•Tweaks multiple taxation, harmonises revenue collections
Olawale Ajimotokan and Sunday Aborisade in Abuja
The Minister of FCT Nyesom Wike will, today, flag off the rehabilitation of 51 road projects in the Asokoro District, Abuja, as part of commitment to the maintenance and optimisation of public infrastructure as well as ensuring the seamless functioning of essential services in the city.
According to a statement by the Director of Press, Office of FCT Minister, Anthony Ogunleye, the comprehensive road rehabilitation targets improving accessibility, traffic flow, and overall urban aesthetics of the Asokoro District, known for its significance and strategic importance in the city.
Meanwhile, the FCTA has said it was working with the six area councils and the FCT internal Revenue Service to harmonise revenue collection in the FCT.
It explained that the purpose of the collaboration was to ensure that small and medium scale enterprises in the capital city are no longer experiencing multiple taxation.
The flag-off ceremony of the road rehabilitation project will take place at the AYA roundabout in Asokoro by 12 noon.
The streets to be rehabilitated include, Abdoul Diouf Street, Akenzua Street, Gado Nasko Close, Gnassingbe Eyadema Street, Haile Selassie Street, Julius Nyerere Crescent, Justice Roseline Ukeje Close, Kwame Nkrumah Crescent and Kyari Mohammed Crescent.
Others include River Yambo Street, Maitama Sule Street, Nelson Mandela Street, Patrice Lumumba Street, Samora Machel Street, Siaka Steven Street, Udo Udoma Street, Ukpabi Asika Street, Williams Tolbert Close, Yakubu Gowon Crescent, Aya Ramp, Aya Roundabout, Usman Fodio Crescent, Yakubu Gowon Crescent, Muhammadu Ribadu Street, J. F. Kennedy Street, Ali Akilu Crescent, Ibrahim Taiwo Street and Justice G. Sowemimo Street/Jose Marti Crescent.
Other locations outside Asokoro include: Burundi Street, Cabinda Street, Damba Close, Ndande Crescent, Suez Crescent, Lumsar Street, Addis Ababa Street, Manzini Street, Benghazi Street, Manapulane +Casamance Street, Bamenda Street, Lukulu Street, Kamina Street, Tamale Street, Matadi Street, Algeria Street, ASBA / Dantata Street, Off Ring Road-2, Queen Elizebeth Street and Gashua Close, Area-8, Garki.
The statement described the initiative as a testament to the minister’s dedication to ensuring that public infrastructure was not only developed but also meticulously maintained to meet the evolving needs of the city.
On the revenue harmonization front, the Permanent Secretary of FCT, Mr. Olusade Adesola, stated this yesterday at the annual Leadership summit of the Princeton Leadership Forum in Abuja.
Adesola said the arrangement was achieving great results following a meeting held in Akure in April where the Area Councils supported the initiative.
He said the FCT Internal Revenue Service is driving the process and that the impact would soon be felt.
He said that the administration under Nyesom Wike was committed to creating enabling environment for entrepreneurs and business owners in the FCT.
He stressed that more attention would be placed on human resources development and financial empowerment of Nigerian youths.
Adesola insisted that the level of development of any nation depends solemnly on the degree of the human resources department of its nation
He said, “When a nation improves the financial, literary and socio-economic situation of its citizenry, it without a doubt develops thinkers, philosophers, entrepreneurs and innovators to solve age old problems which conventional methods have failed to address.
“Experience has shown government’s limitations as an employer of labour and therefore the gap needs to be filled by the private sector, and in particular, the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
“These MSMEs are often than not, the product of an entrepreneurial mind in action.”
The President of the Princeton Leadership Forum and Convener of the summit, Dr. Chibuike Echem, said the group was geared with the responsibility of training individuals, especially youths with leadership passion for future tasks.
Echem further added that Nigeria’s major challenge is lack of trained leaders, saying that narratives can’t change until those in the political space stop seeing it as their birthright.
“The achievement of national development requires financial empowerment of individuals through gainful employment” Echem stressed.
On his part, former chief of staff to the Imo State government, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu, said entrepreneurs and innovators play in important roles in the development of any economy.
Nwosu noted that Nigeria needs the assistance of entrepreneurs and innovators to be able to come out of the present situation.
“Judging the country that we are now, you know that the entrepreneurs are most needed. An entrepreneur is the only man that can provide jobs and it increase the economy of the nation” Nwosu emphasized
Awards were presented to 10 distinguished Nigerians who contributed meaningfully to the nation in their various fields.
This year’s annual summit drew participants from the private sectors both locally and globally, top government officials, entrepreneurs, captains of industries among others.
