SPECIAL REPORT: Ex-Govs Akpabio, Amaechi, Suntai received billions in waivers to buy aircraft, 200 BMW cars - PREMIUM TIMES


While they held sway in their respective states, three former governors of Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Taraba received waivers to buy different ranges of aircrafts that included a Bombardier private jet and a Bell 407 Helicopter, PREMIUM TIMES can authoritatively report.

The governors and other serving government officials circumvented paying duties even as they imported, under various guises, luxury automobiles that included BMW, Ford, Range Rover, Lexus and Jaguar. The waivers were granted in the names of their states.

Between 2011 and May 2014, a total of N215 Billion in import duty exemptions were granted in four years under the leadership of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

Data obtained from the Budget Office of the Federation detail a fiscal policy recklessness that made duty waivers in Nigeria to become synonymous with cronyism, racketeering, political patronage and outright brigandage.

Whilst some of the waivers may have been well-meaning and granted for the purposes of stimulating local production, economic growth and job creation, the data show that some of those who benefited did not deserve such concessions.

In 2013 former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, now Minister of Transport, got waivers to buy one Bombardier aircraft Global Vision 5,000 series and two Bell 412 Axis Helicopters.

The three items attracted a total import duties of N2, 182,619,909.00 (Two billion, one hundred and eighty-two million, six hundred and nineteen thousand, nine hundred and nine Naira) but this was waived off by the Customs.

A year earlier in 2012, the Akwa Ibom State government, ran at the time by Godswill Akpabio, who is now a serving Senator, received waiver to purchase a G450 5N 4241 Aircraft. The economic necessity for the aircraft was not stated. This particular acquisition attracted import duty of N271, 256,000.00 (Two hundred and seventy-one million and Two hundred and fifty-six thousand Naira) but was not paid in view of the waiver.

Similarly, former Governor Danbaba Suntai, acting in the name of Taraba State, received waiver in 2012 to buy a Bell 407 Helicopter. The import duty on the helicopter was N13, 064,546.00 (Thirteen million, sixty-four thousand, and five hundred and forty-six naira). In October of the same year, Mr. Suntai became involved with another aircraft owned by the Taraba State government, this time a Cessna 208 5N-BMJ which crashed on a flight from Jalingo to Yola.
Year after year, virtually everyone with access to the corridor of power did their best to take advantage of the waiver regime of the President Jonathan government. Names and incongruous items combined in a clear defeat of the same economic policy the concessions were meant to promote.
Waivers were granted for the importation of Mercedes Benz cars and personal effects like refrigerators, tiles, marbles, beddings, chairs, cups and sunglasses. One sub-head in the Budget Office data unbelievably reads: “Specialized items such as custom made carpets, timber dining chairs etc”.

These items were imported at zero-duty in the name of the Federal Capital Territory.
Seizing the moment, the Rivers State Government, in 2011 under Mr. Amaechi imported 200 units of luxury cars, including “BMW, Ford and other brands”.
There was no agricultural machinery nor any economic enhancement tool in the Rivers’ import. The sum of N503.3 million was not paid as a result of the waiver, thus there was no discouragement of any sort for state executives that chose to waste taxpayers’ sweats on luxury goods.
The Lagos State government, under Babatunde Fashola, soon joined the fray, importing, in 2012, 300 units of BMW, Ford, Land Rover, Range Rover, Lexus, Mercedes and Jaguar. For Lagos State however, it was explained that the automobiles were for the 18th National Sports Festival. A total of N772 million in duty was waived.


