Business

Keyamo: Flying Nigeria’s Aviation Sector To New Heights* By Cletus Agada

Published

2 years ago

January 21, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Aviation Unions Commend Keyamo Over Relocation of FAAN Headquarters to Lagos

Keyamo: Flying Nigeria’s Aviation Sector To New Heights

By Cletus Agada

It is no longer news that the honourable Minister of Aviation, Mr. Festus Keyamo, S.A.N. directed that the headquarters of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) be relocated back to Lagos. This directive was not difficult to comply with because the Abuja Headquarters status was just on paper as the day-to-day administrative and operational activities of the agency have always been carried out from Lagos.

A statement by Mrs. Obiageli Orah, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection of the agency, said those affected by the decision have since returned to Lagos as there is no office space for them in Abuja That was even before the relocation order of the Honourable Minister was effected.

The question begging for an answer is how a critical, hands-on agency like FAAN relocated to a new city without first making provisions for adequate offices to accommodate her working staff. The second paragraph of Mrs. Orah’s statement should draw the attention of all men of conscience as it brings to mind how important government decisions are taken just to satisfy a few.

With an agency as technical as FAAN, decisions are supposed to go through some laid-down procedures, and the input of industry stakeholders is sought at all times but this never seems to have been done in this particular case.

In her widely circulated statement, Mrs Orah said; “Having returned to Lagos, the Authority would be liable to pay them DTA (DUTY TOUR ALLOWANCE) because technically they are working OUT OF STATION as their official posting is to ABUJA. The Minister has decided to stop this waste of public resources and rip-off on the public purse”.

This shows that the relocation of the Headquarters to Abuja was a very crafty way to line the pockets of some fat cats and big men in the agency who will be living their normal lives and working from the comfort of their offices in Lagos while smiling to the bank through claims of estacodes and other travelling allowances as Lagos would have been designated as an out-station when in a real sense, it is the actual corporate headquarters. Thankfully, the Honourable Minister intervened.

I believe this must have pricked the conscience of Keyamo. As someone who spent his early childhood going about with his father, a Jehovah’s Witness faithful; sharing tracks, handbills, and newsletters to the public for free, Mr. Keyamo was tutored in the act of bringing the ‘gospel’ to the doorsteps from infant and the aviation gospel is now beginning to feel the impact of this activist in government. This background could also be partly responsible for Mr. Keyamo’s vast knowledge in fields assumed to be strange to him and his strength in approaching every argument from an informed position, always quoting facts and figures to buttress his points.

For a man who began his professional legal practice at the Law Firm of the erudite social critic and rights activist, the Late Chief Gani Fawahinmi, Keyamo has found it difficult to divorce himself from the crusade for prudence and cost savings in government. To think that he can continue to cohabit with the wrongs of the past is like asking an architect to live in a house built on quicksand. I’m sure wherever Chief Fawehinmi is watching from right now, he would certainly be proud of the man Mr Keyamo has become.

The Bible says “When the foundation is faulty, what can the righteous do?”. Mr Keyamo is now providing an answer to this age-long question as a faulty foundation needs to be destroyed and a new one laid. For efficient and effective service delivery, a new solid base is needed to accommodate the realities of today and the dreams for tomorrow in the country’s aviation industry and that’s exactly what the Honourable Minister is doing.

An outspoken man and a fierce lawyer, Mr Keyamo who served as the Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Employment under the immediate past administration, shocked his former colleagues in his speech during the valedictory session by President Mohammadu Buhari to thank his Ministers and those who served in his government. Taking to the microphone with great confidence, Mr Keyamo who was first appointed as Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs before being redeployed said the position of Minister of State was unconstitutional.

He explained that it is difficult to rate the performances of Ministers of State since their prudence was shackled with that of the substantive Ministers as any original ideas developed have to pass through the table of another colleague in the cabinet before they can sail through for consideration by Council.

If Mr Keyamo had any regret as Minister of State or an unimplemented policy during his time playing second fiddle in the office, God answered his prayers through President Bola Tinubu and allowed him to showcase and distinguish himself as a top-notch administrator and policy expert and so far, he has not betrayed the trust nor abused the confidence of Mr. President.

