Enforcement - News Agency Of Nigeria

Lydia Beshel
Aug, Sun, 2025

IPMAN to enforce fuel pump integrity at filling stations

IPMAN

By Stanley Nwanosike

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) says it will safeguard fuel pump integrity at filling stations by tackling cheating and related malpractices.

Chairman of IPMAN Enugu Unit, Chief Chinedu Anyaso, disclosed this on Sunday in Enugu shortly after the association’s 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM).

The Enugu Unit of IPMAN covers independent petroleum marketers in Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi States, as well as parts of Abia, Imo, Kogi and Cross River States.

Anyaso said members unanimously agreed at the AGM to uphold the integrity of fuel pumps to ensure Nigerians received value for their money.

He stressed that IPMAN was committed to maintaining its reputation for service and product excellence, adding: “IPMAN resolved and planned to set up a task force to ensure compliance of all members to fuel pump integrity.”

According to him, the task force will be inaugurated in September and will operate through dedicated teams in each state under the unit.

“In order to sanitise the system and ensure that the reputation of IPMAN and our members’ fuel stations are maintained; the members during the AGM unanimously agreed that fuel pump cheating and malpractice must be stopped.

“IPMAN will set up a daily mandate task force soon, while the association’s members collectively agreed on a heavy monetary fine as well as sanction for any defaulting fuel station owned by any member,” he said.

He noted that the association had resolved to be firm in dealing with the menace through its own internal disciplinary mechanism; just as the association eradicated stocking bad fuel.

The chairman said that IPMAN Enugu Unit also appreciated the strides of various governors and state governments on development especially road and security infrastructure in the unit’s states of coverage.

“We are encouraged by the governors’ commitment to continue to create a conducive business environment and to ensure smooth road corridors for fuel products to get to all nooks and crannies of the unit,” he said.

Anyaso noted that the members unanimously agreed that it would again write Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra on the issue of IGR of fuel stations in Anambra.

“We commend him for the discussion so far; however, we are calling all involved to come to a round table and resolve their differences and come to an amicable compromise for the benefit of all,” he said.

The chairman said that members also resolved to write to Gov. Soludo again on the over N900 million debt owed IPMAN members who supplied diesel for the running of streetlights in the state.

The chairman noted that members also deliberated on welfare issues, better ways of lifting petrol products and how to participate in the Dangote Direct Sales and Delivery Scheme as well as JEZCO Oil and Gas offer to assist members.

The meeting also featured presentations by the Federal Inland Revenue Service on electronic tax filing, and by TradeGrid Limited on facilitating petroleum products lifting and installing solar power in fuel stations, among other topics. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa

Daleko traders resist FCCPC illegal rebranded rice enforcement

Folashade Adeniran
Jul, Wed, 2025

Economy/Business

Daleko traders resist FCCPC illegal rebranded rice enforcement

By Kazeem Akande

Traders in Daleko Market, Mushin, Lagos State, on Wednesday prevented officials of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) from carrying out an enforcement exercise regarding the illegal sale of rebranded rice.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that hundreds of traders at Daleko Market came out of their shops, obstructing FCCPC officials from performing their duty.

Mrs Margaret Aboluwade, the FCCPC Southwest Zonal Coordinator, during the enforcement exercise, told newsmen that the market leadership and the traders would face the wrath of the law.

“The traders resisted us from carrying out our constitutional responsibility. We’ll get to our headquarters, and the needful will be done.

“We will not say what will happen now, but I know that the needful will be done. Also, some of them alleged that they’re not the only ones selling rebranded Stallion and Cap rice products.

“As we all know, these companies have folded up or left the country since 2015, and we still see their rice products in the market to date.

NAN also report that traders also restricted the FCCPC officials from sealing shops displaying these illegal products.

“They obstructed the officials from carrying out the exercise due to their population in the market, but we don’t want it to result in violence or market violence.

“Both Stallion and Cap rice are no longer in the market; they are not functioning any longer. What they do is get local rice and rebrand it as Stallion or Cap rice,” Aboluwade noted.

