General News
FAAN Sends N15m Cheque to Edo
George Uriesi, managing director of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), has described the authority as a responsible government organisation alive to its responsibility to and to its host communities.
Uriesi made this declaration in Benin, the Edo State capital during a courtesy visit on the Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, and described the situation that led to the closure of the airport as regrettable and avoidable, promising closer collaboration to avoid future occurrence.
Yakubu Dati, general manager, Corporate Communications in a statement forwarded to Nigeria CommunicationWeek said that FAAN has resolved the issue of outstanding tax payment with the Edo State Government.
He said: “The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria wishes to inform the public, especially aviation stakeholders, that it has resolved the issue of outstanding tax payment with the Edo State Government, following a courtesy call on the State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole by FAAN’s Managing Director, Mr. George Uriesi, in Benin yesterday (Wednesday), July 31, 2013.
“Records clearly showed that FAAN is up-to-date with its payment of PAYE taxes for Benin Airport up to June, 2013 as the Authority makes month-by-month payment to the Edo State Government, direct from Benin Airport, as soon as salaries are paid. Receipts for such monthly payments were made available for verification. Payment for July, 2013 will be ready for payment by August 6, 2013 since FAAN pays salaries between the 24th and 25th of every month.
“What the Edo State Government sends annually for payment is the total of shortfalls in such monthly payments, arrived at after reconciliation of accounts with our consultants. The only outstanding payment of such annual bills is that of 2011, amounting to about N15 million, a cheque for which is now ready for release.
“To date, the Authority has not received the outstanding annual bill for shortfalls in 2012 from the Edo State Government. That bill will be paid as soon as it is received by FAAN.
“We also wish to clarify that our MD/CEO did not apologise to the Governor of Edo State over the tax issue during his courtesy visit to him, contrary to some news reports, but to find the cause of what led to the closure of the airport and to resolve the issue with him.
We believe that it is the responsibility of the Head of Edo State’s Inland Revenue Service to exploit all available official avenue for resolving the issue of taxes before taking such drastic action that caused a lot of inconvenience to airlines, their passengers and other airport users. It was in this regard that our MD has instructed the Benin Airport Manager to ensure that payment of tax bills are paid as and when due.
“Finally, we wish to restate that no State Government, agency or individual has the right to shut down an airport over any issue whatsoever as airports constitute security zones, under the jurisdiction of the Federal Government, as enshrined in the Act establishing the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.
Earlier during the MD’s visit, Governor Oshiomhole commended the FAAN team for its maturity, but however stated that the state was pursuing the remittances of the PAYE taxes as owed the state government.
He described the MD as a worthy son of the soil who was doing the state proud.
Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc has released its audited consolidated and separate financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024, delivering a robust performance marked by double-digit growth in revenue and profitability.
Total revenue surged by 37 percent to N26.1 billion in 2024, up from N19 billion the previous year. Profit before tax also rose significantly, climbing 24 percent to N13.8 billion, compared to N11.2 billion in 2023.
The impressive results were largely driven by a 62 percent year-on-year increase in fee-based income, which rose to N11.9 billion from N7.3 billion, fuelled by heightened capital market activity. Ancillary services also contributed strongly, growing 27 percent from N8.1 billion in 2023 to N10.3 billion, buoyed by optimised service delivery and increased customer engagement.
CSCS maintained a strong balance sheet, with total assets rising 22 percent to N64.4 billion from N52.8 billion in the previous year. Key financial ratios also improved, with return on average equity at 30 percent, return on average assets at 20 percent, and earnings per share increasing to 239 kobo from 202 kobo in 2023.
Temi Popoola, chairman of the Board of CSCS, praised the performance amid a challenging economic climate.
“Despite the macroeconomic headwinds of 2024, we delivered strong results across key financial and operational indicators. Our strategy of consolidating our core offerings while expanding into new business areas enabled us to grow gross earnings by 37 percent, reaching N26.1 billion”.
Popoola added, “In light of this strong performance and our commitment to delivering long-term value to shareholders, the Board has proposed a dividend of N1.76 per share, amounting to a total payout of N8.8 billion.”
Haruna Jalo-Waziri, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of CSCS, emphasised the resilience and adaptability of CSCS’s business model. “Our 2024 performance highlights the sustainability of our revenue streams across both traditional and emerging segments.
“We continue to diversify into new areas and leverage technology to enhance scale and capacity in line with our strategic objectives. Amidst economic challenges, we grew operating income by 44 percent to N22.2 billion, while maintaining a cost-to-income ratio of 47 percent, reflecting our focus on operational efficiency.”
