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After slashing cement price, BUA ‘silently’ increase sugar, flour, pasta

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After slashing cement price, BUA ‘silently’ increase sugar, flour, pasta

By Admin 9, 2023

Days after announcing the reduction of ex-factory price of cement, BUA Group has silently increased prices of foods, particularly a bag of sugar, a bag of flour and a carton of spaghetti, investigation has revealed.

The management of one of the giant cement coy in the country had on October 1 announced the reduction of ex-factory price of the product to N3,500 per bag.

But the announcement was greeted by public outrage as dealers were battling to enlighten the customers that the reduction in price affects only companies that supply the commodity directly from the factory.

However, investigation by this newspaper had revealed that BUA Foods had silently increased prices of its sugar, flour and pasta products.

Our reporter, who went round some shops at the popular Singer Market in Kano state, the biggest grocery market in Northern Nigeria, observed that price of a bag of sugar, flour and a carton of spaghetti had increased by N3,500, N2,000 and at least N1000 respectively.

Checks by this newspaper had shown that while the price of sugar was recently sold at N44,000 per bag, spaghetti N8,100 a carton, and a bag of flour at N32,500, the commodities are now being sold at N47,500, N9,000 and N34,500 respectively.

A dealer of BUA Foods in Kano told our reporter that the increase in prices of the commodities followed immediately after the company announced the reduction of its cement product.

According to the dealer, who preferred to remain anonymous as he was not authorized to speak, they observed the increase in the prices this week.

He confirmed that the price of a carton of IRS Spaghetti, a pasta product of the BUA Foods, is now N9,000 a carton at company price, while it was recently sold at N8,400 a carton, an indication that it could reach up to N10,000 at retail price.

He also said “We have observed the increase this week. Price of a bag of flour has now gone up to N34,500 as against the N31,000 to N32,000 sold last week. About N2,000 has been increased on a bag of flour and it is a company price.

” About sugar, there is no standard price but it is sold up to N48,000 now in the market. It was N44,500 to N45,000 per bag just last week. Somebody told me that he is selling it at N46,500 per bag.

“We have just received the increased from them this week. They normally communicate to use via phone. They will just send us messages if there is any development.

“I also want to tell you that all these prices are company prices,” he stressed.

Our investigation also revealed that price of the commodities had already gone up at retail outlets in the Kano city.

A grocery shop operator, Mustapha at Karkasara are of Tarauni Local Government area, informed our reporter that he sells a bag of 50kg sugar at N49,000 after he supplied it at N47,500 from the dealers.

Another shop operator, Ibrahim Musa in Fagge Local Government said he had observed increment in price of sugar, flour and IRS spaghetti.

According to him, he purchased a 50kg bag of sigar at N48,000, adding that he supplied a bag of flour at N33,000, while IRS spaghetti was N9,100.

He lamented that despite the increment, he is recording low market as according to him, it had taken him about two weeks to finish a bag of flour.

“You know there is no money in the hand of people. Before i purchased this flour, the one supplied last time took almost two weeks before it finished.

“We are recording low market. People are in poverty and the patronage is low. We just thank God and pray for His intervention,” Ibrahim said.

Customers also expressed displeasure over the recent increment of the BUA food products.

Amina Sani, one of the major customers that purchase bags of flour for baking Gurasa, a locally-made staple in Kano, lamented that the price of the product has kept rising anytime.

She said the price is rising day in day out from three years ago, recalling that the price had skyrocketed from just N5,500 per bag.

“Ironically, this price of BUA plower has skyrocketed just three years ago when a bag of flour was just N5,500. The price keep going higher

“I have now bought a bag of flour at N34,500. We therefore call on the BUA company to reduce the price of flour as we heard that he reduced the price of s bag of sugar,” Iyami appealed.

Efforts to reach BUA company proved abortive as a major dealer in the state, who was speaking on behalf of the company said he could no longer speak now.

 

 

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KIRS seeks wider tax compliance to boost Kano revenue

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The Executive Chairman, Kano State Internal Revenue Service (KIRS), Alhaji Bashir Maitama has urged taxpayers to pay their taxes correctly and as when due.

Maitama made the call while speaking in Kano on Wednesday during the Customer Service Week of the service.

He said the celebration provided an opportunity for the agency to appreciate taxpayers for their contributions to the development of the state.

The chairman described taxpayers as important stakeholders whose contributions were valued by the agency and the state government.

Maitama said KIRS’ digital tax platforms had made tax payment easier, adding that the agency was committed to resolving challenges experienced by taxpayers.

He urged taxpayers facing difficulties with the platforms to contact the agency for prompt assistance.

On revenue performance, the chairman said KIRS had recorded significant improvement in its collections and expressed confidence that it would meet the revenue target set by the state government.

He said the agency would continue to promote voluntary compliance and expand the tax net by bringing more eligible taxpayers into the system.

“There are many people doing businesses who are not yet in the tax net. We want to ensure that more taxpayers are captured and encouraged to comply voluntarily,” he said.

