Officials of the Ogun State Government and community leaders hailed Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG) and NNPC Gas Marketing Limited (NGML) for their partnership in the reconstruction of a key community road that was commissioned on Thursday (April 3) in Ado – Odo Otta Local Government Area. The 4.5km Ilogbo road provides access to some 75 communities and was in a bad state until both companies who operate in the area intervened in support of the development of host communities.

“Today we celebrate more than just the completion of the road, we celebrate the building of connections that will improve lives and strengthen communities true to our administration’s vision,” said Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun who was represented by the Deputy Governor Noimot Salako-Oyedele at the commissioning. “Creating an enabling environment for business through effective public private partnerships remains central to our development efforts,” he said.

SNG Managing Director, Ralph Gbobo said: “The rehabilitated road is a testament to our shared commitment to enhance the quality of life for the people of Ogun State and our collaboration with NGML exemplifies our unified approach to community development. At SNG, we take pride in working alongside NGML to deliver real benefits to the people we serve.”

Managing Director NGML, Igwe Justin Ezeala expressed similar sentiments: “We pride ourselves in the fact that we look after the needs and the interests of all our stakeholders. We take pride in ensuring that those people who are close to us, those people, we relate to, that they feel the positive impact of the business activity that is taking place there. I believe that Ogun State is not an exception,” he said in remarks delivered by the Executive Director Gas Distribution, Lawrence Chukwu.

The Olota of Otta-Awori Kingdom, Oba Abdulkabir Obalenlege, represented by the Aro of Ota Ezekiel Fadipe expressed gratitude to the sponsors of the project and commended them for involving artisans and other community labour in the construction process.

SNG has operated in Ogun State for over 20 years, setting up a thriving natural gas distribution business in the Agbara and Otta areas. The supply of gas to industries has promoted industrialisation, created employment opportunities and increased internally generated revenue in the State. The reconstruction of Ilogbo road presents an extension of these benefits, as it will open pathways for trade, connect local businesses to broader markets and ultimately contribute to the economic development of the community and its neighbours.

Indications that National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) may soon grant relief to Mr Joachim Egerue in his case challenging alleged illegal termination of his appointment by the Federal University Teaching Hospital Owerri, Imo State emerged when the accused persons, institutions and their defense councils failed to put up appearance at the court. The Chief Medical Director of Federal University Teaching Hospital, Owerri formerly known as Federal Medical Centre Owerri (FMC) Dr. Kinsley Ihedioha Achigbu, the Minister of Health and Federal University Teaching Hospital, Owerri among others are defendants to the case which is before NICN, Owerri, Imo State.

The defendants to the alleged unlawful termination of appointments of Mr. Joachim Egerue, a former staff of the institution, were absent in court even as they failed to file their defense for substantive hearing despite the directive of Hon. Justice N.C. Ogbonnaya, the Presiding Judge of National Industrial Court, sitting in Owerri.

It would be recalled that Mr Joachim Egerue, a former staff of the institution, had dragged the defendants to court in suit no NICN/OW/32/2025, for unlawful termination of his job based on audit report of the dental unit where he worked. According to him, the audit was carried out without his knowledge or involvement; an exercise his lawyer Dr. Barr. Chris Nwadigo described as ”a witch-hunting special audit report of Dental Store of Dec, 2020″.

At the last hearing, the counsel to the defendants, Barr Franklin Ninis, had argued that Federal University Teaching Hospital, Owerri, one of the defendants, formerly known as Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, before its conversion, has no,”Juristic personality to be sued”, because according to him, it has not been gazetted, asserting also that the NICN has no powers to declare declaratory reliefs.

The Judge who lectured the counsel on the inherent powers of the court, described his argument as “lack of intellectual diligence”, and directed him to file his defence for substantive hearing of the substantive case adjourned till March 28. It was therefore surprising that on the adjourned date, none of the defendants, nor their counsels were present in court.

