Business

National Housing Scheme: Enugu State Pays N83m To FMBN

Published

17 years ago

March 17, 2010

The Enugu State Government has paid over N83 million to the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), to reactivate the participation of her workers in the National Housing Scheme.

The State Governor, Mr. Sullivan Chime, who made this known recently on the occasion of the re-launch of the state into the National Housing Fund scheme held at Okpara Square, Enugu.

Chime, who was represented by his deputy, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, explained that the re-launch of the state into the scheme became very necessary since government alone cannot solve the housing needs of its workers , especially with the growing population of the workforce and high cost of building materials in the country.

The Governor, however , noted with dismay that the scheme became moribund after it was launched in 2007 due to some irregularities in the handling of money deducted from workers for the fund and said that adequate measures have been put in place to check a recurrence.

According to him, the re-launch was part of the recommendations made by a committee set up by government in 2008 to reconcile all deductions made by its ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to the fund.

He assured that everything possible would be made to ensure the success of the scheme, adding that the State Head of Service had been directed to monitor desk officers of the National Housing Scheme in the State to ensure that monies deducted are remitted to the bank promptly.

Also, those participating in the scheme must ensure that money deducted are properly credited in the Ministry of Finance and reflected in their own passbooks.

Speaking, the Head of Service, Mr. Chris Ugwu outlined the advantages of the scheme over the commercial housing loans.

According to him, eligibility required for the scheme is by merely contributing to the fund for six months which qualifies one to apply for loan, and listed the advantages of the scheme as the long period of prepayment up to 30 years, and relative lower interest rate than the prevailing market rate.

Others, he went on, includes easy accessibility to both low and medium income earners, loan repayment on monthly basis, which makes it very convenient, among others.

Ugwu stated that with the re-launch of the scheme, the FMBN would provide the necessary funds for the Enugu State Housing Development Corporation to build houses on owner-occupier basis for participating workers in the state.

Business

FG Approves 4 New Channel Management Firms For Seaports

Published

14 hours ago

October 26, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved four new channel management companies for seaports across the country in a move aimed at improving vessel navigation and port operations.

Speaking at the recently concluded Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM), former General Manager, Marine and Operations, Capt. Ebubeogu Ihenacho, disclosed that there would be changes in the ownership of the Lagos Channel Management Company Limited and the Bonny Channel Management Company.

According to Ihenacho, the four channels serving Nigeria’s major port clusters will have different channel management companies as approved by the FEC.

He said a new company had been approved to manage the Lagos port channel, with a change of name, while the Calabar Channel would be managed by the Calabar Channel Management Company.

He added that Bonny Channel Management Company had also undergone a change of ownership.

On the Warri Channel, Ihenacho said the Federal Government had approved China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) and two other companies to form a consortium to manage the Escravos Channel.

He said: “For Warri, it was approved for China Harbour Engineering Company, CHEC, and two other companies, who would now form a consortium.

That consortium will now form a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) with the Nigerian Ports Authority to manage the Escravos Channel.”

Recall that the management of the NPA had declined to renew the concessions of the Lagos Channel Management Company Limited and the Bonny Channel Management Company, opting instead for six-month extensions of the existing arrangements.

By; Enoch Epelle

Business

RIRS Warns Against Unauthorised Tax Collection

Published

14 hours ago

October 26, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Internal Revenue Service (RIRS) has warned motorists, transport operators and business owners against paying taxes, levies or charges to Unauthorised persons and organisations, insisting that only the Service and its duly appointed agents are legally empowered to collect taxes on behalf of the state government.

The Service gave the warning in a public notice dated October 21, 2026, signed by its Executive Chairman, Sir Israel O. Egbunefu, FCTI, in which it clarified that the Rivers State Ministry of Transport was not authorised by the state government to collect road tax or any other tax, levy or charge from motorists and transport operators.

RIRS also specifically disowned Explore Strategic Alliance Ltd, located at No. 7 Rumuodaolu Market Road, Port Harcourt, declaring the company had not been appointed or authorised by either the state government or the Service to collect Motor Vehicle Transport (MOT) tickets or any other tax on its behalf.

The revenue agency consequently cautioned members of the public against making payments to the company or any of its staff, stressing that anyone who ignored the warning would do so at their own risk.

It reaffirmed that only the legally authorised agency responsible for tax collection in Rivers State and the appointed agents that would carry out such duties in accordance with the law.

The Service urged taxpayers to demand official identification from anyone claiming to be its tax agent and verify the person’s credentials directly with RIRS before making payments.

It further warned that individuals or groups found impersonating tax consultants, agents or their representatives to collect Unauthorised taxes would be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

RIRS also called on members of the public to report suspicious persons and activities relating to Unauthorised tax collection to the Service for appropriate action.

The agency advised taxpayers seeking clarification or assistance to visit any of its offices or contact it through its official email address, info@riversbirs.gov.ng.

The Service reiterated its commitment to protecting taxpayers, promoting voluntary compliance and safeguarding the integrity of tax administration in Rivers State.

By: King Onunwor

Business

Bayelsa consumers Groan Over Inflation As Traders Remain Helpless Over Low Patronage

Published

15 hours ago

October 26, 2026

The Tide

Consumers and traders at the Swali ultramodern market in Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa State have continued to groan over high prices of commodities and poor Patronage due to cost-push inflation.

The Tide reports that in the past weeks prices of goods and services in Yenagoa metropolis has experienced increase.

Notable services like transportation have also increased lately due to increase in the pump price of fuel that has recently further exacerbated inflation in the prices of staple foods like rice, beans, garri and others.

Speaking with The Tide on a market survey, a trader, Mrs Tovie Barakabo said a bag of bean which sold between N120,000-N130, 000 now goes for N140,000-N145,000.

Mrs Barakabo also hinted that the only commodities whose price has not gone up was price of millet which sells N60,000, while big bag of garri now sells for N30,000.

The Tide further gathered from other inside Source that 25 litres of Kings cooking oil currently sells N75,000 as against the former price of N57,000.

Other commodities such as delicious vegetable oil now goes for N68,000, Pure vegetable oil currently goes for N66, 000, while spaghetti is now N18,800 per bag.

The market survey also discovered that Sonnia tomato mix sells N75,609, while a big and small basket of fresh tomatoes are sold for N30,000 and N6,500 respectively.

A disappointed custom, Mrs Juliet Domo who fielded questions from The Tide expressed her worries over the inflation, calling on government to take decisive stands against inflation.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa