AIB Releases Preliminary Reports on Dana, Delta, Other Incidents
The federal government has said it has identified a new batch of over 130,000 high net worth individuals and companies with potential tax underpayments.
They were uncovered via the data mining efforts of the Ministry of Finance’s Project Lighthouse.
The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, made the disclosure yesterday while appearing on the ‘Good Morning Nigeria programme of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).
She revealed that the data was currently being compiled by Project Lighthouse in preparation for the closure of the ongoing Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS), which ends on March 31, 2018.
Project Lighthouse is a unique project of the Ministry of Finance that combines data from Federal and State agencies and overseas countries.
She said: “The data have been received from a number of sources including land registries of the Governments of Lagos, Kaduna, Kano and Ogun States as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“In addition, Nigeria has been able to request data from a number of nations including traditional tax havens. The data have been received from a number of foreign jurisdictions under the exchange of information protocols.
“Under the exchange of information protocols, this information relates to bank records and financial filings for tax purposes and is obtained from tax havens who are signatories to the information sharing agreements such as British Virgin Islands and Mauritius.”
She explained that the data received from overseas countries would only be used for taxation purposes in line with the protocols governing the exchange of information
“The sole interest of the federal and state governments in the use of the data is in raising tax revenues. There is absolutely no hidden agenda on the use of the data,” she added.
Adeosun hailed the ‘unprecedented’ level of cooperation between the federal and state governments, which she said was a marked change from the past when the various arms of government did not align their efforts.
She identified the common violations by non-compliant tax payers to include; Underdeclaration of and non-declaration of income earned including income from Government contracts and overseas trading; Collection of Value Added Tax (VAT) which is not duly remitted to FIRS; Charging of non-allowable personal expenses to company accounts particularly with reference to overseas school fees; Inconsistency between income declared for tax purposes and the value of assets owned.
She advised non-compliant tax payers to seek professional advice and to also consult relevant literature available from the tax authorities on tax rules.
The minister underscored the federal government’s commitment to raising tax revenues which were essential to grow the economy and create jobs for Nigerians. Chinedu Eze
The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) yesterday released the preliminary report on serious incidents involving Delta Air Airbus A330-223 aircraft with registrationN858NW, which occurred after take-off from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on February 13, 2018.
The report indicated that the aircraft which airlifted 221 passengers with 13 crew members was duly certified for the flight operation; therefore it was airworthy before the takeoff, but about seven minutes into the Lagos-Atlanta operation, it made air return back to the Lagos airport.
AIB said the flight crew were certified and qualified to conduct the flight in accordance with applicable United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, but the number one engine fire warning came on about a minute after take-off, while the crew contacted air traffic control and declared emergency.
The report stated that the aircraft landed at about 2259hrs (11; 59p.m., Nigerian time) and stopped on runway 18R (international runway), where the Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Service first reported observing smoke, and fire on the number one engine.
AIB also reported that there was evidence of fire within the engine cowling even as the two fire extinguishers on the engine were discharged.
“A commotion was reported onboard the aircraft before the evacuation.
“Investigation is still ongoing and further investigative actions may include engine examination, material testing for the fuel manifolds, engine oil and hydraulic lines, inspection of fuel manifolds for crack and inspection of fuel nozzle braze joints for leaks,” AIB said in a statement signed by its spokesman, Tunji Oketumbi.
The bureau also released the preliminary reports on the accident involving the Dana Air MD - 83 with registrationnumber, 5N-SRIthatoverran the runway at the Port Harcourt International Airport on February 20, 2018, and the accident involving Gulfstream G200 aircraft belonging to Nest Oil with registration number 5N-BTF, which occurred at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on January 25, 2018.
The agency said the Dana Air flight was cleared to land at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, by the air traffic control, but the flight crew reported that the runway had experienced recent rain before arrival, and after touch down, looked and felt contaminated with flood of water that did not drain well.
“Other findings include the fact that after the aircraft came to a complete stop, emergency evacuation was carried out using only the left forward main door and the escape slide on this door did not deploy just as the Public Address System did not work.
“The Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Service arrived during the evacuation and all persons onboard were evacuated unhurt,” AIB said.
On the Nesto Oil Gulfstream 200, AIB said it was notified at 1528hrs (3:38p.m. Nigerian time) by Abuja Air Traffic Control (ATC) January 25, 2018, of an accident involving a Gulfstream 200 (G200) with registration marking 5N-BTF, which took off from Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos (DNMM), at 1428hrs (2:28p.m. Nigerian time) operating a chartered flight service to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport; Abuja (DNAA) with four passengers and three crew onboard.
AIB said findings confirmed that the crew were certified and qualified to conduct the flight; the aircraft was airworthy as at the time of the occurrence and there was no reported adverse weather during approach and landing into Abuja.
The agency also noted that the aircraft lost directional control during the landing roll and it veered off and rested on the right shoulder of the runway because its right main landing gear strut sheared off.