The laudable plans by the Minister as contained in the statement by Mrs Orah to get concessionaires to build befitting offices for the Authority in Lagos and Abuja must be commended. Over time, estate developers and rent-seekers have continued to connive with agencies of the federal government to milk the public purse through inflated rent bills that under normal circumstances, are big enough to erect permanent structures of a high standard for those agencies.

The aviation sector in the country today can be said to be in safe hands with Mr. Keyamo as Minister because he has proven himself to be a team player, ready to listen and work with expert opinions while building capacity across the board. He has put everyone concerned with the safety of our airspace on their toes and strived to rid the industry of indolence. The relocation of the FAAN Corporate Headquarters to Abuja in the first case was intended to encourage highly trained personnel to roam about without an office or equipment to work with.

It would be recalled that barely one month to the expiration of the tenure of the last administration of President Mohammadu Buhari in May 2023, the then Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika ordered the relocation of some aviation agencies from the Muritala Mohammed International Airport Lagos for their office buildings to be demolished and pave way for the construction of an acropolis. If the idea is a developmental step worthy of commendation, the right thing to do would have been to find another befitting structure to accommodate those agencies rendering critical services in the aviation industry within the city.

The proximity of these services to the Lagos Keyamo: *Flying Nigeria’s Aviation To New Heights*

By Cletus Agada

It is no longer news that the honorable Minister of Aviation, Mr. Festus Keyamo, S.A.N directed that the headquarters of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) be relocated back to Lagos. This directive was not difficult to comply with because the Abuja Headquarters status was just on paper as the day-to-day administrative and operational activities of the agency have always been carried out from Lagos.

A statement by Mrs. Obiageli Orah, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection of the agency, said those affected by the decision have since returned to Lagos as there is no office space for them in Abuja. That was even before the relocation order of the Honourable Minister was effected.

The proximity of these services to the Lagos airport which handles more than 50% of aviation passenger traffic in Nigeria daily should have been a thing to consider in relocating the agency. It was for this singular reason the Obasanjo administration relocated the Nigerian Shippers Council out of Abuja back to Lagos even after they had built a magnificent structure in the nation’s capital to accommodate their services.

The decision to demolish those structures and relocate the agencies to Abuja didn’t bode well with labour unions in the aviation sector and they embarked on an industrial strike to drive home their point. The Senate of the 9th Assembly quickly tried to intervene and ordered a stop to all activities pending a comprehensive investigation by its standing committee on aviation but a defiant Sirika, himself a former senator called a bluff of his colleagues and in a press conference after the Federal Executive Council Meeting on May 3, 2023, insisted that there was no going back and the demolition must continue.

Time and chance have now changed that. The building housing FAAN and other sister agencies in Lagos won’t be demolished immediately because there’s a new sheriff in town. Hopely, the design of the structures to house the proposed acropolis would also make provisions for agencies like FAAN to operate within, even if that would entail adding additional floors to what was originally proposed.

Mrs. Orah concluded by saying “The Honourable Minister is committed to making decisions that are in the best interest of the country, especially as it concerns public funds, and will not yield to ethnic or sectional sentiments that will derail this commitment”.

I can attest to this fact. This decision is in the best interest of Nigerians, and what Mr Keyamo needs is a pat on the back for a job well done.
We need many more Keyamos in places of authority. Those who are bold and fearless with clean hands and a clear conscience. That is the surest way to move Nigeria forward and achieve the renewed hope agenda of Mr. President and the APC.

Agada wrote this piece from Abuja. handles more than 50% of aviation passenger traffic in Nigeria daily should have been a thing to consider in relocating the agency. It was for this singular reason the Obasanjo administration relocated the Nigerian Shippers Council out of Abuja back to Lagos even after they had built a magnificent structure in the nation’s capital to accommodate their services.

I can attest to this fact. This decision is in the best interest of Nigerians and what Mr Keyamo needs is a pat on the back for a job well done.
We need many more Keyamos in places of authority. Those who are bold and fearless with clean hands and a clear conscience. That is the surest way to move Nigeria forward and achieve the renewed hope agenda of Mr President and the APC.

Agada wrote this piece from Abuja.