According to her, they rebrand Nigerian rice and expired imported products by packaging them and selling them to innocent consumers.

The zonal coordinator further explained that the FCCPC would not relent in it mandate to protect the interest of consumers.

“We are here to protect the rights of consumers, the reason why we are here is to seal up shops,to seal up selling Cap rice, because we know they are not authentic rice,” she emphasised.

One of the market leaders, who chose not to be named, said that the matter would be resolved by both the government and the market stakeholders.

She added that efforts would be made to curtail the illegal activities in the market, as the leadership would ensure the market is free from the alleged rebranding.

“We are widows and single mothers; this is the business we do to cater for our family, and we will put more effort into sanitising the rice business in the market,” she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa

Lydia Beshel
Jun, Fri, 2025

Entertainment

NESREA shuts 25 facilities over environmental violations

Facilities

By Doris Esa
The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), has shut down 25 facilities in four states of the Federation over non compliance to environmental regulations.

Mrs Nwamaka Ejiofor, Assistant Director (Press) in NESREA, stated this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

She said that the facilities which cut across different sectors were shut down in Anambra, Enugu, Bayelsa, and Rivers for various environmental crimes.

Ejiofor said these included refusal to conduct Environmental Impact Assessment before commencement of project, Environmental Audit, and lack of functional effluent treatment plant, among others.

She said the sealed facilities included, Rugal Pharmaceutical, Emene Industrial Layout, Enugu, China Communication Construction Company (CCCC), Owo yard, Enugu, Hardis and Dromedas, Umunya, Anambra State, and Pinnatech Engi Asphalt Plant, Awkuzu, Anambra.

Others are China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), Obogoro Road, Swali, Yenagoa, Bayelsa, Megastar Technical and Construction Company Limited, Imiringi Road, Yenagoa, Bayelsa and Multi Plan Nigeria Ltd., Okuru-Ama, Trans-Amadi Industrial Layout, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, among others.

Prof. Innocent Barikor, the Director-General of NESREA, enjoined operators to adhere to the provisions of environmental laws in their operations.

Barikor said that the agency would continue to carry out such enforcement exercises to safeguard the environment, and serve as deterrent to facility operators. (NAN(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Joseph Edeh

FCT-IRS seals 3 business premises over unpaid taxes

Philip Daniel Yatai
Mar, Fri, 2025

Economy/Business

FCT-IRS seals 3 business premises over unpaid taxes

By Nana Musa

The Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Services (FCT-IRS) on Friday, sealed the business premises of Phase3 Telecom and Cilantro Restaurant in Abuja, for failing to pay their tax obligations.

Mr Festus Tsavsar, acting Director, Legal Services, FCT-IRS, told journalists after the exercise in Abuja, that Phase3 Telecom, located at No 4, Yedseram Street, Maitama, was sealed over unpaid tax obligations.

Tsavsar, who is also the Head of the Enforcement Team, added two of Cilantro business premises were sealed for not filing its annual returns.

One of the premises is Cilantro Village, located inside Sarius Palmetum and Botanical Garden, Babangida Boulevard, Maitama, Abuja, while the other premises is located at Wuse Zone 5.

He explained that the action became necessary after several notices had been served on the defaulting taxpayers, but they refused to pay.

He said that Phase3 Telecom was owing the FCTA huge tax liabilities for three years

He added that the FCT-IRS had sent demand notices to the company several times, for more than three years, yet the company refused to pay.

“We invited them for a meeting, they came, wrote several undertakings but refused to pay the tax liabilities,” said.

For Cilantro, the director said that the company refused to file its tax returns for more than three years despite being served with several notices.

“We have written to them several times and they refused to file their returns; we invited them for a meeting, and they refused to honour the invitation,” he added.

Tsavsar said that to enforce compliance, the FCT-IRS had no choice other than to approach the court for a Court Order to seal off the business premises of defaulting taxpayers.

He assured the affected businesses that the premises would be unsealed once they settle all their tax obligations.