The complainant Mr Joachim Egerue is praying the court to order his re-instatement to his position with attendant arrears of promotion or in the alternatively order direct the Defendants jointly and severally to pay the sum of N200 million as Special damages to the Claimant being the salaries, allowances, emoluments, benefits etc. which the Claimant should have earned from July, 2021 when his appointment was wrongly terminated to 2035 which would have been his retirement age.

Joachim Egerue is asking the court to order the Defendants jointly and severally to pay his arrears of salaries, allowances, emoluments, benefits etc. from March 2021 until judgment is delivered and thereafter, interest thereon at the banking rate of interest until the judgment sum is fully liquidated.

The other prayers are order directing the Defendants jointly and severally to pay N250 million as General damages and compensation for flagrant and unlawful termination of appointment/employment, an order directing the Defendants jointly and severally to pay N75 million as aggravated, exemplary and punitive damages for flagrant and unlawful termination of the Claimant’s appointment/employment

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) affirmed its support for the proposed reforms of the act establishing the free trade zones in Nigeria.

In a statement by the Director-General of the Association, Mr. Segun Ajayi-Kadiri, made available to press, the operators in the zones are expected to produce for export and not for the local market.

According to the DG,  “It is important for us to situate this conversation within the context of what export processing zones and export free trade zones were created to achieve and the value they are purposed to deliver to the economy.

“It is clear from the enabling laws and in the 3rd Schedule to the NEPZA Act with the first listed approved activity stated as “manufacturing of goods for export”, while other activities relate to international services, transshipment and services within the zones. The emphasis here is “within the zones. For instance, banking is listed as an approved activity but it does not mean that a bank can set up in the zone and render banking services across Nigeria without paying taxes, rather it refers to banking within the zone and exports. So, this should explain how other activities (apart from manufacturing for export) should be viewed.”

The DG pointed out that the concern of members and the contention are obviously pertaining to tax incentives, which  Section 8 spelt out that exemption from taxes only applies to approved enterprises operating within a Zone.

He expressed that they are exempted from all Federal, State and Local Government taxes, levies and rates, saying sales to the customs territory is neither an approved activity nor is it within the zone.

“However, section 18 permits the sale of goods and services to the customs territory, but this does not confer tax exemption on the sales, but rather a regulatory matter regarding what is permissible.

“Over time, the provisions of sections 8 and 18 have been misinterpreted as not only permitting the sale into the customs territory but also as tax exemption.

“So again, I say this is where the concern of my members and the contention lies: This position is not consistent with the law and it undermines tax-paying entities operating within the customs territory and producing similar goods and services. Where does the tax exemption enjoyed by the companies operating within the zones, leave my more than 2,500 members who operate outside the zone, in terms of level playing field, competitiveness, fairness and equity? They find themselves in a disadvantage position and are rendered less competitive.

“I believe that the tax reform bill before the National Assembly has actually come to the rescue. The bill seeks to bring clarity and equity by stating that sales to the customs territory are taxable, not just for import duties and VAT, but also CIT purposes. That is to say that all sellers in the customs territory should be subject to the same tax obligations.

“Subsequently, I don’t think the relevant provisions of the tax reform bill amount to a reversal of the incentives, not at all.

“It is actually a clarification to align with the intent and letters of the enabling laws. This is in line with global best practice for free zones. In fact, Nigeria will continue to be more generous even after the proposed amendments. An example that is not farfetched is the situation in nearby Ghana. Ghana only allows up to 30% sales into the customs territory subject to payment of duties and taxes, including CIT. Whereas we allow 100% sales. Exports by a zone entity are tax-free only for 10 years after which up to 8% CIT will apply. Nigeria offers indefinite tax exemption on exports.” The DG stressed.

He emphasised that the proposed reform will ensure equitable tax treatment for companies operating in the customs territory and those licensed to operate within the free zones with respect to sales into the customs territory, thereby enabling fair competition while protecting the country’s tax base.

“Licensed entities will also enjoy similar incentives available to entities within the customs territory with respect to their sale of goods and services into the Customs Territory, a win-win outcome.” Ajayi-Kadiri averred.