Business

Deadline of Compliance: Nigeria’s Urgent Call for Tax Return Filing

Published

35 minutes ago

February 1, 2026

Sahara Weekly

Deadline of Compliance: Nigeria’s Urgent Call for Tax Return Filing

By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com

“Shift or Structural Demand? A Declaration of Civic Duty in a Nation at a Fiscal Crossroads.”

In the unfolding narrative of national development and economic reform, few instruments are as defining as tax compliance. For Nigeria, a nation perpetually grappling with revenue shortfalls, structural dependency on a single export commodity, and entrenched informal economic behaviour, the Federal Government’s recent clarification on tax return deadlines is not mere bureaucratic noise. It is a deliberate and inescapable declaration: the social contract between citizen and state must be honoured through transparent, lawful and timely tax reporting.

At its core, the government’s pronouncement is stark in its simplicity and radical in its implications. Federal authorities, speaking through the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, have made it unequivocally clear that every Nigerian, whether employer or individual taxpayer, must file annual tax returns under the law. This encompasses self-assessment filings by individuals that too many assumed ended once employers deducted pay-as-you-earn taxes from their salaries.

This is not an optional civic suggestion, it is mandatory, backed by statute, and tied to a broader vision of national fiscal responsibility. Citizens can no longer hide behind ignorance, apathy, or false assumptions. “Many people assume that if their employer deducts tax from their salaries, their obligations end there. That is wrong,” Oyedele warned, emphasizing that the obligation to file remains with the individual under both existing and newly reformed tax laws.

The Deadlines and the Reality They Reveal.
Across the federation, state and federal revenue authorities have reaffirmed statutory deadlines in pursuit of compliance. The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, for instance, moved to extend its filing date for employer returns by a narrow window, reflecting the reality that compliance often lags behind legal timelines. The extension was intended not as leniency, but as a pragmatic effort to allow accurate and complete submissions, underscoring that true compliance rises above mere mechanical ticking of a box.

At the federal level, Oyedele’s intervention was even more fundamental. He reminded Nigerians that annual tax returns for the preceding year must be filed in good faith, with integrity and in respect of the law. This applies regardless of income level including low-income earners who have historically believed that they are outside the tax net. “All of us must file our returns, including those earning low income,” he stated.

Herein lies one of the most challenging truths of contemporary Nigerian governance: widespread tax non-compliance is not just a technical breach of law, it is a deep cultural and structural issue that reflects decades of mistrust between citizens and the state.

The Root of the Problem: Non-Compliance as a Symptom.
Nigeria’s tax culture has long been under scrutiny. Public discourse and economic analysis consistently show that a significant majority of eligible taxpayers do not file annual returns. Oyedele highlighted that even in states widely regarded as tax administration leaders, compliance remains strikingly low, often below five percent.

This widespread non-compliance stems from multiple sources:

A long history of weak tax administration systems, where enforcement was inconsistent and penalties were rarely applied.

A perception that public services do not reflect the taxes collected, eroding the citizenry’s belief in reciprocity.

An informal economy where income often goes unrecorded, making filing seem irrelevant or impossible to many.

Lack of awareness, with many Nigerians genuinely believing that tax liability ends with employer deductions.

The government’s renewed push for compliance directly challenges these perceptions. It signals a shift from voluntary or lax compliance to structured accountability, a stance that aligns with best practices in modern public finance.

Why This Matters: Beyond Deadlines.
At its most profound level, the insistence on tax return filings is about nation-building and shared responsibility.

Scholars of public finance universally agree that a robust tax system is the backbone of sustainable development. As the eminent economist Dr. Joseph E. Stiglitz has observed, “A society that cannot mobilize its own resources through fair taxation undermines both its government’s legitimacy and its capacity to provide for its people.” Filing tax returns is not a mere administrative task, it is a declaration of participation in the collective project of national advancement.

In Nigeria’s context, this declaration carries weight. With the enactment of comprehensive tax reforms in recent years (including unified frameworks for tax administration and enforcement) authorities now possess broader statutory tools to ensure compliance and accountability. These measures, which include electronic filing platforms and stronger enforcement powers, have been framed as fair and equitable, targeting efficiency rather than arbitrariness.

Yet the success of these reforms depends heavily on citizens embracing their civic duties with sincerity. And this depends on mutual trust, the belief that paying taxes yields tangible benefits in infrastructure, education, healthcare, security and social services.

