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Atiku says increase in VAT would completely destroy Nigeria’s economy
Former vice president and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2023 general election, Atiku Abubakar, has condemned plans by the President Bola Tinubu administration to increase Value Added Tax.
In a statement Sunday, Atiku said the plan to raise VAT would be the last straw that would destroy Nigeria’s economy, adding that the current administration has continued to prove that it lacked capacity to improve the wellbeing of the people.
The statement said that increase in VAT is set to become the blazing inferno that will consume the very essence of our people.
He said that President Bola Tinubu, alongside his coterie of advisers, has resolved to raise the VAT rate from 7.5% to 10%, even as the NNPCL has announced a soaring PMS price increase at the pump.
This move, he said, unveils a new era of regressive and punitive policies, and its impact is destined to deepen the domestic cost-of-living crisis and exacerbate Nigeria’s already fragile economic growth.
He said- “President Tinubu and his entourage seem to be resorting to their familiar tactic: heaping burdens upon the impoverished while steadfastly ignoring their extravagant excesses! Tinubu’s actions reflect a profound insensitivity to the plight of the less fortunate as he indulges in the opulent renovation of villas and the acquisition of new jets and vehicles for himself and his family.
“One need not be an economist to grasp the ominous implications of President Tinubu’s ill-conceived policies for Nigeria’s future. The relentless rise in taxes and interest rates has proven excessively onerous, debilitating businesses of all sizes and leading to job losses while intensifying the suffering of the poor. The manufacturing sector, in particular, has endured relentless strife since Tinubu’s ascendancy, with its contribution to the GDP diminishing by over 20% since December 2023, as reported by the NBS.
“In early August, Tinubu turned his attention to agriculture. As is customary with this administration, a new policy was clandestinely formulated and announced, permitting duty-free importation of agricultural commodities such as wheat, maize, and paddy, despite vehement opposition from farmer groups nationwide. This policy poses a grave threat to Nigeria’s food security ambitions, as local farmers, facing unfair competition from low-cost producers in Asia, Europe, and America, are compelled to reduce or entirely abandon their production efforts. It jeopardizes job creation, wealth generation, and the sector’s long-term prosperity, casting a shadow over Nigeria’s sustainability and development.
“President Tinubu and his advisers would be wise to redirect their efforts towards crafting sustainable solutions to the systemic shocks afflicting the economy rather than compounding the crisis with measures destined to ignite further turmoil.”
The Nigerian Police has said Sunday Igboho was not involved in recent rescue operations of the abduction victims in Igboho community.
It would be recalled that a video went viral on Saturday where community members trooped out in their hundreds to celebrate and glorify Igboho, attributing a recent release of abducted villager to his stern warning to kidnapper to free abductees or face his wrath.
But the police has officially debunked claims that the hostages have been safely released. Furthermore, the Oyo State Commissioner of Police has denied that Sunday Igboho was involved in recent rescue operations.
Yhe Oyo State Police Command dismissed these claims as unsubstantiated, urging the public to rely only on official channels rather than social media rumors. The police also clarified they have no evidence of Igboho’s participation in successful rescue efforts.
Sir Siminalayi Fubara, the Governor of Rivers State, has extolled the virtues of unconditional love and immeasurable sacrifice as the defining hallmarks of fatherhood and the bedrock upon which families and society are built.
In a goodwill message to commemorate the 2026 Father’s Day celebration, Governor Fubara paid glowing tributes to fathers for serving as the pillars that hold families together and, by extension, strengthen communities across Rivers State and Nigeria.
According to a statement by Onwuka Nzechi, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor on Media, Fubara noted that across the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State, fathers labour daily to provide for their families despite the economic and social challenges confronting the nation. According to him, Father’s Day is a special occasion set aside to honour the quiet love and selfless sacrifices that fathers make across generations and throughout the world.
“A father’s love is quiet strength. It is the man who leaves home before dawn and returns after dusk so his children can eat and go to school. It is the man who denies himself so his family can have. It is the firm hand that corrects and the open arms that forgive. That love is the invisible thread that holds our homes together, and that sacrifice is the foundation of our society.
“I have seen fathers labour under the sun, paddle through floods and endure hardship, all so that the next generation will have a better chance than they did. That is heroism without medals,” he said.
Governor Fubara emphasised that when fathers stand, families stand; when families stand, communities stand; and when communities stand, Rivers State stands. He stressed that responsible fatherhood produces stable homes, while responsible sons and daughters help to build peaceful neighbourhoods, harmonious communities and a prosperous state.
The Governor pledged that his administration would continue to draw inspiration from the resilience and sacrifices of fathers in building a Rivers State worthy of their commitment and labour.
He prayed that God would grant every father, grandfather, uncle, guardian and mentor good health, strength and long life to enjoy the fruits of their labour.
Father’s Day, celebrated in Nigeria and many countries around the world on the third Sunday of June, highlights the invaluable contributions of fathers to the family and society at large.
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has announced plans to establish a special court to fast-track the prosecution of suspected kidnappers and cultists in the state.
He said anyone convicted by the special courts would face public execution, adding that he would not hesitate to sign their execution order
He spoke in Benin during the parade of suspected kidnappers and cultists arrested by the Edo State Police Command.
He warned residents against engaging in kidnapping and cult-related activities, saying such crimes would only lead to the loss of lives and property.
The governor said the proposed special court would become operational within the next few weeks to ensure speedy trial of suspects.
“We are setting up a special court to try kidnappers and cultists. In the next two or three weeks, it should be ready,” he said.
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