news
ALPHA BETA: The Un- celebrated Catalyst of Lagos Accelerated Development
Published
4 years agoon
In a few years time, I will, by the Grace of God, attain the biblical three scores and ten years age-wise. However, only twice have I witnessed in Lagos a crisis and carnage in the same proportion experienced last week.
First, I want to commiserate with the families and friends of those who lost their lives during the protest whilst wishing those injured a quick recovery.
The traumatic experience of last week is my motivation for writing this piece which is intended to caution political mis-informants and promoters of falsehood whom we should all be wary of and collectively condemn so that their unholy acts do not precipitate another crisis and carnage. Mis- information or falsehood instigates agitation with un-progressive and dire consequences.
Therefore, I have over the years developed the habit of conducting investigations on sensational news items or headlines in order to determine their veracity and consequently mould my decision or opinion on such issues. It is with my experienced investigative aptitude that I decided to focus today on the controversy surrounding the Lagos State Revenue Consultancy Firm called ALPHA BETA and ascertain the factual correctness or otherwise of the aspersions cast on the company.
There have been multiple written attacks on Alpha Beta.
The first, by a “Dr.” Bolaji Akinyemi who alleged that Alpha Beta is a conduit and in one paragraph stated the Firm is paid 10% commission of Lagos State tax revenue but only to state in the following paragraph that it is 15%. However, I would not delve into that as it has been thoroughly addressed by Dr. Akanni, a public affairs analyst in his subsequent article in which he described the self-acclaimed “Dr.” Bolaji Akinyemi’s statement as falsehood from an intellectually- ignorant Farmer with an unknown educational qualification whose stock- in- trade is mis- information conceived to satisfy the political or business interest of his paymasters.
The second, a group calling itself “The Concerned Lagos Youths” stated that Alpha Beta is paid N5Billion every month. My investigations revealed that the allegations is false and it is a mis- information as Alpha Beta’s commission varies per month and is computed monthly based on the Company’s verified contribution/performance to IGR for each month.
The third, Chief (Commodore) Ibiyinka Olabode George, the Atona Oodua of Yorubaland held a world press conference and claimed that he did not want to speak with any partisan badge but wanted to speak as an elder stateman and Atona Oodua of Yorubaland. Among other things, Chief Bode George said our Ethos and norms have broken down but he then went on to attack the person of Tinubu and followed by stating that Alpha Beta is a mysterious Company that has been collecting 15% of Lagos Tax Revenue and the company does not do anything to enhance Lagos StateTax Revenue but siphons trillions of Naira from the State coffers every year. He further stated that the State generates an IGR of N50Billion every month whilst N400Million is generated from the two toll gates daily.
As an investigative journalist, I embarked to unravel the veracity of these foregoing statements by the Atona (a person who leads others to the right path) of Yorubaland and found that Chief Bode George is actually Asina (a person who misleads others to the wrong path) of Yorubaland as he has mis-informed and misled not only the Yoruba people but all Nigerians and, indeed, the world by the many dishonest statements contained in his world press conference. Or how do we describe the actions of Chief George who at the commencement of the press conference said he would not be partisan but started by attacking Tinubu only for my investigation to reveal that Chief George has been obsessed with attacking Tinubu for the past 20 years.
If not because I am of Yoruba extraction and, therefore, respects Chief George as an elder in line with the dictates of our culture, from my findings, I would have described Chief (Commodore) Ibiyinka Olabode George as dishonest and misleading. Or how else would you describe a man who was “Landlord” in Kirikiri Prison for some years for contract splitting and inflated contracts as Chairman of Nigerian Ports Authority (Yes, the same Ports Authority that was burnt during the recent crisis and carnage) and who irresponsibly changes wives like one changes clothes – what moral justification does such a man have to guide or admonish anybody, especially the youths?
And now mis- informing Nigerians with easily detectable and illogical lies that Alpha Beta siphons trillions of Naira from Lagos State whereas the same Asina Bode George DISHONESTLY stated that Lagos State’s IGR is N50Billion per month (even though the average monthly IGR is about N35Billion) – Is N50Billion × 12 equals to NGN Trillions? Haba!!! Asina Bode George.
