Lagos blasts Sambo over alleged tax imposition

Lagos State Government yesterday castigated Vice President Namadi Sambo over his comments during his recent visit to the state that people were leaving Lagos in droves as a result of the heavy tax imposed on them by the state government.

The state government in a statement signed by Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Information and Strategy, Mr. Raji Lateef, said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government which the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, was part of, lacked viable message for the people of Lagos
The state government said: “For whatever it is worth, Sambo deserves to be pitied. If his itinerary coming on this trip in an election year had included the inspection, not even commissioning, of any ongoing ambitious programmes or projects initiated by the Federal Government for the good of the people of Lagos State, he may have been better preoccupied and avoided the gaffe.

“It will be good to share with him and his fellows a simple narrative of what was done differently in Lagos State. It is never too late to learn.”

The government said it had long realized that the state, with its enormous social and economic potentials, could not continue to depend on the allocation from the Federation Accounts if it must deliver on the popular expectations.

“Measures were then introduced to drive efficiency in the tax assessment and collection regimes by effectively plugging loopholes and leakages in the system. The result was the leap in the accruable to the coffers of the state government.

“With this enhanced revenue profile, the government embarked on ambitious infrastructure upgrades to meet the critical areas of need like never experienced before. At any given time, not less than 200 roads, not leaving out those of the Federal Government, are being executed.

“The Lagos State Government is not just ‘doing it’ on the tube and the press; the testimonials abound all over the state for the people to see, feel and put to use.

“Without doubt, Sambo himself would have, during this visit, marvelled at the new look of Lagos even if he moved around all of his time in the city flying a helicopter.”