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Alternative Bank, UK government launch women-dominated commercial tricycles in Kano

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In a groundbreaking move that transforms transportation and enhances the security of women, Kano State witnessed the launch of a first-of-its-kind electric tricycle program.

The Alternative Bank, in collaboration with the UK government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and Qoray Mobility, unveiled this innovative social impact initiative, providing women with fully electric tricycles and comprehensive training.

This project flips the script on traditional transportation in Kano and marks a new chapter for the expertly trained women ready to navigate the city’s streets.

With 120 women from the Mata Zalla and Yar Baiwa cooperatives having undergone comprehensive training, they are now proficient tricycle drivers and mechanics.

These electric tricycles enable women to generate income by providing local transportation services and operating small delivery businesses.

“This initiative is a double win,” declared Alhaji Garba Mohammed, Executive Director of The Alternative Bank.

“Our electric tricycles are designed to address significant concerns regarding the safety of female passengers and children while at the same time safeguarding the environment.”

While elaborating the benefits of the electic tricylcles, Mohammed said: “Unlike traditional petrol-powered tricycles which contribute to pollution and are costly to operate due to rising fuel prices, our electric tricycles reduce carbon emissions and promote a cleaner, healthier environment.

This aligns perfectly with The Alternative Bank’s commitment to both community well-being and environmental responsibility.”

Adamu Maikano, Regional Coordinator of Kaduna and Kano State for the UK’s FCDO, highlighted the broader impact of the initiative, stating: “The UK government, a longstanding ally of Nigeria, is committed to facilitating investment, trade, and economic development.

The launch of this EV project is evidence that partnerships truly work when all parties remain focused on a mutual goal.”

Emphasizing the collaborative effort in facilitating the pilot of this EV project, Maikano said: “The UK’s FCDO-funded LINKS programme, worked with two women’s cooperatives in Kano – Mata Zalla and Yar Baiwa, The Alternative Bank, and the Kano Road Traffic Agency, to train 85 women, including the certification of 30 mechanics, and provision of essential tools.

The UK’s FCDO also supported the cooperatives with a two-year lease for the service center, and equipped them with battery recharging infrastructure.”

Explaining further, he said: “The project addresses challenges women face with traditional tricycles, including instances of violence. Having female owners and operators of the e-tricycles offers added comfort and security to women passengers who have no choice but to use tricycles for transportation,and equally offers the potential to lower greenhouse gas emissions significantly.”

Olabanjo Alimi, the Head of Qoray Mobility, expressed pride in the initiative and optimism about expanding the pilot program and improving its electric vehicles. He highlighted a recent launch in Victoria Island, Lagos, where locally built charging stations were introduced.

Reflecting on Qoray’s history, Alimi emphasized the company’s vision for the future of urban transportation—one with reduced pollution, lower transportation costs, and a strong commitment to the local community.

He remarked, “Unlike traditional petrol-powered tricycles that contribute to pollution and incur high operating costs due to rising fuel prices, these electric tricycles are designed to reduce carbon emissions and promote a cleaner, healthier environment.”

Alimi, a Kano native, concluded by thanking The Alternative Bank for its support and highlighting Qoray’s vision: “a future with cleaner air, lower transportation costs, and a thriving local community.”

This initiative signifies a transformative step towards a more sustainable and secure transportation system for women in Kano State. The Alternative Bank, along with its partners, is dedicated to continuing this momentum and expanding the program to create more opportunities for women across Nigeria

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Economy

Kano unveils eeZitax platform for filling tax returns, urges compliance

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Kano unveils eeZitax platform for filling tax returns, urges compliance

The Kano State Internal Revenue Service (KIRS) has unveiled unveiled eeZitax, an online platform for filling returns.

Zaid Abubakar, Executive Chairman of KIRS, made the announcement on Friday in Kano.

According to him, taxpayers can access the platform at etax.kirs.gov.ng, where they can follow prompts to complete and submit their annual tax returns electronically.

“A user guide is available at https://etax.kirs.gov.ng/manuals. The deadline for filing annual tax returns is January 31, 2025,” he explained.

