Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have kicked against an order by the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) asking companies operating in Abuja to pay the sum of N650,000 for an environmental audit.
In a letter dated March 25, 2024 and addressed to a company, AEPB said N150,000 will be paid as an administrative charge while N500,000 will be paid as a review charge.
According to the letter signed by Rebecca Mamven on behalf of AEPB Director, the environmental audit is in accordance with AEPB Act 10 of 1997 and Sections 17-20 of the Solid Waste Control/Environmental Monitoring Regulations 2005.
But a cross section of residents interviewed by City & Crime kicked against the decision.
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Mrs Ronke Olayinka, a resident of Kubwa, dared the board, saying that companies should not obey the directive.
“Why on earth would they ask companies to start paying N650,000 for an environmental audit when they are still contending with the high cost of running their businesses. That means they want to kick them out of business. I believe it is a politically motivated one,” she said. Bello Isah sees the tax regime of the current FCTA administration as a tough situation.
“The FCTA administration now imposes too much tax on residents. During the previous administrations, their tax system and mode of enforcement was not detrimental to the people and their businesses. Surviving in this country is now the battle of the fittest,” Isah said.
The residents called on the FCT Administration wade in and called the AEPB to order.
