks: N500”.
By: Emmanuel Adefeso Esq.
The people of Ogoni in Rivers State got justice as the multinational oil company, Shell Petroleum Company, agreed to pay N45.9 billion for the losses suffered as a result of oil spills that ravaged their communities.
The matter began in 2001 when ten representatives of the Ogoni people instituted the suit against the oil company for the losses allegedly caused by the oil spills. Hon. Justice Ibrahim Buba, then of Port Harcourt division of the Federal High Court, in June 2010 gave judgment in favour of the Ogoni people awarding N17 billion as compensation. The court equally granted the Ogoni chiefs a 25-percent interest charge on the principal sum of about N17 billion. SPDC appealed against the judgment up to the Supreme Court but it lost. In 2020, the company had also approached the apex court seeking a review of the judgment debt. But while delivering a ruling in November 2020, the five-member panel, led by Olabode Rhodes- Vivour, a former justice of the Supreme Court, unanimously dismissed Shell’s application, saying it lacked merit. Lucius Nwosu, lead counsel to the Ogoni communities had noted that the judgment sum, with the accrued interests, stood at about N182 billion.
By: Emmanuel Adefeso Esq.
The Tax Appeal Tribunal (TAT) has launched an e-filing and case management system to improve justice delivery in the Tax sector. The application launched will manage the entire case process, from the point of filling to the point when the case is decided with the integration of a digital platform for the payment of necessary fees.
At the launch of the e-filing and case management system, the coordinating secretary of the Tax Appeal Tribunal, Oniyangi Hajara Esq, said that the adoption of the electronic filing system was a calculated effort to improve access to the tribunal and to mitigate any obstacles associated with justice delivery that the essence of the tribunal as the first point of call on tax disputes do not warrant any delay. She stated that “The main reason of adopting e-filing for the tribunal is for people to be able to have access to the tribunal within the comfort of their homes or their offices not necessarily having to travel many kilometers to file tax matter. The software deployed captures every litigation process with enough flexibility from start to finish. We are proud for taking the lead among others and we advise other tribunal and superior courts to adopt this technology for the sake of the administration of justice.”
The event was witnessed by the Tribunal Secretary, Management and judicial staff; and questions were asked from the IT consultant, 4tune Technologies team lead, Fatai Abiodun who explained the workings and the flexibility of the software in the clearest terms. Litigants can now file their matter/process via the secured online platform.
This innovation is coming as a part of the reforms of the tax system in Nigeria. Tax Appeal Tribunal (TAT) was set up by the Federal Government to adjudicate on all tax disputes arising from operations of the various Tax Laws as spelt out in the Fifth Schedule to the FIRS (Establishment) Act 2007. Pursuant to the Tax Appeal Tribunals Establishment Order 2009, TAT was established in eight cities to cover the six geo-political zones namely: Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan, Benin, Enugu, Kaduna, Jos, and Bauchi, and a Coordinating Secretariat located in Abuja.
Indeed, tax law and administration is the central part of modern public finance and the importance of taxation arises from the fact that it is by far the most significant source of government revenue. Therefore, the importance of an effective tax law and adjudication mechanism cannot be over-emphasized. It is a remarkable feat that the institution charged with tax disputes and adjudication has leveraged on technology to build public trust and confidence in Nigeria Tax system. This shows that the TAT cannot be insulated from the digital revolution that is gradually being implemented in the Nigeria Judiciary.
Disclaimer: This news update is intended only to provide general information and does not by itself constitute or serve as legal advice. For further information, we are available to provide detailed legal advice. For more information contact us on info@asalawpractice.org or call 0908 482 0000, 0806 749 8777
By: Ronaldson Diete-Spiff, Esq.
The 12th August, 2021 did witness the birth of the Wasimi Rail Hub at Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State, haven been the first of its kind in Nigeria. This initiative came shortly after the revival of the rail services by the Federal Government of Nigeria and it is to be used for import and export by shippers. In a statement made by Mr. Christian Holm, Managing Director of Hull Blyth of the Nigerian Shipping and Cargo Logistics Services Provider where he asserted that this initiative will cut down on the cost and time of movement of containers to and from the port by road.
The Wasimi Rail Hub is a forerunner to the Dry Port which is still undergoing construction and has a capacity of 7,000 TEUs upon completion and will be linked to the Apapa port. This drive will be beneficial to importers and exporters as they would be able to save 50% cost. Having begun operation already, the APM Terminals at Apapa Port was a bee hive of activity as the first train had made its delivery only few hours from Wasimi. This project tends to be of benefit to the host community as well as the Nigerian economy as it would also allow importers and their agents save cost and time on monies spent in transporting their containers to and from the port and on demurrage, as there won’t be charges made as a result of the agreement between the shipping lines.
This is a laudable initiative and poised towards achieving an effective transportation system by reducing accrued cost and time, thereby decongesting Apapa port and serving as an instrument of economic development of the state and nation at large
Disclaimer: This news update is intended only to provide general information and does not by itself constitute or serve as legal advice. For further information, we are available to provide detailed legal advice. For more information contact us on info@asalawpractice.org or call 0908 482 0000, 0806 749 8777
