Reps Probe Centenary City Project

• Double Taxation  Avoidance Bill Passes through second reading

• Presidency lauds passage of two executive bills

By Damilola Oyedele in Abuja

The House of Representatives on Wednesday directed its Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to investigate the Centenary City Project to ascertain if it is being executed in line with extant laws and regulations.

The Centenary City Project was embarked upon by the last administration in 2014 to mark 100 years of the amalgamation of Nigeria.

The resolution to investigate the project followed a motion sponsored by Hon. Golu Timothy (Plateau PDP), for alleged irregularities.

Golu alleged that the project, located along the airport road, has cost the government billions of naira and loss of thousands of hectares of land.

“It was to showcase Abuja as a modern city. Government was not supposed to be part of it. People were meant to be compensated, there is restiveness as there has been no compensation given,” Golu said.

The committee is expected to report back in four weeks.

The lawmakers also passed through second reading, a bill that seeks to eliminate double taxation for transactions between Nigerian and Spanish businesses.

The Executive bill sponsored by the Majority  Leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila  is named “a Bill for an Act to Provide for the Domestication and Enforcement in Nigeria of the Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Kingdom of Spain and for Other Related Matters.”

Gbajabiamila recently sponsored a  similar executive bill to avoid double taxation with the Republic of South Korea.

Leading the debate, the lawmaker called for expediency in passage of the bill into law due to the crucial matter being addressed by the bill.

He noted that double taxation continues to mitigate against the inflow of foreign investment into Nigeria, particularly at this time when the current administration seeks to improve ease of doing business.

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