Tax Reforms: Decentralise Lagos Port, CNG Tells Tinubu

The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has called on President Bola Tinubu to discard the centralised port domiciled in Lagos State and allow for importation through land borders such as Kwara, Borno, Kebbi and Katsina among others.

They added that the government must complete/rehabilitate and operationalise Baro, Lokoja, Makurdi, Warri, Calabar and Onitsha Ports to enable the states to also take in some revenue as against the current system that centralises everything in Lagos.

The group stated while reacting to the contentious Tax Reform Bills, saying it categorically rejects the bills after having carefully observed and monitored the ongoing conversation.

Addressing a press conference on the tax reform bills in Abuja, the national coordinator CNG, Comrade Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, said the reforms are a shortsighted approach to revenue generation that sacrifices equity, inclusion, and sustainability.

He said Tinubu’s economic team and his monetary policies are the worst in the annals of Nigerian history.

He said since its inception, the government has created poverty and misery, expanded frontiers of deprivation, and excruciating economic policies, entrenched inhumane and gangster-like approach to civil dissidence and complete trial-and-error in economic management.

The CNG said the administration’s reforms in the economy, including the fuel-subsidy removal, has left disastrous conditions for Nigerians, turning the rich and middle class to paupers while poor Nigerians have been turned to surviving in hell-like situations.

He said the government and its economic team have vindicated the CNG’s earlier statement on July 19 as the worst economic team that have completely destroyed the country’s ailing economy that have relegated Nigeria’s ranking from the first to fourth economy in Africa.

“Where are the reform benefits from the fuel subsidy removal, floating of the naira and increase in electricity tariff that had been implemented in the last one year apart from destitution and impoverishment?” he said.

The CNG insisted that the centralisation of import through Lagos alone must be discarded to allow for imports through “our Land borders such as Kwara, Borno, Kebbi and Katsina among others.”

“Similarly, the Government must complete/rehabilitate and operationalize Baro, Lokoja, Makurdi, Warri, Calabar and Onitsha Ports to enable the states to also take in some revenue as against the current system that centralizes everything in Lagos.

“The CNG also affirms that all the Inland Dry Ports in Kano, Aba, Ibadan, Jos, Katsina, Maiduguri and Kaduna must be quickly operationalized in the interests of equity, fairness and inclusion,” he said.

He commended the courageous position of Northern Governors Forum (NGF), National Economic Council (NEC), the Northern Council of Traditional Rulers and some members of the National Assembly who stood firm against this bill and equally urged other lawmakers to summon the courage and take bold decision against this unpopular policy.

“On the whole, the CNG urgently demands for the immediate suspension of these Tax Bills, so as to allow wider engagement and collect the input of critical stakeholders and the Nigerian citizens in general, towards implementing a more equitable, transparent and sustainable Tax administration reform in our country,” he said.

He called for continued funding for developmental agencies like TETFUND, NITDA, and NASENI saying they must be exempted from defunding or restructuring. He said these institutions are pillars of Nigeria’s educational, technological, and industrial progress, adding that undermining their financial base will derail critical national development objectives.

He said the government should halt the planned VAT increases and explore alternative revenue sources that do not add to the current hardships of ordinary Nigerians. He added that the reforms must undergo thorough consultations with all sub-nationals and key stakeholders, including civil society and educational institutions to ensure a consensus-driven approach.