Voices From Experts: Fiscal Responsibility as a Public Ethic.
Tax law experts and economists, reflecting on the compliance push, have underscored a universal theme: taxation without transparency is inequity, but taxation with accountability is empowerment. When managed with fairness, a functional tax system can reduce dependency on volatile revenue sources, stabilise national budgets, and support long-term investment in human capital.

Professor Aisha Bello, a respected authority in fiscal policy, notes that “Tax compliance is not a burden; it is the foundation upon which social contracts are built. A citizen who honours tax obligations affirms the legitimacy of governance and demands better performance in return.”

Similarly, a leading tax scholar, Dr. Emeka Okon, argues that “The era when Nigerians could evade broader tax responsibilities simply because automatic deductions occur at source must end. For a modern economy, every eligible citizen must be part of the formal tax fold not as victims, but as stakeholders.”

These authoritative voices point to an unassailable truth: filing tax returns is both a legal requirement and a moral responsibility, an expression of citizenship in its fullest sense.

Challenges on the Ground: Compliance and Capacity.
While the rhetoric of compliance is compelling, the reality on the ground demands nuanced understanding. Many taxpayers (especially in the informal sector) lack meaningful access to digital platforms and resources for filing returns. For others, the fear of bureaucratic complexity and perceived punitive enforcement deters participation.

The government, for its part, has responded by promoting online systems and pledging greater taxpayer support. Tax authorities are increasingly engaging stakeholders to demystify filing processes, explain requirements and offer assistance. This mix of enforcement and facilitation is essential. As one seasoned revenue specialist observed: “The state cannot compel compliance through force alone; it must earn it through education, simplicity and fairness.”

The Broader Implication: A New Social Compact.
Ultimately, Nigeria’s renewed emphasis on tax return filing transcends administrative deadlines. It is an unequivocal declaration that national development is a shared responsibility, that citizens and state must engage in a transparent, accountable, and reciprocal relationship.

Tax compliance, therefore, becomes far more than a legal act; it becomes a moral claim on the nation’s future.

When citizens file their returns honestly, they affirm their stake in the nation’s destiny. When the government collects taxes transparently and deploys them effectively, it strengthens not only public services but civic trust itself.

In this sense, the deadlines proclaimed by Nigeria’s fiscal authorities mark not an end but a beginning; the beginning of a civic epoch in which accountability replaces apathy, participation replaces indifference and national purpose triumphs over fragmentation.

The road ahead will not be easy. But in demanding compliance, Nigeria is demanding more than tax returns. It is demanding commitment and that, ultimately, is the foundation on which nations are built.

Business

BUA Foods Records 91% Surge in Profit After Tax, Hits ₦508bn in 2025

Published

3 days ago

January 29, 2026

Sahara Weekly

BUA Foods Records 91% Surge in Profit After Tax, Hits ₦508bn in 2025

By femi Oyewale

BUA Foods Plc has delivered one of the most impressive financial performances in Nigeria’s fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, recording a 91 per cent increase in Profit After Tax (PAT) for the 2025 financial year.

According to the company’s unaudited financial results for the year ended December 31, 2025, Profit After Tax rose sharply to ₦508 billion, compared with ₦266 billion recorded in 2024, underscoring strong operational efficiency, improved cost management, and resilience despite a challenging macroeconomic environment.

The near-doubling of profit reflects BUA Foods’ ability to navigate rising input costs, foreign exchange volatility, and inflationary pressures that weighed heavily on manufacturers throughout the year. Analysts note that the performance places the company among the strongest earnings growers on the Nigerian Exchange in 2025.

The company’s Q4 2025 performance further highlights this momentum. Group turnover stood at ₦383.4 billion, while gross profit came in at ₦151.5 billion, demonstrating sustained demand across its core product lines including sugar, flour, pasta, and rice.

Despite a year marked by higher operating costs across the industry, BUA Foods maintained disciplined spending. Administrative and selling expenses were kept under control relative to revenue, helping to protect margins.

