2017: TB Joshua’s SCOAN, others raise N13.3bn for FG in Security Levy —NCAA
More reasons why the federal government in mid-last year pleaded with the founder of Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Prophet TB Joshua not to relocate to Israel have emerged. The story
Fresh report from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), has shown that the federal government pocketed not less than N13,325,113,500 as security levy from outbound international passengers in 2017.
NCAA received the sum on behalf of the Federal Government through the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and remitted it into a dedicated account opened for that purpose.
The Federal Government introduced $20 as security levy from each outbound passenger in the country in 2014 to fight insurgency.
The NCAA report also noted that between January and December 2017, at least 1,825,358 passengers exited the country through the five international airports of Kano, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Enugu with Lagos as lead.
Details show that out of this figure, international worshippers attending Sunday Live Service at SCOAN are not less than 500 every Sunday, meaning that international worshippers who return to their countries by air from the church are on the monthly average of 2,000 which amounts to more than 24,000 annually.
In an interview, the Director, Consumer Protection Directorate, Alhaji Adamu Abdullahi said the amount would have been higher if the collection process from the international airlines was made seamless.
He said it was easier for IATA to do the collection as all the operating airlines on the international routes were on the Billing Settlement Plan (BSP) of the international body.
Details show that the N13,325,113,500 was earned from 30 airlines that performed international operations in the country with a total number of 13,503 flights operated within the period.
Some of the international airlines were Ethiopian Airlines, British Airways, Air France, Lufthansa, Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Atlantic Airways, KLM Airlines, Qatar Airways, Egypt Air, South African Airways and Asky Airways.
Others were African World Airlines, Rwandair, Kenya Airways, Delta Air Lines, Royal Air Maroc, Etihad Airways, Med-View, Arik Air, Air Cote D’Ivoire, Saudi Air, Air Peace, Middle East, Max Air, Sudan Air, Meridiana Air, Mid Air Africa, Cronos Air and Azman Air which performed skeletal service on the regional/international routes within the period.
The report revealed that Ethiopian Airlines, Lufthansa and British Airways led the pack of foreign carriers with the highest number of passengers going out of the country and revenues for the Federal Government.
A source at SCOAN who pleaded anonymity said Ethiopian Airlines, Kenyan Airways and South African Airlines lead the pack of incoming pilgrims at the church on a weekly basis.