My investigation further revealed that his other allegations that Alpha Beta collects 15% of Lagos State Tax Revenue; that the two toll gates generate N400Million per day; that Alpha Beta does not do anything to enhance Lagos Revenue etc. are lies and mis- information conceived to re-ignite crisis in Lagos State specifically and Yorubaland in general.
Contrary to the lies and mis- information spread by Chief George, my investigation, supported by independent verification revealed the diverse resources deployed by Alpha Beta in executing their contract with Lagos State has over the years been critical to the accelerated growth of the State’s IGR and therefore resulted in the decisions of different Administrations in Lagos State over the years NOT TO CHANGE A WINNING TEAM – ALPHA BETA.
In addition to the over 500 quality staff members consisting of different professionals, Alpha Beta has provided complementary value added service to the State. Verified examples include but are not limited to:
Provision of products and services that help the government to capture data and bring more people into the tax bracket, automate billing and receipting for tracking and accuracy, reconcile accounts
Provision of database management support, reporting and analysis to aid decision making
Introduction of the first Electronic Tax Clearance Certificate in the state for taxpayers
Introduction of multiple channels of payment through strategic collaboration with banks, payment processors (PSSP, PTSP etc.) agent networks to ensure and aid convenient payment
Provision of interconnectivity between all the 50 Tax Stations and seventy three MDAs with wide area network (WAN) to aid online real-time communications and reporting amongst stakeholders
Development of the new tax administration system called (eTax) in collaboration with LIRS which enables online processing, brings more people into the tax bracket and increases the State revenue
Established a world class training center to train staff of LASG, collecting banks, agencies and MDAs on upgrades and continuous improvement of the system
Provision of value added customer service centers in nearly all the Tax Stations
Development of a suite of application for the tax revenue management of the Informal sector in conjunction with LIRS
Provision of automated revenue receipt through multiple channels as a verifiable proof of payment with security features to reduce errors and leakages, thereby promoting transparency and reliability
Provision of business advisory services to State Agencies leveraging research and data analytics to enhance policy development
Automation of major MDAs business processes to save costs, improve performance, eliminate manual processes and achieve seamless integration with centralised payment systems
Provision of IT equipments to support MDAs such as computers, printers, laptops, office appliances, internet connectivity, etc. to aid operations
Provision of logistical support for MDAs such as vehicles, support staff, fuel, training manuals, repairs and maintenance, etc. to enhance the quality of service delivered
Provision of an executive dashboard and report builder for senior management to enhance reporting and decision making
Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives that support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Entrepreneurs in capacity building and scaling their business which leads to the economic development of the State
It is therefore not surprising that Lagos State in 2020 has significantly grown development-wise from what it was in 1999 (before Alpha Beta was contracted to manage the IGR) with now qualitative rapid expansion, galaxy of quality infrastructure, modern social services and phenomenal growth in commerce from which the neighbourhood of Chief Bode George in Victoria Island is a beneficiary, business-promotion urban renewal of Lagos Island, the world- class Lekki City, as well as the construction of two modern bridges and a general hospital in “Dr.” Bolaji Akinyemi’s Agege and many other modern developments highlighting the rapidly expanding landscape of Lagos State.
Of course, the obvious catalyst for these rapid developments and mordenisation of Lagos State which has now placed the Economy of the State fifth in Africa and home to over 21 Million people is the accelerated growth of the State’s IGR powered by the silent ALPHA BETA.
Finally in order to ensure that the foregoing development of Nigeria’ s and, indeed, West Africa’s Commercial nerve-centre is not further destroyed, Chief Bode George and his cohorts should without further delay be arrested for dishonestly inciting people into another crisis and carnage as well as investigated as a suspect for sponsoring the recent carnage in Lagos State.
Chief Emmanuel Olowogbowo, a Veteran Media and Communications Analyst wrote this piece from Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria
Related
Sahara weekly online is published by First Sahara weekly international. contact [email protected]
You may like
news
Public Health Alert: The Dangers of Oko Oba Abattoir’s Unhygienic Conditions for Lagos Residents
Published
2 days agoon
November 3, 2024
Time was when the Oko Oba Abbatoir was the cynosure of all eyes.
The professionalism and neatness depicted by the Butchers and the distribution Unit of the Abbatoir was applauded by all.