He said that the revenue services had carried out massive sensitisation campaigns, enlightening taxpayers about their tax obligation and encouraging them to pay voluntarily.

According to him, the revenue service will be going after every defaulting taxpayer and closed down business premises that refused to settle their tax obligation.

“We are, therefore, calling on tax defaulters to do the needful or risk the wrath of the law.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the FCT-IRS had given employers of labour Jan. 31 to file their employees’ annual returns for 2024.

The revenue service also gave individuals until the end of March to file their returns. (NAN)

Edited by Philip Yatai

CAC strengthens compliance, enforcement mandates for efficient management of entities

Philip Daniel Yatai
Jan, Tue, 2025

Economy/Business

CAC strengthens compliance, enforcement mandates for efficient management of entities

By Lucy Ogalue

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has unveiled plans to strengthen its compliance and enforcement mandates, with a focus on formalising businesses and enhancing post-incorporation compliance.

The Registrar-General of CAC, Hussaini Magaji, said this during the in-house enforcement and compliance training for state offices on Monday in Abuja,

Magaji said that the training, with the theme “Re-engineering the Commission for Compliance and Enforcement Mandates” would ensure efficient management of corporate entities.

He called for a paradigm shift in the commission’s operations, emphasising the importance of compliance and enforcement functions beyond the routine registration of businesses.

“One of the key priorities I identified upon assuming duty in 2023, was the need to bring the commission’s regulatory and management functions to the forefront.

“This led to the inclusion of compliance enforcement as a key component of my four-point agenda,” he said.

The registrar-general said that advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) could handle routine operational tasks like business registration, freeing resources for more complex compliance and enforcement activities.

He reiterated the success of the PoS Formalisation Project, which had registered about 100,000 Point-of-Sale operators under the requirements of Section 863 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020.

According to him, the project aims to formalise at least 250,000 operators in the sector as part of broader efforts to regulate the estimated 40 million micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria.

“Formalisation is the first step for legitimate business operations and access to government interventions.

”It also mitigates the risks associated with unregistered businesses, such as money laundering and terrorism financing,” Magaji said.

He revealed plans to implement sanctions for operators who fail to comply with formalisation requirements and clarified that multiple registrations across fintech platforms were unnecessary, as one registration sufficed

Beyond pre-incorporation activities, the registrar-general stressed the need to prioritise post-incorporation compliance, which he described as a sustainable revenue stream for modern registries.

He also unveiled plans to address issues like shell companies, opaque ownership structures, and proper disclosure of persons with significant control, in line with global standards and the Persons with Significant Control Regulations.

“This training will position our staff to undertake compliance enforcement and inspection duties with confidence.

”It also marks the start of our drive towards a hyper post-incorporation compliance mode.

“The training includes technical sessions on statutory books, records, returns, and filings for registered entities, with input from resource persons from law enforcement agencies to share practical experiences, “he said.

He urged participants to engage actively and embrace the reforms as part of efforts to align the commission’s operations with global best practices.

Representing the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, its Deputy Commander on Narcotics, Harami Wakirwa, said that the initiative demonstrated CAC’s commitment to promoting compliance, integrity and accountability.

“This is a good step in the right direction. I wish you all a productive and engaging experience.

”Let us work together to foster a culture of compliance and make a positive impact in our industries and countries,” he said.

Also, DCP Usman Ahmed, Deputy Director, Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Center (NPF-NCCC), acknowledged the crucial role compliance and enforcement played in safeguarding and fostering a secure regime for business operations.

“The challenges we face today, especially in cyber-attacks, demand that we continually adapt and improve our strategies and practices.

“This training is not just an opportunity to acquire knowledge, but should allow us to improve cybersecurity, inter-agency collaboration, and share the responsibility to restore confidence in public institutions.

“We must embrace this opportunity to re-engineer our operations and reinforce our ability to excel in cyber security. Together, we can make a significant impact,” he said. (NAN)

Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Kadiri Abdulrahman