A few months ago, the Senate Ad hoc Committee on Import Duty Waivers, Concessions and Grants announced it had uncovered fraud in the administration of import duty waivers on rice, sugar, other foods items and automobiles.
The committee, in its report, named frontline companies, including Dangote Limited, Kersuk Farms, Bua Group, Elephant Group, Milan Group and Golden Penny.
It also named specific government agencies such as the Ministry of Finance, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NPC), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Federal Inland Revenue Service as complicit in the waiver racketeering.
The Customs and Excise Management Act prescribes that some imported goods could be granted duty exemptions if they are meant to boost local manufacturing of goods for export.
To this end, agricultural implements, and machineries for key sectors like Water Resources, Steel, Gas and Aviation are usually exempted from duty. It remains puzzling how this Act was interpreted to justify waivers granted government officials to import cars and personal effects.
Save for 2014, waivers granted between 2011 and 2013 were littered with cars and personal effects imported at zero-duty by unnamed officials of the Ministry of Aviation and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These personal imports are different from those made specifically by Ministries, Departments or Agencies.
Individual officials curiously obtained waivers to import “Mercedes Benz and personal effects”, “Honda car and personal effects”, “Toyota Verso and personal effects”, “Hyundai Tuscan and personal effects” and “Toyota RAV4 and personal effects”.
Also listed were “Nissan Car and personal effects”, 4 Runner Toyota car, Nissan Pathfinder, Mitsubishi Car, Toyota Camry, Furniture, Toyota Corolla, Mercedes Benz GL 450 and personal effects, Mercedes Benz A170, Honda Accord, Toyota Sienna and personal effects, and Ford Edge vehicle.

Source: http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/209558-special-report-ex-govs-akpabio-amaechi-suntai-received-billions-waivers-buy-aircraft-200-bmw-cars.html

NIGERIA I HAIL...UNA NO DEY FAIL

Yet we would blame the present Gov't for our woes.

who ever says our leaders have our interest at heart?

And states like taraba? What right have they buying helicopter with states fund?

Well if Suntai had known, he wouldn't have bought the plane

The money they used to acquire private jets are public money.They should be arrested and prosecuted.

The level of corruption perpetuated by this people is alarming.

Isn't it interesting that whenever news of this kind come up it's always tilted by those reporting to single certain individual to attack?
Look at these
Rivers 2b
Akwa ibom 200m
Taraba 13m
Lagos 800m
But who did the writer try to mk more guilty? Akpabio. Balanced reporting is not only giving different side equal critique and coverage but also ensuring that parties in a news item are treated same. In the news Fashola is "secretly " mentioned and the writer didn't consider his picture appropriate even when the waiver he obtained is far above that of Akwa ibom and Taraba.
And considering that these states waivers are just so insignificant to the 200+bn mentioned i think it would've been more appropriate to be detailed on who gets what in figures.

That said it amount to nought if waiver was granted and utilized. The important thing is whether those govs in particular turned around to deduct it from their state's money. Govt tax in this form doesn't really do anything apart from seemingly increasing revenue. Any govt that pays loses while those who don't gain. So if u r frm any of these states u ll b thankful that it isn't paid. Because what ll return to the state is just a fraction of the total after sharing by federal states n local govts.
Consider frm above that 2bn of rivers state money goes back to the federation acc, what ll eventually return to rivers state may not be up too 50m. So its good for individual states to seek waiver. Assuming they put the waiver money to good use

Waivers can actually be more effective than subsidies if the policy is religiously implemented.

DaudaAbu:
Yet we would blame the present Gov't for our woes.

who ever says our leaders have our interest at heart?

And states like taraba? What right have they buying helicopter with states fund?

saying jonathan is clueless is an abuse on the word CLUELESS.

DaudaAbu:
Yet we would blame the present Gov't for our woes.

who ever says our leaders have our interest at heart?

And states like taraba? What right have they buying helicopter with states fund?

Buhari destroyed the Nigerian economy in 1984 and he is doing so again. And you think it's a coincidence?

The handiwork of Iweala. The so called expert who does not know the the No 1 task of a finance minister's.

1 find the money
2protect the money

Fashole amd amaethief representing

Matter don tie wrapper....
But I believe bubu fit untie am..
After all...he. did untie bruntashi and dambaba..
Akpbio get luck o..haba! He for don enter..na iron trap dey don d set for am...
Go thank fashola and amaechi..cos your sins are forgive..just on this o..

tinkinjow:
Isn't it interesting that whenever news of this kind come up it's always tilted by those reporting to single certain individual to attack?
Look at these
Rivers 2b
Akwa ibom 200m
Taraba 13m
Lagos 800m
But who did the writer try to mk more guilty? Akpabio. Balanced reporting is not only giving different side equal critique and coverage but also ensuring that parties in a news item are treated same. In the news Fashola is "secretly " mentioned and the writer didn't consider his picture appropriate even when the waiver he obtained is far above that of Akwa ibom and Taraba.
And considering that these states waivers are just so insignificant to the 200+bn mentioned i think it would've been more appropriate to be detailed on who gets what in figures.