Conveying the neatly packed Meats in an enclosed Van called ‘Eko Meat Van’ to various locations saw the Lagos State Government receiving accolades from opposition Parties, Lagosians alike for the initiative.
Years down the line, the once celebrated initiative has become a shadow of itself.
For a first timer visiting the Oko Oba Abbatoir, what greets the person is an offensive odour oozing from the Canals that passes behind the Abbatoir.
The stench is very strong. It fouls the air. It often even triggers breathing discomforts in people not used to such a sudden and unpleasant odour.
The drainage at the entrance of the facility is filthy. It is a major source of the pungent stench disturbing passersby and visitors to the abattoir.
This however poses health threats to Lagosians who inhale this offensive odour.
Aside the Canals, the environment of the Abbatoir is in a pathetic state, as dirt litters the environment with bloods of the butchered Cows stagnated at some potholes in the Abbatoir.
This is however unhygienic to the health of Lagosians who consume the Meats.
The safety of meat processed at Oko-Oba Abattoir, Agege, Lagos, has become a source of concern to beef consumers in the state owing to the unhygienic practices and poor sanitation that characterise meat processing at the facility.
Aside from the dirty drainage, the slaughter slabs where animals are slaughtered are not only dirty but also reek of the foul smell of cow dung as well as that of decomposing animal waste and blood.
The once upgraded processing equipment and units of the Abbatoir have become a shadow of itself.
Experts say poor handling of meat in abattoirs could lead to physical contamination, stressing that a situation where all manner of people accesses the slaughterhouse without check is inappropriate for a place where meat is processed for human consumption.
Investigation reveals that the handlers of the Abattoir are the one causing major problems by not allowing external body or professionals to handle the situation because of their selfish interest.
Moreso, it was also gathered that past administration has also put measures to salvage the situation but all to know avail as the activities of the centre is allegedly run by one family.
The said family is been alleged to be sabotaging the efforts of the Lagos State Government in changing the narratives in this regard, by monopolizing the administration of Abbatoir.
Sources who are in the know of the politicking happening at the Abbatoir that has made it leveraging on its past glory, say that if other Companies are saddled with the responsibilities of maintaining the Abbatoir, there will be drastic changes in the affairs of the Abbatoir, that will be a far cry from its present state.
It was also gathered that the Sub Concessionaire approved by the Ministry who has certain projects at the Abbatoir is allegedly been frustrated by the Main Concessionaire in connivance with the Commissioner.
This has further added to the pathetic situation of the Abbatoir.
Investigation also revealed that there are Shanties at the Abbatoir where some people allegedly live and pay rent to certain individuals at the Abbatoir.
This poses Security threat to the Abbatoir and residents around the Abbatoir, at a time when the economic fortunes of the nation has dwindled.
Sources revealed that the Abbatoir is porous, which exposes the State to impending danger that needs to be urgently addressed before it escalates.
No doubt, the present state of the Abbatoir is a far cry from what the Abbatoir was known for years back, leading to the call on the Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-olu led administration, the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Health and the Ministry Of Agriculture to wade into this issue and earnestly address the worrisome and abysmal state of the Oko Oba Abbatoir, no matter who ox is gored.
Related
TIME TO RECONSIDER OUR TIES WITH ISRAEL
Sahara Weekly Reports That In an article titled “Is Nigeria fuelling Israel’s genocide against Palestinians?” which was published in Businessday on October 30th, 2024, one Suraya Dadoo, who wrote in from South Africa, opened his contribution by quoting our Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs, my friend and brother, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar who he attributed the following words to.
“There is no justification for the carnage that is going on in Gaza… the complete disregard for the proportionality of force that is being meted out on innocent civilians. This carnage is completely out of hand and unacceptable. There is no way to explain the double standards; it has to stop”.
He went further by quoting our nation’s number two citizen, Vice President Kashim Shettima’s words at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in September where he said the following.
“Justice is antithetical to revenge… Freedom is an inalienable right and a natural entitlement that cannot be denied to any person. The Palestinian people deserve their independence.”
Both the Minister and the Vice President have done us proud with their courageous words and bold stand and it is a reflection of the fact that the Tinubu administration represents the thinking and has expressed the sentiments of the overwhelming majority of Nigerians and have opted to tread the right path when it comes to the tragic events in Gaza and the pitiful plight of the Palestinian people.
