Business News
LIRS under investigation after dumping taxpayers’ data online
An investigation has been launched into the creation of a taxpayer’s portal by the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS). #NITDA #LIRS
An investigation has been launched into the creation of a taxpayer’s portal by the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS). The action has been ruled as a breach of Nigeria’s privacy law.
The probe is being carried out by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). According to the agency, the action of the Lagos tax administrator contravenes provisions of the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation, 2019.
Ayodele Subair
Nairametrics had reported that the Lagos State government created a portal for taxpayers; individuals and corporate organisations. The tax portal is an initiative that ensures ease of tax administration in Lagos State and eliminates cumbersome procedures, allowing taxpayers to monitor and access their tax information. To access your tax details as a registered taxpayer, what you need is your taxpayer’s name.
A costly mistake: Director-General, NITDA, Kashifu Abdullahi, explained that to access personal information of taxpayers was a glitch from a consultant of the service. He said despite the exposure of data being a third-party mistake, LIRS wouldn’t be protected from “responsibility or culpability from whatever actions, civil or criminal, that may arise from such glitch.
“We stress that such glitches are in breach of the NDPR and invariably the National Information Technology Development Agency Act, 2007.”
He added that, “The agency will further investigate this breach and the circumstances surrounding it with the aim of assessing the impact of the breach as well as determine responsibility and culpability of data controllers or processors connected to the breach and prevent future occurrence.
“We also advise the public to be vigilant and to report immediately to NITDA or other law enforcement agencies if they notice that the information of any data subject on the LIRS database is further disclosed or used in any manner in violation of the NDPR.”
[READ MORE: Six firms face LIRS sanction over non-remittance of N42.68 million Income Tax)
The problem with the portal: While the initiative will ease procedure and help taxpayers monitor their tax activities, it could grant strangers access to the personal information of individuals and corporate organisations without approval. All that is needed is the individual or company name, and the taxpayer’s ID, email, phone and address will be made available.
Sports
Nigeria’s Israel Adesanya suffers first career defeat in UFC
Nigeria’s Israel Adesanya suffered his first loss in his mixed martial arts career.
Nigerian born, Israel Adesanya suffered his first loss in his mixed martial arts career as he came up short against his opponent, Jan Blachowicz at the UFC 259.
The UFC 259 took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on a Saturday night. Adesanya had a shot at history to become UFC’s fifth double-champion by joining the likes of Amanda Nunes, Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier and Henry Cejudo as the only UFC’s simultaneous two-belt champions but failed.
This loss means his unbeatable record has been broken as Blachowicz who successfully defended his light heavyweight strap. It also means Adesanya’s nine-win streak in the UFC has come to an end.
The judges scored the fight 49-46, 49-45, 49-45 as the Polish champion, Blachowicz won with a unanimous decision over Adesanya as he handed him his first loss in his mixed martial arts career that began in 2012.
Speaking during his post-match conference, Adesanya said that even though the decision didn’t go his way, he would work hard to make a comeback at the title.
“It didn’t go the way I wanted it to go, but dare to be great. The critics are the ones on the sidelines, but I’m the one putting it on the line.
“This is not a one-off. I definitely will be back … I’m going back to 185, and I’m going to rule that b**** with my iron black fist,” he said.
Coronavirus
COVID-19 Update in Nigeria
On the 6th of March 2021, 195 new confirmed cases and 10 deaths were recorded in Nigeria
The spread of novel Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) in Nigeria continues to record significant increases as the latest statistics provided by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control reveal Nigeria now has 158,237 confirmed cases.
On the 6th of March 2021, 195 new confirmed cases and 10 deaths were recorded in Nigeria.
To date, 158,237 cases have been confirmed, 137,645 cases have been discharged and 1,964 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
A total of 1.54 million tests have been carried out as of March 6th, 2021 compared to 1.49 million tests a day earlier.
COVID-19 Case Updates- 6th March 2021,
- Total Number of Cases – 158,237
- Total Number Discharged – 137,645
- Total Deaths – 1,964
- Total Tests Carried out – 1,544,008
According to the NCDC, the 195 new cases are reported from 17 states- Lagos (70), Kaduna (22), Abia (20), Edo (18), Kano (10), Akwa Ibom (9) Rivers (7), FCT (7) Borno (6) Bauchi (5), Osun (5), Oyo (5), Plateau (3), Ekiti (3), Niger (2), Ogun (2) and Zamfara (1).
Meanwhile, the latest numbers bring Lagos state total confirmed cases to 56,374, followed by Abuja (19,328), Plateau (8,939), Kaduna (8,623), Oyo (6,761), Rivers (6,651), Edo (4,645), Ogun (4,419), Kano (3,830), Ondo (3,066), Kwara (2,953), Delta (2,582), Osun (2,449), Nasarawa (2,248), Enugu (2,078), Katsina (2,060), Gombe (2,010), Ebonyi (1,951), Anambra (1,811), Akwa Ibom (1,588), and Abia (1,568).
Imo State has recorded 1,551 cases, Borno (1,297), Bauchi (1,232), Benue (1,188), Adamawa (942), Niger (917), Taraba (863), Ekiti (825), Bayelsa (779), Sokoto (769), Jigawa (496), Kebbi (401), Cross River (334), Yobe (288), Zamfara (221), while Kogi state has recorded 5 cases only.
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Lock Down and Curfew
In a move to combat the spread of the pandemic disease, President Muhammadu Buhari directed the cessation of all movements in Lagos and the FCT for an initial period of 14 days, which took effect from 11 pm on Monday, 30th March 2020.
The movement restriction, which was extended by another two weeks period, has been partially put on hold with some businesses commencing operations from May 4. On April 27th, 2020, Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari declared an overnight curfew from 8 pm to 6 am across the country, as part of new measures to contain the spread of the COVID-19. This comes along with the phased and gradual easing of lockdown measures in FCT, Lagos, and Ogun States, which took effect from Saturday, 2nd May 2020, at 9 am.
On Monday, 29th June 2020 the federal government extended the second phase of the eased lockdown by 4 weeks and approved interstate movement outside curfew hours with effect from July 1, 2020. Also, on Monday 27th July 2020, the federal government extended the second phase of eased lockdown by an additional one week.
On Thursday, 6th August 2020 the federal government through the secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 announced the extension of the second phase of eased lockdown by another four (4) weeks.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State announced the closed down of the Eti-Osa Isolation Centre, with effect from Friday, 31st July 2020. He also mentioned that the Agidingbi Isolation Centre would also be closed and the patients relocated to a large capacity centre.
Due to the increased number of covid-19 cases in Nigeria, the Nigerian government ordered the reopening of Isolation and treatment centres in the country on Thursday, 10th December 2020.
On 26th January 2021, the Federal Government announced the extension of the guidelines of phase 3 of the eased lockdown by one month following the rising cases of the coronavirus disease in the country and the expiration of phase 3 of the eased lockdown.
On 28th February 2021, the federal government confirmed that the first tranche of Covid-19 vaccines will arrive in Nigeria on Tuesday, March 2nd, 2021.
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