The federal government has imposed a generator tax on Abuja business owners.
According to the government, generators and other industrial machines pollute the environment and constitute a danger to Abuja residents.
Specifically, the Federal Capital Territory Administration imposed an annual levy on Abuja banks, industries, and warehouses for using generators and other machines.
A notice signed by the director of Public Health of AMAC, Ahmed Haruna, stated that the levy was for discharging harmful substances from generators.
“Management of Abuja Municipal Area Council Environment Services (ESD) Bodies, wishes to notify you of levy/ fees due to Abuja Municipal Area of Council for Gaseous Emission Permit,” said the notice. “This includes (the) discharge of harmful hazardous substance(s) into the air or the land and the water in Nigeria by the activities of industries, warehouse(s), bank(s), either from generator(s) or heavy-duty drilling, production, construction and manufacturing equipment, filling stations, etc.”
According to the Abuja municipal council, the levy is in line with the provision of section (2C) of the fourth schedule to the Nigerian Constitution “as amended under the function of the Local Government Authority and Federal Environmental Protection Agency Act (FEPA) Section 25.”
The law mandates the council “to regulate, enforce, and collection of levies for the interest of public health importance.”
“Also note that failure to comply with this forgoing regulation is (a) punishable offence,” the notice warned, “and we will seize the activities of the organisation and arrest as prescribe in part iv section 27 subsection 1 abcd and (2) of FEPA ACT 1992.”
Mr Haruna further stated that any business that failed to comply with the directive would face a sanction, arrest, and shutdown.