…Allays fear on multiple taxations

From Okwe Obi, Abuja

The Federal Government said it has raked in N658.6 billion in revenue and foiled several arms smuggling attempts across the country in September. 

The Director-General  National Orientation Agency (NOA) Lanre Issa-Onilu, made the disclosure during the October joint security press briefing in Abuja said the achievements reflect improved coordination, intelligence sharing, and operational efficiency among the nation’s security and enforcement agencies.

According to him, security operatives intercepted arms traffickers in Niger, Kaduna, Katsina, Ebonyi, Plateau and Ekiti states, recovering M16 rifles, AK-47s, PKT machine guns, and more than 2,000 rounds of ammunition in a series of intelligence-led operations.

“Nigeria’s security agencies no longer react to threats; they now act proactively to prevent them. Through partnerships and intelligence, we are protecting lives, securing borders and restoring public confidence,” Issa-Onilu said.

He noted that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) generated N658.6 billion during the period through enhanced digital enforcement and border control operations, which also led to the interception of firearms, industrial drones, and other contraband.

On the performance of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Issa-Onilu revealed that the agency dismantled 37 major drug cartels, arrested 1,703 suspects, comprising 1,509 males and 194 females, and seized over 212,000 kilogrammes of narcotics, including cocaine, cannabis, and methamphetamine.

Similarly, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) carried out 40 enforcement operations nationwide, seizing fake medicines, cosmetics, and vegetable oils. He added that NAFDAC conducted its first joint operation with the Nigerian Navy inside a military barracks, leading to the arrest of 10 suspects.

In the anti-corruption sector, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) recovered N446 million, restrained another N172 million, and secured three convictions within the month under review.

On the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), he said operatives responded swiftly to 589 road crashes, rescuing 3,848 victims, including 1,834 injured persons, while 252 deaths were recorded. The Corps, he added, launched an Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) to digitise its administrative processes.

Issa-Onilu reminded Nigerians that the fight against crime and insecurity is a collective responsibility, urging them to support security agencies with timely and credible information.

“Security is not the duty of the uniformed persons alone; it is a shared civic responsibility. Where there is trust, there is compliance, and where there is cooperation, peace will endure,” he stated.

The NOA boss also allayed fears of automatic tax deductions from bank accounts, clarifying that the new Nigerian Tax Act 2025 and Nigerian Tax Administration Act do not empower the government to withdraw money directly from citizens’ accounts.

“Insinuations of tax deductions from bank accounts are false. Taxes will not be automatically deducted from the bank accounts of Nigerians,” he said. “While the provisions will help identify tax evaders, they do not amount to direct deductions.”

Issa-Onilu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and collaboration in safeguarding the nation’s security and economic stability.