From Ene Asuquo, Calabar

A fire outbreak weekend occurred at the SPAR Calabar Mall in Cross River State, biggest shopping Mall in the state following a reported explosion within the shopping complex, and a section of the mall was engulfed in towering plumes of dark smoke and fierce flames disrupting activities at the complex

According to information from the scene, the fire was preceded by what was described as a minor gas or fuel explosion, which reportedly sparked the subsequent blaze.

Images from the scene showed flames consuming a section of the mall, while thick smoke billowed from the upper part of the building.

Members of the public were also seen gathered around the premises as efforts were made to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to other sections of the facility.

The incident caused panic among people within and around the shopping complex, as attention shifted to containing the fire and ensuring the safety of those in the vicinity.

The extent of damage to shops, goods and other property could not be immediately ascertained as of the time of filing this report. Similarly, information on possible casualties was not immediately available.

The circumstances surrounding the reported explosion and the subsequent fire are expected to be established by relevant emergency and safety authorities following a detailed assessment of the scene.

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

The Office of the Tax Ombud and the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA) have agreed to work together to resolve tax and fee disputes affecting investors, in a move both agencies say will help draw more foreign direct investment into Nigeria’s oil and gas free zones.

The agreement was announced recently when the Tax Ombud/Chief Executive, Dr.

John Nwabueze, paid a courtesy visit to OGFZA, where he described the planned partnership as key to building a fair, transparent and predictable tax environment for investors in the zones.

“I am very much aware that OGFZA regulates and coordinates activities in the zones, grants permits and licences, administers incentives, and resolves disputes among stakeholders,” Dr.

Nwabueze said.

“The Office of the Tax Ombud complements these functions by providing an independent channel for reviewing and resolving complaints relating to taxes, levies, regulatory fees, customs duties and excise matters.”

He listed possible areas of cooperation between the two agencies as taxpayer complaint resolution, clarification of tax incentives, review of systemic complaints, and promotion of transparency and accountability.

According to a statement made available by the Chief Press Secretary to the Tax Ombud, Chukwudi Achife, Nwabueze added that such efforts would encourage voluntary tax compliance and help raise Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio, a goal he linked to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In his response, OGFZA’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Alhaji Usman Bamanga Jada, said investors in the oil and gas free zones had already benefited from incentives, tax exemptions and customs duty concessions put in place by the Federal Government to attract sustainable FDI, drive private-sector infrastructure development and create jobs.

He said the proposed collaboration with the Tax Ombud’s office came at the right time, noting that it would strengthen investor confidence and support business activity across the special economic zones OGFZA oversees nationwide.

To move the partnership forward, both agencies have named liaison officers to coordinate the relationship and ensure its objectives are met within the shortest possible time.

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

The Office of the Tax Ombud and the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA) have agreed to work together to resolve tax and fee disputes affecting investors, in a move both agencies say will help draw more foreign direct investment into Nigeria’s oil and gas free zones.

The agreement was announced recently when the Tax Ombud/Chief Executive, Dr.

John Nwabueze, paid a courtesy visit to OGFZA, where he described the planned partnership as key to building a fair, transparent and predictable tax environment for investors in the zones.

“I am very much aware that OGFZA regulates and coordinates activities in the zones, grants permits and licences, administers incentives, and resolves disputes among stakeholders,” Dr.

Nwabueze said.

“The Office of the Tax Ombud complements these functions by providing an independent channel for reviewing and resolving complaints relating to taxes, levies, regulatory fees, customs duties and excise matters.”

He listed possible areas of cooperation between the two agencies as taxpayer complaint resolution, clarification of tax incentives, review of systemic complaints, and promotion of transparency and accountability.

According to a statement made available by the Chief Press Secretary to the Tax Ombud, Chukwudi Achife, Nwabueze added that such efforts would encourage voluntary tax compliance and help raise Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio, a goal he linked to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In his response, OGFZA’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Alhaji Usman Bamanga Jada, said investors in the oil and gas free zones had already benefited from incentives, tax exemptions and customs duty concessions put in place by the Federal Government to attract sustainable FDI, drive private-sector infrastructure development and create jobs.

He said the proposed collaboration with the Tax Ombud’s office came at the right time, noting that it would strengthen investor confidence and support business activity across the special economic zones OGFZA oversees nationwide.

To move the partnership forward, both agencies have named liaison officers to coordinate the relationship and ensure its objectives are met within the shortest possible time.