Business
Police Ban Officers From Tax Collection
The Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, Suleiman Abbah, has said that his command has banned the use of policemen and officers by various taskforce groups in the state in the collection of taxes and other forms of revenue.
Making this known in his speech at the 2011 Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) opening ceremony for the year at the Police Officers Mess in Port Harcourt, the commissioner noted that several reports have reached him on some policemen’s illegal activities with tax/revenue agents.
He said, “I have banned policemen from being attached to taskforces or tax and revenue collectors.
There is already a standing committee in the C.I.E to identify those that are involved, and I plead with the public to identify and report such taskforce/policemen attached to them or call the police control numbers like 08032003514. 08073777717 for prompt action.”
According to the police boss, the Ministry of Transport and that of Environment have informed him that those taskforces are illegal.
On the collection of money from drivers on the roads, the commissioner posited that there will be no result if the fight against corruption did not start from the top, pointing out that he is pleased with the moves by the present Inspector General of Police towards tackling the menace.
Abbah stated further that he has made it clear to all the Divisional Police Officers not to make any returns to him, which also explains that the DPOs themselves are not to demand for returns any more from the men on the road.
He said that in a short while, the result will be obvious with respect to extortion from motorists, because the command will soon descend heavily on those officers that man the roads.
The commissioner described the PCRS as a veritable body for police and community partnership towards solving problems relating to safety of the community, adding that security is every body’s problem, and that there is a lot of benefits for partnering with the community for effective information and proper policing.
Earlier in his speech, the chairman of the PCRC Rivers State, Austin E. Young, said one major problem his administration has discovered and is tackling in the last one year of coming on board was the issue of distrust among officers and PCRC members, but noted that the police alone can not do the work effectively with out partnership with the community.
The Chairman also said that the month of March 2011 will be declared for campaign for free, fair and violent-free election, and urged leaders to ensure safety in their communities.
Corlins Walter
The facility will be disbursed through participating Microfinance Institutions (MFIs), which will in turn extend the loans to their customers, particularly SMEs, as they directly interface with businesses at the grassroots level.
The Executive Director of COMCIN, Mr. Micheal Ogbaa who represented the Chairman, Dr. Iredele Oyedele (FCA, FCCA), said the initiative is designed to strengthen micro-lending institutions and expand access to finance for grassroots entrepreneurs, particularly women and youths in the informal sector.
Ogbaa explained that COMCIN does not lend directly to individuals but works through its network of microfinance and cooperative institutions, which in turn provide loans to end users.
“We came together to advocate for the microfinance ecosystem. Commercial banks often exclude people at the grassroots, but our members are positioned to reach them. This facility will empower them to do more,” he said.
He noted that the loan scheme offers low interest rates and flexible repayment plans, making it more accessible to small business owners.
According to him, about 90 percent of beneficiaries are expected to be women, who play a key role in sustaining families and driving economic activities at the local level.
“Our focus is on traders, service providers, and players in the informal sector. These are the real movers of the economy. By supporting them, we are strengthening families and contributing to national development,” he added.
Ogbaa disclosed that eligible SMEs with proven integrity and business track records could access up to N5 million each through participating micro-lending institutions. The rollout has commenced in Lagos and will extend to Abuja, Enugu, and other regions, including the South-West, South-East, and North-East.
He said 12 micro-lending institutions have already benefited from the scheme, while 85 applications are currently being processed under the pilot phase.
“Our target is to reach at least 100,000 SMEs nationwide. We are building a platform that connects funding partners with credible micro-lending institutions, creating a reliable channel for financial inclusion,” Ogbaa said.
He added that COMCIN is also working to attract larger funding pools from development finance institutions and private investors, noting that successful implementation of the pilot phase would boost confidence and unlock more capital for SMEs.
“We have seen encouraging testimonies from early beneficiaries. As we demonstrate transparency and efficiency, more institutions will be willing to channel funds through us,” he said.
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