Operating profit for Q4 2025 stood at ₦126.9 billion, reinforcing the company’s strong core earnings capacity. Although finance costs and foreign exchange losses remained a factor, reflecting the broader economic realities, BUA Foods still closed the period with a Net Profit Before Tax of ₦102.3 billion for the quarter.

Earnings Per Share Rise Sharply

Shareholders were among the biggest beneficiaries of the strong performance. Earnings Per Share (EPS) rose significantly, reflecting the substantial growth in net income and strengthening the company’s investment appeal.

Market watchers say the improved earnings profile could support sustained investor confidence, especially as the company continues to consolidate its leadership position in Nigeria’s food manufacturing space.

BUA Foods Records 91% Surge in Profit After Tax, Hits ₦508bn in 2025

By femi Oyewale

Industry Leadership Amid Economic Headwinds

BUA Foods’ 2025 results stand out against a backdrop of currency depreciation, energy cost spikes, and logistics challenges that constrained many manufacturers. The company’s scale, backward integration strategy, and local sourcing advantages are widely seen as key contributors to its resilience.

Outlook

With a 91% year-on-year growth in PAT, BUA Foods enters 2026 on a strong footing. Analysts expect the company to remain a major driver of growth in the consumer goods sector, provided macroeconomic stability improves and cost pressures ease.

For now, the 2025 numbers send a clear signal: BUA Foods is not only growing—it is accelerating.

Business

Adron Homes Unveils “Love for Love” Valentine Promo with Exciting Discounts, Luxury Gifts, and Travel Rewards

Published

3 days ago

January 29, 2026

Sahara Weekly

Adron Homes Unveils “Love for Love” Valentine Promo with Exciting Discounts, Luxury Gifts, and Travel Rewards

In celebration of the season of love, Adron Homes and Properties has announced the launch of its special Valentine campaign, “Love for Love” Promo, a customer-centric initiative designed to reward Nigerians who choose to express love through smart, lasting real estate investments.

The Love for Love Promo offers clients attractive discounts, flexible payment options, and an array of exclusive gift items, reinforcing Adron Homes’ commitment to making property ownership both rewarding and accessible. The campaign runs throughout the Valentine season and applies to the company’s wide portfolio of estates and housing projects strategically located across Nigeria.

Speaking on the promo, the company’s Managing Director, Mrs Adenike Ajobo, stated that the initiative is aimed at encouraging individuals and families to move beyond conventional Valentine gifts by investing in assets that secure their future. According to the company, love is best demonstrated through stability, legacy, and long-term value—principles that real estate ownership represents.

Under the promo structure, clients who make a payment of ₦100,000 receive cake, chocolates, and a bottle of wine, while those who pay ₦200,000 are rewarded with a Love Hamper. Payments of ₦500,000 attract a Love Hamper plus cake, and clients who pay ₦1,000,000 enjoy a choice of a Samsung phone or a Love Hamper with cake.

The rewards become increasingly premium as commitment grows. Clients who pay ₦5,000,000 receive either an iPad or an all-expenses-paid romantic getaway for a couple at one of Nigeria’s finest hotels, which includes two nights’ accommodation, special treats, and a Love Hamper. A payment of ₦10,000,000 comes with a choice of a Samsung Z Fold 7, three nights at a top-tier resort in Nigeria, or a full solar power installation.

For high-value investors, the Love for Love Promo delivers exceptional lifestyle experiences. Clients who pay ₦30,000,000 on land are rewarded with a three-night couple’s trip to Doha, Qatar, or South Africa, while purchasers of any Adron Homes house valued at ₦50,000,000 receive a double-door refrigerator.

The promo covers Adron Homes’ estates located in Lagos, Shimawa, Sagamu, Atan–Ota, Papalanto, Abeokuta, Ibadan, Osun, Ekiti, Abuja, Nasarawa, and Niger States, offering clients the opportunity to invest in fast-growing, strategically positioned communities nationwide.

Adron Homes reiterated that beyond the incentives, the campaign underscores the company’s strong reputation for secure land titles, affordable pricing, strategic locations, and a proven legacy in real estate development.

As Valentine’s Day approaches, Adron Homes encourages Nigerians at home and in the diaspora to take advantage of the Love for Love Promo to enjoy exceptional value, exclusive rewards, and the opportunity to build a future rooted in love, security, and prosperity.