Business

FEC Approves N221.9bn For New Lekki Seaport

Published

12 years ago

December 6, 2013

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday in Abuja approved the signing of an agreement for the development of the Lekki deep sea port in Lagos State.
The Minister of Transport, Alhaji Idris Umar, stated this while briefing State House correspondents on the outcome of the weekly FEC meeting presided over by Vice-President Namadi Sambo.
He said the seaport project would be executed at the cost of $1.345 billion (about N221.9 billion).
Umar said it would be executed through the Private-Public-Partnership arrangement, and has been concessioned to Messrs Lekki Ports LFTZ Enterprise for 45 years.
He said 20 per cent is for the Federal Government in terms of the project’s equity shares, with 18.5 for the Lagos State Government and 61.5 for the private investors.
The minister said 800 million dollars out of the project cost would be funded through debt financing, while the balance would be contributed by equity.
He said the seaport when completed would give Nigeria its first deep sea port since independence and end congestion at the Apapa port.
“The economic benefits of this port to this country and to the economy of the country in particular need not to be over-emphasised.
“Not less than 9.3 billion dollars will be accrued to the (Nigeria Ports Authority) NPA, made up of 2.6 billion dollars from marine services and royalties and then 6.7 billion dollars’ share of profits from the investments.
“Other benefits that will accrue will be the ripple effects of operation of the port from Customs charges and other economic benefits which will not be less than 379 billion dollars over the period of 45 years.
“The ports will create jobs of not less than 162,000. It is therefore of immense benefit to the economy of this country. Therefore, that underscores the need for us to have this deep sea port.”
The minister further stated that the port would automatically revert to the Federal Government at the end of the concession period.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Works, Alhaji Bashir Yuguda, said FEC further approved about N30 billion for the construction/rehabilitation of some roads across the country.
He said the road projects were meant to fast track the development of infrastructure and boost socio-economic and agricultural activities.
“The projects include the construction of Kankara-Gurbi road in Katsina State at the cost of N1.4 billion and theconstruction /rehabilitation of Yashi-Duguri-Yalo Road in Bauchi State at the cost of N1.75 billion.
“Also, there is the construction of Isoko Ring Road in Delta at the cost of N2.1 billion and the Jarmai-Bashar Road in Plateau State at the cost of N1.38 billion.
Others include the rehabilitation of Wukari/Akwana Road in Taraba at the cost of N3.97 billion, and the construction of Ajase/Offa/Erin-Ike/Osun State Boundary Road in Kwara at the cost of N1.24 billion.
“There is also the Takum-Dongawa Road and Katsina-Ala at the cost of N1 billion, and the rehabilitation of Amanwaozuzu-Uzoagba-Eziama-Orie-Amaohia road in Imo which will gulp N1.275 billion.
“The rest will see N1.48 billion being spent on the construction of River Ebba Bridge at Cheche, Katcha Local Government Area in Niger, and the construction of Bida-Sacci-Nupeko Road in Niger which will gulp N8.673 billion,” Yuguda said.
In his contribution, the Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, told State House correspondents that the National Good Governance Tour would resume with a visit to Kaduna state on Saturday.
He also stated that the Minister of Sports, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi briefed the council on the forthcoming National Youth Games (NYG) billed to start this weekend in Abuja.

Representative of the wife of Rivers State Governor, and Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Joeba West (left) cutting the tape with the assistance of her Commerce and Industry counterpart, Barr Chuma Chinye, at the opening of the 3rd Port Harcourt Xmas Discount Market in Port Harcourt , yesterday.
Photo: Chris Monyanaga

Business

FIRS Clarifies New Tax Laws, Debunks Levy Misconceptions

Published

10 hours ago

December 5, 2025

The Tide

The Federal Inland Revenue Service has said that Nigeria’s newly enacted tax laws are designed to strengthen economic competitiveness, attract investments, and improve long-term fiscal stability.

The agency also clarified that the much-debated four per cent development levy on imported goods is not a new or additional tax burden, but a streamlined consolidation of several existing levies.