Dadoo went further by writing the following,
“The Nigerian government has consistently condemned Israel’s military occupation of Palestine and has been particularly outspoken against Israel since October 7. Historically, Nigeria has been a strong supporter of the Palestinian liberation struggle, and Nigeria was central in efforts to ensure that Israel was not granted observer status at the African Union (AU). According to sources who were at the October 2021 meeting of the AU executive council attended by Africa’s foreign ministers in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, Nigeria’s then Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama took the lead in objecting to Israel’s accreditation and urged other member states to do the same”.
Again, this is comforting, but he follows it by getting to the crux of his essay and the heart of the matter by dropping the following clanger. He wrote,
“While the Nigerian government has strongly condemned Israel’s military onslaught on Gaza it also stands accused of fuelling the Israeli war machine that had already killed, at the time of writing, more than 40,000 Palestinians through direct violence and bombing”.
To substantiate his point he wrote,
“According to a recently released report titled “Behind the Barrel: New Insights into the Countries and Companies Behind Israel’s Fuel Supply,” Nigeria accounts for 9 percent of the total crude oil supplied to Israel between October 21, 2023, and July 12, 2024. The researcher analyzed satellite imagery, ship positions, shipping logs, commodity trade flows, information from port authorities, and financial and media reports to track 65 oil and fuel shipments to Israel in that period”.
He concludes by alleging that,
“Over 133 kilotons of Nigerian crude were delivered to Israel from Chevron, Eni, Exxon, Shell, and TotalEnergies. Gabonese crude accounted for 22 percent, and the Republic of the Congo supplied 6 percent, but it is Nigeria’s contribution that has raised eyebrows given the country’s vocal criticism of Israel”.
Dodoo’s allegation, if proven to be true, is deeply troubling and needs to be taken very seriously, indeed, lest we leave ourselves open to his grave charge of complicity in the genocide that is being unleashed on Gaza by the Zionists.
The matter can be resolved by simply banning all crude oil shipments from Nigeria to Israel.
I hereby call on our President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to do precisely that and take an even stronger stance against the Zionists by banning all arms purchases from them and terminating any military and/or intelligence advice or services that the Israelis are offering or providing us with.
If he could find the courage to implement a number of bold and much-needed fiscal, economic, and constitutional reforms and policies such as the removal of the oil subsidy, the floating of the naira, the establishment of autonomy for the local government areas, the implementation of the students loan fund, the numerous tax reforms and most important of all the refusal to go to war against Niger Republic despite the enormous pressure that the western powers, led by France and the United States of America, put on him to do so earlier this year, he can certainly muster same to kick the Zionists out of Nigeria, nullify their pervasive influence in our country and sub-region and sever all trade, economic and diplomatic ties and relations with them.
General Yakubu Gowon, our reverred former Head of State, did this in 1973 when he was in power and as Chairman of the then OAU (AUtoto punished the Jewish State for its attack on the Palestinians during the Yom Kippur War.
For several years before then and specifically during the three-year civil war, Gowon had viewed Israel with much distrust and suspicion, given the covert support she gave to the Biafran secessionists and her complicity in the attempt to dismember and break up our beloved country.
However, the straw did not break the camels back until 1973, after which the final break took place, and diplomatic relations between our two countries were not restored until September 1992 by the then Head of State General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.
I am constrained to say that now is the time to break diplomatic ties with Israel again.
This is the proper thing to do in light of their insatiable compulsion and appetite for mass murder, ethnic cleansing, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide, given their insane and psychotic disposition for murdering helpless and defenseless women and children and for killing babies.
Again this is the proper thing to do given the fact that they have not only illegally occupied the land of the Palestinian people for over 76 years and slaughtered and incarcerated millions of them but they have also unleashed what can best be described as the second holocaust against them over the last one year killing over 60,000 in Gaza alone and thousands more in the West Bank, Lebanon and Syria!
If the world could go to war with Nazi Germany in 1936 as a consequence of the first holocaust, every civilized nation ought to, at the very least, be able to break diplomatic ties with Zionist Israel as a consequence of the second.
Morality, decency, and justice demand no less, and those nations that insist on applauding the atrocities of the Jewish state and selling weapons of mass destruction to her are not only complicit in her war crimes but are also from the pit of hell and in the service of shaitan.
