National
IWD:China Pledges Stronger Cooperation With Nigeria To Advance Women’s Dev’t
By Abubakar Yunusa, Abuja
The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Yu Dunhai, has reaffirmed China’s commitment to deepening cooperation with Nigeria, particularly in empowering women and fostering bilateral relations.
Speaking at the 2025 International Women’s Day celebration in Abuja,hosted by Embassy of China to Nigeria and Federal ministry of Women affairs of Nigeria on Friday, Ambassador Yu highlighted China’s efforts to implement the Ten Partnership Action Plans and enhance exchanges between women in both nations.
Addressing the event, themed Her Story, Her Future, Ambassador Yu praised the role of Chinese women in driving economic and social progress, stating: “Chinese women have truly become the ‘half of the sky’, making significant contributions to national development.”
He expressed confidence that more women would benefit from high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, allowing them to realise their aspirations and shape a prosperous future.
The ambassador noted that China-Nigeria relations had reached new heights following President Bola Tinubu’s visit to China last year and his participation in the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
He credited women from both countries with playing a crucial role in strengthening these ties across multiple sectors.
“Over the years, practical cooperation between China and Nigeria has deepened in various fields, providing Nigerian women with improved medical care, agricultural skills, and increased business opportunities,” he stated.
China has also prioritised gender equality, establishing a legal framework with over 100 laws and regulations protecting women’s rights.
Ambassador Yu highlighted key achievements, including an average life expectancy of nearly 81 years for Chinese women and the elimination of gender disparities in education. Notably, women now make up 45% of China’s workforce, and in the internet sector, female entrepreneurs outnumber their male counterparts at 55%.
He also pointed to the ongoing “Two Sessions” political meetings in Beijing, where women are actively participating as representatives to shape national policies.
“China’s progress in gender equality and women’s development is not just a reflection of our human rights practices but also a significant contribution to global equality, development, and peace,” he said.
In a goodwill message, Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, commended Nigerian women for their outstanding achievements on the global stage.
She highlighted prominent figures such as Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization, and Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, as shining examples of Nigerian excellence.
Represented by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Hon. Oraeluno Obinenye Raphael, the minister likened women’s contributions to the indispensable role of water, stating: “Women are life. Without them, there is no life. Despite their many responsibilities, they remain the foundation of homes, society, and character formation.”
Hon. Mrs Olubunmi Olowookere, Permanent Secretary of the Social Development Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, emphasised the resilience and courage of women throughout history.
She underscored the need for a future where women’s contributions in science, business, the arts, and leadership are fully recognised and celebrated.
“As we honour the past, we must also commit to a future where education, equality, and empowerment are fundamental rights, not privileges,” she declared.
The Nigerian Army has appointed Lieutenant Colonel Anele Onyinyechi Appolonia as the Acting Director, Army Public Relations — the first woman to hold the position.
Anele, a member of Direct Regular Course 15 and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), takes over from Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, who has been posted to the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre. Her appointment takes effect from April 22, 2025.
Before this elevation, Lt. Col. Anele completed a six-month strategic course at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre and was subsequently posted to the Department of Civil-Military Relations.
She has previously served as Public Relations Officer in the Office of the Chief of Army Staff. Until her new role, she was with the Department of Civil-Military Relations.
Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele
Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee, Mr Taiwo Oyedele
The Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, has said the Tax Reform Bill would curb poverty and empower ordinary Nigerians.
Oyedele made this known at the Spokespersons’ Summit, organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in Abuja.
He expressed strong optimism about the sweeping changes the bill would bring, especially for the low-income earners and small businesses across the country.
The chairman said that key highlights of the reform included the exemption of low-income earners from paying the Personal Income Tax (PAYE) and the removal of VAT from basic essentials such as food, education, and healthcare.
Oyedele added that it included a zero per cent Corporate Income Tax (CIT) rate for small businesses, adding that the bill had great benefits, especially for the masses, although it was welcomed with misconceptions and attacks.
He said, “This is because the issues of tax and taxation are not the most attractive to the ordinary persons because it is hard to part with your money.
“It is even harder when you part with your money and you cannot tell what exactly government is using it for that benefits you.”
Oyedele said the approach for the reform was to try and understand what the issues were and where the problems were coming from.
He added, “Then we will use data to engage with the people and design a solution for Nigeria that is made by Nigerians for the Nigerian people.
“That is exactly what we have done with the tax reform bill which is now nearing passage for the President to sign.”
According to Oyedele, the government is positive that as soon as implementation begins, Nigerians will see the real positive impact on their day-to-day living including low income earners being exempted from taxes.
“This is because, we want Nigerians to be able to create wealth and become successful, when they make it big time, then they will pay taxes, not the other way round.
“So, we believe that this message is resonating with the Nigerian people, it is still a long way to go but we are happy to continue with the journey,” he said.
Oyedele commended NIPR for putting the summit together and for discussing issues of government policies for the clearer understanding of Nigerians.
The President and Chairman of Council, NIPR, Dr Ike Neliaku, said the communication ecosystem should always be considered when formulating any government policy.
Neliaku said this was because the communicators have the gift of communicating even the most difficult policies to the people.
He added that they would look at such policies and guide strategic communication, adding, “which is the when,what,how where which it answers all those questions.
“So, when you say this is what we want to do,how best should we do it?it is the work of the experts and not quacks, those trained to come up with the strategies to communicate that.
“The tax reform is what this nation needs at this point but it was essentially misunderstood because of the way it was introduced and the mischief makers took advantage of that to do what they want.”
Neliaku said that was why NIPR and its partners in the communication ecosystem had promised to work with the government to develop a tax communication framework.
He said that it was also being done in the areas of climate action, Science communication and across many sectors to communicate reforms so that the child is not killed even before it is birthed.
He encouraged spokespersons to acquire knowledge, understand trends and issues in order to be effective and to speak well and informed.
Dr Nkechi Ali-Balogu, a Fellow of NIPR, said that there was need to view taxation with the gender lens, adding that there was need to make exemptions for women.
Ali-Balogun said that most women were bread winners these days as well as single mothers should enjoy tax exemption to empower them to provide for their families.
She commended NIPR for organising the summit, adding that it had broadened her horizon on national issues.(NAN)
By Abubakar Yunusa
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has further reduced the ex-gantry price of premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, to N835 per litre.
According to sources at the refinery, the plant dropped the price of the petrol sold to oil marketers to N835 per litre, six days after the refinery reduced it to N865 per litre.
“The refinery reduced the price of the petrol to N835 per litre,” a source told TheCable.
The reduction in Dangote petrol price followed an announcement by the federal government on April 9, that the naira-for-crude oil deal will continue after the first phase ended on March 31.
“The stakeholders reaffirmed the government’s continued commitment to the full implementation of this strategic initiative, as directed by the Federal Executive Council (FEC),” the finance ministry said.
“Thus, the Crude and Refined Product Sales in Naira initiative is not a temporary or time-bound intervention, but a key policy directive designed to support sustainable local refining, bolster energy security, and reduce reliance on foreign exchange in the domestic petroleum market.”
On April 15, Farouk Ahmed, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), said the estimated pump price of petrol in Nigeria is less than that of neighbouring countries in West Africa.
Ahmed also said Nigeria’s petrol importation reduced by 29.9 million litres in eight months due to increased contributions from local refineries.