The chairman explained that the digitization of KIRS operations was aimed at blocking revenue leakages, improving transparency and simplifying tax payment.

He said the agency would continue to adopt technology to improve efficiency, revenue collection and service delivery.

Maitama, therefore, urged taxpayers to fulfil their tax obligations promptly and correctly.

Earlier, The Executive Director, Revenue Operations, (KIRS), Kasim Ismael urged taxpayers to pay their taxes correctly and as when due, describing tax payment as essential to the development of the state.

He said taxes were an important source of revenue for the government to provide essential services, maintain institutions and promote peace and development.

The executive director also called for improved cooperation between the agency and taxpayers to strengthen compliance and revenue generation in the state.

Speaking also, Mr Michael Daniel, who spoke on behalf of the customers, said that taxpayers appreciated the efforts of KIRS in improving its services and strengthening its relationship with taxpayers.

He urged the agency to sustain its commitment to transparency, professionalism and efficient service delivery, saying improved customer service would encourage more people to comply with their tax obligations.

 

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Milo intervention empowers Kano tea sellers with business tools

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The Nestlé Milo Mai Shayi empowerment programme has continued to receive commendation from stakeholders in Kano, with beneficiaries describing the initiative as a major boost to their small-scale businesses.

The programme, aimed at supporting tea sellers with business tools and resources, provided participants with items including gas cookers, cups and other materials to enhance their daily operations.

Speaking during the programme in Kano, Kannywood actor, Yusuf Sulaiman Bosho, said the initiative would contribute to the growth of tea-selling businesses and improve the livelihoods of operators.

Bosho noted that many small businesses require support to expand, adding that providing essential working tools would encourage beneficiaries to increase productivity.

“Supporting them with tools such as gas cookers, cups and ingredients is really a motivation in their day-to-day businesses,” he said.

He urged other corporate organisations to emulate Nestlé Milo by introducing similar interventions that would support small businesses across the country.

Also speaking, Milo Ambassador, Mansura Isa, said the programme demonstrated the company’s commitment to supporting its customers, particularly those engaged in small-scale enterprises.

Isa encouraged the beneficiaries to make effective use of the materials provided to improve their businesses and create more opportunities within their communities.

She added that more initiatives were being planned by the company to support customers across Nigeria and other parts of Africa.

The Category Manager of Nestlé Milo, Mr Gilbert Teenaboah Koduah, said the company would continue to invest in programmes that promote socio-economic development among its customers.

Koduah explained that the intervention was part of efforts by the company to strengthen businesses and contribute to economic growth at the community level.

Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to our Correspondent expressed appreciation to Nestlé Milo for the support, saying the items would help them improve their services and increase their earnings.

They pledged to continue patronising the company’s products while maximising the opportunity provided through the empowerment programme.

The event featured the presentation of tea-selling equipment and other gifts to participants.

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New Kano revenue boss pledges open drive

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The newly appointed executive chairman, Kano State Internal Revenue Service (KIRS) Alhaji Bashir Maitama, has pledged to strengthen revenue generation through transparency, accountability, teamwork and innovation.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Head, Corporate Communications of KIRS, Aisha Maigiwa, on Tuesday in Kano.

The statement said the new chairman formally assumed office on Monday, July 20, 2026, following a handover ceremony from the Acting Executive Chairman, Mallam Muhammad Abba Aliyu.

Welcoming Maitama, Aliyu, who is also the Executive Director, Compliance and Enforcement Group, prayed for God’s guidance and wisdom for the new chairman.

He urged members of staff to give the new leadership maximum support and cooperation towards sustaining the growth of internally generated revenue in the state.

In his inaugural remarks, Maitama expressed gratitude to Almighty God for the opportunity to lead the agency, describing his assumption of office as a historic moment.

He appreciated Gov. Abba Kabir Yusuf for finding him worthy of the appointment, assuring the governor and people of Kano State of his commitment to delivering on the mandate entrusted to him.

The chairman said he was delighted to join a team of professionals who had contributed immensely to the progress of the Service.

He commended his predecessor for his efforts in strengthening KIRS, saying history would recognise his contributions to the development of the agency.

Maitama also appreciated the Service’s technical partner, Manam Professional Services, for its support towards the transformation of KIRS.

He described his appointment as a collective responsibility and called on management and staff to work together to achieve the objectives of the Service.

The new chairman assured workers of an open, transparent and inclusive leadership style anchored on accountability, teamwork and innovation.

He identified achieving revenue targets, expanding the tax net and deepening the state’s tax base as key priorities of his administration.

Maitama expressed confidence that the targets set for KIRS were achievable, urging staff to embrace creative ideas and innovative solutions in carrying out their responsibilities.

He added that his office would remain open to constructive suggestions and meaningful contributions from staff.

Also speaking, the Executive Director, Revenue Operations Group, Mallam Kassim Ismail, expressed confidence in Maitama’s ability to lead the Service to greater heights.

He pledged the support of his directorate towards achieving the mandate of KIRS.

The event ended with the formal handover of leadership from the Acting Executive Chairman to the newly appointed Executive Chairman.

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