That said it amount to nought if waiver was granted and utilized. The important thing is whether those govs in particular turned around to deduct it from their state's money. Govt tax in this form doesn't really do anything apart from seemingly increasing revenue. Any govt that pays loses while those who don't gain. So if u r frm any of these states u ll b thankful that it isn't paid. Because what ll return to the state is just a fraction of the total after sharing by federal states n local govts.
Consider frm above that 2bn of rivers state money goes back to the federation acc, what ll eventually return to rivers state may not be up too 50m. So its good for individual states to seek waiver. Assuming they put the waiver money to good use

Waivers can actually be more effective than subsidies if the policy is religiously implemented.

Propaganda government

PaulIdu:


Buhari destroyed the Nigerian economy in 1984 and he is doing so again and you think it's a coincidence

Abeg always use that thing

Thanks for taking my advice

And yet some cursed morons keep hailing Okonjo. This was her main conduit pipe for siphoning phones. For those with slow brain let me illustrate: if u buy a car that attracts N200 tax, okonjo will wave it for u if u pay her N100. Clean untraceable broad daylight robbery!

Note that both ministry of finance, customs and Firs were under her control. Okonjo iweala was one of the biggest thieves of jonathan administration

blackpanda:
And yet some cursed morons keep hailing Okonjo. This was her main conduit pipe for siphoning phones. For those with slow brain let me illustrate: if u buy a car that attracts N200 tax, okonjo will wave it for u if u pay her N100. Clean untraceable broad daylight robbery!

Note that both ministry of finance, customs and Firs were under her control. Okonjo iweala was one of the biggest thieves of jonathan administration

then arrest her and stop yapping...wasn't rivers state mentioned??...oh what about the other governors who are now apc members...blackpanda you suppose Don grow pass this child's play na...

Izonpikin:
then arrest her and stop yapping...wasn't rivers state mentioned??...oh what about the other governors who are now apc members...blackpanda you suppose Don grow pass this child's play na...

Pls shut up! Everything is not apc-pdp. I dont care the political party u belong. A thief remains a thief. Why cant some people use their brain for once

blackpanda:



Pls shut up! Everything is not apc-pdp. I dont care the political party u belong. A thief remains a thief. Why cant some people use their brain for once

I bet you do care about the party...because of all mentioned you singled out madam NGO and totally forgot about your man ameachi and other apc thieving governors...don't act like you aren't partisan....


A thief remains a thief buy yet only thieves from the pdp remains a thief to you...abeg make we hear word joor....

Izonpikin:
I bet you do care about the party...because of all mentioned you singled out madam NGO and totally forgot about your man ameachi and other apc thieving governors...don't act like you aren't partisan....


A thief remains a thief buy yet only thieves from the pdp remains a thief to you...abeg make we hear word joor....

Lol I didnt check who was commenting before. Izonpikin everybody knows u are a notorious wailer. I dont expect anything intelligent from ur comments

blackpanda:



Lol I didnt check who was commenting before. Izonpikin everybody knows u are a notorious wailer. I dont expect anything intelligent from ur comments

I am a wailer from all angles...I wail about the whole country not just a party...you know na...I no dey see nonsense make I no talk...

How dis 1 take concern me now? Abeg make I go smoke better parash before I wack breakfast come enter streets!

If the government can't act to address this, they should as well stop informing us.

What were states like Rivers doing with 200 luxury cars when we have Innoson??
Naija POLITRICKIANS are born fraudsters.

stealing is NOT corruption.

~Goodluck Jonathan~

hell will be filled with Nigerians

So much work to do in this country as there seem to be zero patriotism and love for NIGERIA by those in authority.

But a new generation is in the pipeline to rewrite the history of this nation for good. Join us all in the new Nigeria vanguard!

Okay
dont forget to check my signature

.

APC always keeping us busy with the past to cover for their non performance.

The person whose future is in the past is finished.

God created us and put our eyes in front and not behind, so we can move forward and not backwards.

APC please there is no future in the past, Nigeria and Nigerians cannot continuously be made to look backwards. Take us to the future, take us to innovation, take us to new ways of doing things, take us to CHANGE.

Buhari era. so many representathieves