The Federal Government has announced a deepening of its security partnership with the People’s Republic of China, focusing on local arms production and military training as part of a broader strategy to address terrorism and insecurity.

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, disclosed this during a briefing at the State House after President Bola Tinubu met with China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja.

Wang Yi is on a week-long tour of Africa, visiting Namibia, DR Congo, Nigeria, and Chad.

Tuggar emphasized that closer cooperation with China would help Nigeria and neighboring countries address common security threats. He noted that the goal was to domesticate the production of military equipment to avoid delays and complex regulations involved in international procurement.

The move follows comments by Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who highlighted arms procurement as a significant bottleneck, particularly in getting timely supplies for frontline troops.

Tuggar also rejected the idea of relying on private military companies to tackle Nigeria’s security challenges, stressing Nigeria’s leadership role in West Africa’s security, especially in the Sahel region.

China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, affirmed Beijing’s commitment to supporting Africa’s security, announcing a CN¥1bn military assistance package. This includes training 6,000 military personnel and 1,000 law enforcement officers across various African nations, as well as supporting the African Standby Force and rapid response forces.

China also pledged to continue backing peacekeeping operations and counterterrorism initiatives in Africa, stressing that African nations should lead their own peace and security efforts without external interference.

Wang Yi also addressed Nigeria’s request to expand the bilateral currency swap agreement, which is currently valued at $2bn. President Tinubu urged China to increase this swap to facilitate trade between the two countries. The agreement, initially signed in 2018, aims to stabilize Nigeria’s foreign reserves and reduce reliance on the US dollar.

Additionally, Tinubu pushed for an upward revision of China’s $50bn aid package for Africa, highlighting the continent’s significant infrastructural needs. He also called for China’s support for Nigeria’s bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

Wang Yi expressed China’s full support for Nigeria’s potential membership in BRICS and reaffirmed China’s commitment to contributing to the development of Africa, particularly through infrastructure projects such as railway modernization. He also welcomed Nigeria’s participation in issuing Panda bonds in China’s financial markets to further enhance economic cooperation.

Wang highlighted that China would continue to support Africa’s legitimate rights at the United Nations and back initiatives that promote long-term stability and security on the continent.

The visit follows the elevation of China-Nigeria relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, aimed at enhancing cooperation in trade, agriculture, finance, and mutual prosperity.

The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has announced the detention of an officer who appeared in a viral video allegedly engaging in the abuse of the naira alongside the sons of Razaq Okoya, the billionaire industrialist.

The officer was seen holding wads of naira notes as Subomi ‘Sirheem’ Okoya, an up-and-coming musician, and his brother Wahab, danced to a tune.

The video was described as a promotional clip for Sirheem’s new song.

The clip has raised concerns about ongoing cases of naira abuse and the involvement of police officers in private ventures.

In 2024, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) intensified its efforts to address naira abuse by celebrities, referencing Section 21 of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act.

On April 4, Bobrisky, the social media personality, was arrested by the commission in Lagos for defacing naira notes.

The crossdresser was arraigned on a six-count charge by the EFCC.

On April 16, the EFCC filed a three-count charge against Cubana Chief Priest, the socialite and social media influencer, over alleged naira abuse.

• ‘IT’S UNETHICAL’

In a statement on Friday, Muyiwa Adejobi, the police spokesperson, said the officer seen in the video with the Okoyas has been detained.

He said the officer’s actions were unethical, adding that he would face disciplinary action.

“The policeman captured in the recent viral video shared by the sons of the Lagos businessman, Chief Okoya, where they were abusing the naira, has been identified and detained for disciplinary action,” Adejobi wrote on X.

“The involvement of the policeman has been condemned, as it’s unethical. We will always strive hard to uphold the sanctity, credibility, and core values of the police.”

In his reaction, Subomi ‘Sirheem’ Okoya apologised to the police, adding that his actions were naive and unintentional.

“To the Nigerian people, my actions were not to cause any trouble or harm. My intentions were pure and naive,” he wrote on X.

