Nigeria, March 28 -- The national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has called for the suspension of Value-Added Tax for 2-4 months to help lower import costs and protect against shortages.

Mr Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State, said this in a statement to mark his 68th birthday.

He said although the natural instinct for the government is to reduce spending, such move would only feed "economic carnage by amplifying economic hardship."

"At minimum, the federal government must stick to its naira budgetary expenditures. In fact, government should increase naira expenditures by at least 10 - 15 per cent during an emergency.

"Allocations to state and local governments should be included in this addition. If ...