Automobiles’ Import Levy Reduction will Reduce FG’s Revenue, Report Warns Policy contradicts BPE-led committee’s recommendation Peter Uzoho The federal government’s decision to slash import levy on cars, tractors and mass transit vehicles as stated in
the Finance Act 2020, will negatively affect the domestic automobile manufacturing industry and government revenue from duties and levies, a report by the Financial
Derivatives Company (FDC) has said. FDC, in its latest Monthly Economic Update obtained by THISDAY yesterday, also said the policy contradicted the
recommendation of a federal government’s committee, led by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), which in August 2020 had urged a sustained restriction by
tariff on automobiles imports that were being assembled in Nigeria in line with the National Automotive Industry Development Plan. In the Finance Act 2020, the
government provided for a reduction in the import levy on cars from 30 per cent to five per cent, import duty Continued on page 8
Buhari Pledges Nigeria's Commitment to Promotion of Good Governance... Page 5 Tuesday 19 January, 2021 Vol 26. No 9417. Price: N250
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FG Threatens Second Lockdown over Low Compliance with COVID-19 Protocols Says test not required for schools’ resumption CAN rolls out advisory on second wave of pandemic Our Correspondents The federal government yesterday warned of another lockdown if Nigerians continue to disregard nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) introduced to combat the spread of COVID-19. It also cautioned schools against demanding COVID-19 test results as a prerequisite for allowing in students, who
resumed studies yesterday. The resumption of schools was, however, characterised by low compliance with COVID-19 protocols in many states, THISDAY’s investigation has revealed. Also, as the nation grapples with the outbreak of the second wave of COVID-19, the Christian Association of Continued on page 9
Attacks on Kukah Unwarranted, Says Soyinka, Insists Christmas Homily Twisted Ejiofor Alike Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, yesterday defended Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Dr. Matthew Kukah, over his Christmas homily, saying the attacks on him by the federal government and some Islamic groups were unwarranted. Soyinka, in a statement, said he had studied the transcript as reported in the
media and found nothing in Kukah’s message that denigrated Islam as alleged by the Islamic groups. Kukah, in his Christmas homily had accused President Muhammadu Buhari of promoting northern hegemony, saying that there could have been a coup if a non-northern Muslim president had done a fraction of what Buhari did. Continued on page 8
VISIT TO THE PRESIDENT... President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday emphasised the commitment of Nigeria to the enthronement of democracy and good governance in Africa.
NLNG Blames Supply Deficit for Rising Price of Cooking as...Page 6