National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SecDojo, SAS, a France-based cybersecurity training company, during the GITEX Africa 2025 event in Marrakech, Morocco.
L-R: Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, and Chief Executive Officer of SecDojo, Mr. Younes Benzagmout at the signing ceremony, which took place during GITEX Africa 2025 in Marrakech, Morocco.
This collaboration aims to bolster Nigeria’s cybersecurity framework through targeted capacity-building initiatives.
The partnership will focus on establishing a Cybersecurity Academy, delivering advanced training programs, developing customized curricula, and fostering research and professional exchange.
NITDA’s Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, emphasized the importance of investing in human capital to drive Nigeria’s digital transformation and address the global shortage of cybersecurity professionals.
He highlighted Nigeria’s youthful population as a key asset in filling this talent gap.
Inuwa also advocated for integrating digital literacy and cybersecurity training into Nigeria’s formal education system, calling for collaboration between technology stakeholders and the Federal Ministry of Education.
He stressed the need for systemic integration of digital skills into academic curricula to prepare for the future.
SecDojo’s CEO, Younes Benzagmout, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s cybersecurity professionals.
This collaboration marks a significant step toward securing Nigeria’s digital economy and enhancing its global competitiveness.
Recently, MBA Students of the Sloan Business School, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) visited MTN Nigeria’s office in Ikoyi, Lagos, for an interactive session on digital innovation and transformation.
The visit, a part of an academic exploration, provided the students with an opportunity to engage with executives within the ecosystem of the leading tech company, such as its Chief Digital Officer, A’isha Mumuni, and Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, Tobe Okigbo. who shared insights into the evolving digital landscape in Africa and beyond.
During her presentation, Mumuni emphasised: “The digital economy in Nigeria is evolving rapidly, but we must also acknowledge the hurdles, such as financial inclusion, language barriers in digital assistants, and internet penetration that we need to overcome to ensure that no one is left behind.”
One of the key topics discussed was financial inclusion, a critical issue in Nigeria where a significant portion of the population remains unbanked.
“We are still a largely cash-based economy. About 55% of Nigerians do not have access to financial services. The informal sector thrives on cash transactions, but as we’ve seen globally, access to different financial tools is key to economic growth,” Mumuni explained.
The students also engaged in discussions on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in bridging the digital divide. A major concern raised was the limitation of AI-powered virtual assistants in understanding and responding to indigenous African languages.
Mumuni encouraged the postgraduates to think critically about Africa’s digital future and to consider how technological innovation could drive social and economic progress on the continent.
The visit provided MIT students with first-hand exposure to Africa’s digital transformation and potential areas of collaboration in bridging the digital divide.
This was the second courtesy visit to MTN’s headquarters from an educational institution in the past week. On March 12, 2024, 65 postgraduate students of the Pan-Atlantic University (PAU), visited three of the company’s locations in Ikoyi.
Recently, MBA Students of the Sloan Business School, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) visited MTN Nigeria’s office in Ikoyi, Lagos, for an interactive session on digital innovation and transformation.
The visit, a part of an academic exploration, provided the students with an opportunity to engage with executives within the ecosystem of the leading tech company, such as its Chief Digital Officer, A’isha Mumuni, and Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, Tobe Okigbo. who shared insights into the evolving digital landscape in Africa and beyond.
During her presentation, Mumuni emphasised: “The digital economy in Nigeria is evolving rapidly, but we must also acknowledge the hurdles, such as financial inclusion, language barriers in digital assistants, and internet penetration that we need to overcome to ensure that no one is left behind.”
One of the key topics discussed was financial inclusion, a critical issue in Nigeria where a significant portion of the population remains unbanked.
“We are still a largely cash-based economy. About 55% of Nigerians do not have access to financial services. The informal sector thrives on cash transactions, but as we’ve seen globally, access to different financial tools is key to economic growth,” Mumuni explained.
The students also engaged in discussions on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in bridging the digital divide. A major concern raised was the limitation of AI-powered virtual assistants in understanding and responding to indigenous African languages.
Mumuni encouraged the postgraduates to think critically about Africa’s digital future and to consider how technological innovation could drive social and economic progress on the continent.
The visit provided MIT students with first-hand exposure to Africa’s digital transformation and potential areas of collaboration in bridging the digital divide.
This was the second courtesy visit to MTN’s headquarters from an educational institution in the past week. On March 12, 2024, 65 postgraduate students of the Pan-Atlantic University (PAU), visited three of the company’s locations in Ikoyi.
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