Economy
NEPC urges miners to shift from raw exports to value-added gems
The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has launched a pivotal workshop aimed at enhancing the export competitiveness of Nigeria’s gemstone sector.
Speaking at the workshop on Tuesday in Kano, the Executive Director of NEPC, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, emphasized the importance of transforming Nigeria’s gemstone industry.
“Countries that dominate the gemstone export market do so not because they mine the most, but because they add the most value,” she said,
Represented by the regional coordinator of the agency, Hajiya Amina Abdulmalik, stressed that gemstones in their raw form do not yield the same economic potential as polished, value-added products.
“Nigeria, blessed with a wealth of gemstones such as sapphire, tourmaline, emerald, topaz, garnet, and amethyst, boasts substantial deposits across various states, including Kano and its neighboring regions,” she explained.
Ayeni pointed out that a significant proportion of the country’s gemstones were exported in their rough, unprocessed state, limiting both foreign exchange earnings and job creation.
According to her, the practice, results in other countries capturing the economic value through processing and finishing.
She stressed that the workshop aligns with the NEPC’s strategic campaign, #DoubleYourExports, which calls for a transition from raw mineral exports to processed, certified, and globally competitive finished products.
“This is not just a technical exercise, but an economic strategy to elevate Nigeria’s position in the global gemstone market,” Ayeni said.
Ayeni also highlighted the importance of organized clusters and collaboration between miners, processors, exporters, and financial institutions.
“When miners operate informally and individually, value is lost. But when they work within organized clusters, skills improve, costs reduce, and standards strengthen,” she added.
The NEPC boss also affirmed the Council’s commitment to providing continuous support to the gemstone sector.
Hajiya Amina Abdulmalik, NEPC North-West Regional Coordinator, called for the transformation of Nigeria’s gemstone value chain to meet international standards.
She stressed the importance of miners and artisans acquiring skills to produce high-quality, market-ready gemstones.
Abdulmalik highlighted that the workshop supports NEPC’s mandate to promote non-oil exports and create sustainable livelihoods through value addition.
She said that the training would cover quality management, export documentation, and market access strategies to enhance global competitiveness.
Speaking also, Alhaji Hamza Safiyanu, Commissioner for the Ministry of Solid Minerals and Natural Resources, outlined key strategies for advancing the sector.
He stressed the ministry’s progress through data collection, stakeholder engagement, and policy development.
“We are now focusing on providing artisans miners with opportunities to market their products, a major achievement in our efforts,” he said,
Safiyanu emphasized the need for miners to understand global markets and their sector’s potential.
Speaking also, Alhaji Hamza Safiyanu, Commissioner for the Ministry of Solid Minerals and Natural Resources, outlined key strategies for achieving the sector’s goals.
According to him, the ministry has made significant progress through concerted efforts, including data collection and stakeholder engagement.
He highlighted the importance of policy development and collaborations in advancing the sector.
“We have moved to the next phase of development by involving miners, particularly artisanal miners.
“Our focus is now on creating opportunities for them to market their mined products. This marks a major achievement in our efforts,” he explained.
The commissioner also emphasized the need for artisanal miners to better understand global markets and the potential within their sector.
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Economy
KIRS seeks wider tax compliance to boost Kano revenue
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.
NAN
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Economy
Milo intervention empowers Kano tea sellers with business tools
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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Economy
New Kano revenue boss pledges open drive
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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