He reminded taxpayers that failure to file returns by this date constitutes an offence under Section 41(1) and (2) of the Personal Income Tax Act 2011 (as amended).

The KIRS Chairman urged all employers to file their tax returns before the deadline to avoid penalties.

Abubakar then stressed that the returns should detail each employee’s total emoluments, any applicable tax reliefs, and the total tax deducted.

The chairman further announced that all corporate organisations were required to file their tax returns through the new online platform.

He also warned that non-compliance with the deadline will attract a penalty of N500,000 as provided under Section 81(3) of the Personal Income Tax Act 2011 (as amended.

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Kano revenue service unveils initiative to boost revenue growth

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The Kano State Internal Revenue Service (KIRS) has launched a new initiative aimed at significantly increasing the state’s revenue generation.
The initiative, unveiled at a ceremony on Monday, is part of the state government’s efforts to diversify its revenue sources.
Dr. Zaid Abubakar, Executive Chairman of KIRS, who spoke at the event, said the strategy focuses on enhancing revenue generation and improving service delivery.
He explained that the initiative would concentrate on improving tax collection, enhancing compliance, and optimizing technology in revenue management.
“Our vision is to become the most referenced sub-national revenue authority in Africa and to build a world-class tax system that is both sustainable and efficient, with a focus on optimizing revenue collection to drive economic growth in the state,” Abubakar said.
He emphasized the agency’s commitment to delivering value-added services to taxpayers, simplifying the tax process while ensuring fairness and transparency.
On the agency’s mission, he stated that KIRS seeks to create a tax system that benefits both the government and citizens by improving efficiency and ensuring optimal revenue generation.
“Our mission is to build a system that promotes accountability, fosters growth, and provides excellent services to the people of Kano State,” he added.
The Executive Chairman also outlined the core values that will guide the agency’s operations: professionalism, integrity, excellent service, efficiency, and collective responsibility.
Earlier, Muhammad Abba-Aliyu, Executive Director of Compliance and Enforcement, emphasized the importance of collective responsibility and called on all stakeholders to support KIRS’s initiatives for sustainable development in Kano State.

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Kano adopts Single Interstate Road Tax Sticker, Haulage Fee to curb multiple taxation

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The Kano Internal Revenue Service(KIRS) has inaugurated the Single Interstate Road Tax Sticker (SIRTS) and the Single Haulage Fee (SHF) to address multiple taxation from motorists on the highways.

Dr Zaid Abubakar, the Executive Chairman of KIRS, while unveiling the stickers on Saturday in Kano said that the project was initiated by the Joint Tax Board (JTB).

The chairman noted that the initiative of the Joint Tax Board (JTB), would end multiple taxation and improve the ease of doing business for transporters.

According to him, the Single Haulage Fee is to end illegal tax collection, and extortion on the highways, as well as block revenue leakages in the country.

“Today, we flaged off the harmonized collection scheme sticker which consist of interstate road tax sticker and single haulage fee.

“It will reduce multiple taxes collected from motorists on the highways and generate revenue for the state government.

“People are always complaining in the high way that they are forced to pay a high amount of money in the name of road taxes.

“JTB decided to come up with the interstate sticker to avoid that multiple taxation.

“Now, over 20 states of the federation have joined the system,” he said.

Earlier, the commissioner of finance, Alhaji Ibrahim Jibril, said the essence of implementing the Single Interstate Road Tax Sticker and the Single Haulage Fee was to end illegal tax collection, and extortion on the highways, as well as block revenue leakages in the country.

The commissioner said that the unified tax system would curb harassment of transport operators on the road by different unions.

Jibril further added that the approach would promote ease of doing business in the state and the country as a whole.like it was done in the civilized parts of the world.

Some of the stakeholders who spoke at the event, commended JTB and KIRS for the laudable initiative.

They said the initiative would reduce incidences of double taxation through the sales of multiple stickers while enhancing the ease of doing business in the country.

They added that the single interstate road sticker would remove all the roadblocks; across the nation, transporters face different kinds of roadblocks, taxes which is not good for their business.

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