“I ask for your forgiveness and support in this situation as I had no intention to raise such an alarm. I wasn’t fully aware of the consequences of my action.”

• WHAT THE CBN ACT SAYS

Section 21 of the act states: “(1) A person who tampers with a coin or note issued by the Bank is guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment for a term not less than six months or to a fine not less than N50,000 or to both such fine and imprisonment.

“(2) A coin or note shall be deemed to have been tampered with if the coin or note has been impaired, diminished or lightened otherwise than by fair wear and tear or has been defaced by stumping, engraving, mutilating, piercing, stapling, writing, tearing, soiling, squeezing or any other form of deliberate and wilful abuse whether the coin or note has or has not been thereby diminished or lightened.

“(3) For the avoidance of doubt, spraying of, dancing or matching on the Naira or any note issued by the Bank during social occasions or otherwise howsoever shall constitute an abuse and defacing of the Naira or such note and shall be punishable under Sub-section (1) of this section.

“(4) It shall also be an offence punishable under Sub-section (1) of this section for any person to hawk, sell or otherwise trade in the Naira notes, coins or any other note issued by the Bank.”

A federal high court in Abuja has summoned Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the minister of interior, and Lateef Fagbemi, the attorney-general of the federation (AGF), over issues related to the expatriate employment levy (EEL).

The ministers are required to appear before the court on January 16 to justify why the proposed expatriates taxation regime should not be halted.

Inyang Ekwo, the presiding judge, issued this ruling on Thursday following a motion ex parte presented by Patrick Peter, counsel representing the plaintiff.

Ekwo directed that the minister and the AGF be served with the motion within three days of the order.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CD/1780/2024, was filed by the Incorporated Trustees of New Kosol Welfare Initiative.

The group seeks an order of interim injunction to prevent the defendants from implementing the new expatriates’ taxation regime in Nigeria until the motion is heard and decided.

In the affidavit attached to the suit, Raphael Ezeh, programme implementation coordinator of the group, stated that the EEL taxation policy was announced by the federal government on Tuesday, February 27, 2024.

“According to KPMG and other online information analysts and dissemination agencies, the federal government intends to compel all companies and organisations who engage the services of foreign expatriates to pay tax E.E.L. as follows: For every expatriate on the level of a director — Fifteen Thousand United States Dollars ($15,000.00) equivalent to Twenty-Three Million Naira, by the current exchange rates (NW23,000,000.00) per annum,” he said.

“For every expatriate on a non-director level – Ten Thousand United States Dollars ($10,000.00) equivalent to Sixteen Million Naira, by the current exchange rates (N16,000,000.00) per annum.”

Ezeh stated that the federal government has also proposed additional regulations, including penalties and sanctions for non-compliance with the proposed taxation regime.

According to him, inaccurate or incomplete reporting will result in five years imprisonment and/or N1 million.

He explained that failure by a corporate entity to file EEL within 30 days will attract a penalty of N3 million.

Similarly, failure to register an employee within 30 days or the submission of false information will also incur a penalty of N3 million.

Ezeh added that failure to renew the EEL before its expiry date will attract a penalty of N3 million.

“The proposed taxation regime is totally an anti-people policy because of its radical effect on different aspects of the Nigerian economy, and it works like a choke-hold against the economic growth of the nation,” he said.

He emphasized that taxation is a sensitive issue, requiring collaboration between the executive and legislative arms of government under the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

He noted that, under section 59 of the constitution, the executive alone lacks the authority to impose taxes on corporate bodies and citizens.

Ezeh added that the current tax regime is “significantly more favourable to expatriates” compared to the proposed system.

“If the defendants are not restrained by an order of this honourable court, they will commence full implementation of the said programme, thereby threatening the nation’s economic sustainability,” he said.

The matter was adjourned to January 16 for the defendants to appear before the court and show cause.

The federal ministry of interior had suspended the implementation of the EEL in 2024 to allow for further consultations with the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and other stakeholders.