The Holy Bible says there can be no fellowship between light and darkness. It says we must either choose God or Belial.
It also compels us to resist evil and fight for the weak, the poor, the vulnerable, and the oppressed.
The Holy Koran does the same and is emphatic on the importance of justice for all and support for the less privileged and the vulnerable.
Nigeria can and must NEVER be seen to be complicit in the bestial barbarity that is going on in Gaza or to have relations with the beasts that have relentlessly unleashed it.
Though we have many challenges, ours is a nation of decent, God-fearing, just, and right-thinking people who have a long history of standing for the oppressed all over Africa and contributing to the efforts of numerous liberation struggles.
Let us prove to the world once again that that is who and what we are by openly and loudly challenging the barbarity, lunacy, and thuggery of the State of Israel at the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, the United Nations, the African Union, and all other relevant fora and calling her out for her continuous violations of international law, her disdain for an international rules-based system and her racist, fascist and ethnocentric disposition.
Let us expose her contempt for humanity and human life, her total and complete adoption, espousal, and implementation of apartheid as a fundamental principle and cardinal policy in her system of Government, and her religious fanaticism and proselytizing bigotry.
Let us vigorously and aggressively resist her hatred for Arabs and Africans, her appalling treatment of Christians and Muslims, her rejection of the two-state solution, her desire to ethnically cleanse, wipe out, and eradicate and eliminate the Palestinian race, her intention to establish a ‘Greater Israel’ whose borders would stretch from Egypt to Iran and her heinous crimes and unspeakable atrocities in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon.
These are concrete and cogent steps that we as a people and nation can take to contribute our quota to the collective fight against the tyranny and oppression of the Zionists and I believe that we are still big and strong enough to take them.
May God guide and protect us in this noble endeavour and may history and posterity be kind to us.
(Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, is the Sadaukin Shinkafi, a former Minister of Aviation and a former Minister of Culture and Tourism of Nigeria)
Related
news
Michael Sijuade Bandele, distinguished legal expert and trailblazer, observes another birthday
Published
2 days agoon
November 3, 2024Michael Sijuade Bandele, distinguished legal expert and trailblazer, observes another birthday.
~By Oluwaseun Trust BethNews Media
Who is Michael Bandele?
Sijuade, a notable son of ErukuCity, hails from the renowned family of the late Baba Bandele, with their residence located directly opposite the Catholic Church on Oke Ogi Road
Michael Bandele, or ‘Mike’ to friends, displayed intelligence and determination during his early years at Secondary Commercial School, ErukuCity
This young man displays profound gratitude and a heart characterized by remarkable resilience and simplicity, reflecting the exemplary character of his late parents
The Law, my preferred name for him, has had a lasting impact on Kwara’s urban landscape and surrounding areas through his meticulous execution of duties and unwavering commitment, setting a benchmark for excellence
Michael Bandele’s outstanding achievements in fostering the growth and profitability of ErukuCity’s Ankara Night carnival exemplify his steadfast commitment and exceptional brilliance, earning recognition within the committee. His unwavering commitment to culinary excellence at Ankara Night, demonstrated by his expert preparation of Asun, Chicken, and Turkey, is truly exceptional
Michael Bandele exemplifies exceptional distinction, divinely appointed to pursue, overtake, and reclaim excellence
Through this feat, he maintains his status as an iconic figure of accomplishment amongst his equals, persistently innovating and leading the way
Today, I am delighted to be among distinguished associates, loved ones, acquaintances, and genuine well-wishers in celebrating your birthday, offering sincerest felicitations and warmest regards for many joyful years to come.
Oluwaseun Fabiyi a media practitioner writes from Lagos.
Related
Trending
-
Business6 months ago
Maxwell Opara Goofed Says AAS Investors As They Stand By Jesam Michael, Demand For Justice
-
society6 months ago
Alleged Assault In Court: Setting The Record Straight, Jesam Michael is The Victim, Not Maxwell Opara
-
society6 months ago
Exposing The Many Lies Of Wanted Cyber Bully, Dorcas Adeyinka + Her Failed Attempt To Blackmail The Odegbamis
-
Business7 months ago
AAS $87m Theft Case: Abayomi Oluwasesan Remanded In Suleja Prison As Police Arrest Prince Humble, Engineer Oma