According a statement released Wednesday, one of the most misunderstood elements of the new tax framework is the four per cent development levy with the agency explaining that the levy replaces a range of fragmented charges — such as the Tertiary Education Tax, NITDA Levy, NASENI Levy and Police Trust Fund Levy — that businesses previously paid separately.

This consolidation, it said, reduces compliance costs, eliminates unpredictability and ends the era of multiple agency-driven levies. The law also exempts small businesses and non-resident companies, offering protection to firms most vulnerable to economic shocks.

Another major clarification relates to Free Trade Zones. Earlier commentary had suggested that the government was rolling back the incentives that have attracted export-oriented investors for decades. However, the reforms maintain the tax-exempt status of FTZ enterprises and introduce clearer guidelines to preserve the purpose of the zones.

“Under the new rules, FTZ companies can sell up to 25 per cent of their output into the domestic market without losing tax exemptions. A three-year transition period has also been provided to allow firms to adjust smoothly.

“Government officials say the reforms aim to curb abuses where companies used FTZ licences to evade domestic taxes while competing within the Nigerian market”, it said.

With the new measures, Nigeria aligns with global FTZ models in places like the UAE and Malaysia, where the zones function primarily as export hubs for logistics, manufacturing and technology.

The introduction of a 15 per cent minimum Effective Tax Rate for large multinational and domestic companies has also been met with public concern. But the FIRS notes that this policy aligns with a global tax agreement endorsed by over 140 countries under the OECD/G20 framework.

Without this adoption, Nigeria risked losing revenue to other countries through the “Top-Up Tax” mechanism, where the home country of a multinational collects the difference when a host country charges below 15 per cent. By localising the rule, Nigeria ensures that tax revenue from multinational operations remains within its borders.

Business

CBN Revises Cash Withdrawal Rules January 2026, Ends Special Authorisation

Published

11 hours ago

December 5, 2025

The Tide

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has revised its cash withdrawal rules, discontinuing the special authorisation previously permitting individuals to withdraw N5 million and corporates N10 million once monthly, with effect from January 2026.

In a circular released Tuesday, December 2, 2025, and signed by the Director, Financial Policy & Regulation Department, FIRS, Dr. Rita I. Sike, the apex bank explained that previous cash policies had been introduced over the years in response to evolving circumstances.

However, with time, the need has arisen to streamline these provisions to reflect present-day realities.

The statement said the new set of cash-related policies is designed to reduce the cost of cash management, strengthen security, and curb money laundering risks associated with the economy’s heavy reliance on physical currency.

“These policies, issued over the years in response to evolving circumstances in cash management, sought to reduce cash usage and encourage accelerated adoption of other payment options, particularly electronic payment channels.

“With the effluxion of time, the need has arisen to streamline the provisions of these policies to reflect present-day realities,”

“Effective January 1, 2026, individuals will be allowed to withdraw up to N500,000 weekly across all channels, while corporate entities will be limited to N5 million”, it said.

According to the statement, withdrawals above these thresholds would attract excess withdrawal fees of three percent for individuals and five percent for corporates, with the charges shared between the CBN and the financial institutions.

Daily withdrawals from Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) would be capped at N100,000 per customer, subject to a maximum of N500,000 weekly stating that these transactions would count toward the cumulative weekly withdrawal limit.

The special authorisation previously permitting individuals to withdraw N5 million and corporates N10 million once monthly has been discontinued.

The CBN also confirmed that all currency denominations may now be loaded in ATMs, while the over-the-counter encashment limit for third-party cheques remains at N100,000. Such withdrawals will also form part of the weekly withdrawal limit.

Deposit Money Banks are required to submit monthly reports on cash withdrawals above the specified limits, as well as on cash deposits, to the relevant supervisory departments.

They must also create separate accounts to warehouse processing charges collected on excess withdrawals.

Exemptions and superseding provisions
Revenue-generating accounts of federal, state, and local governments, along with accounts of microfinance banks and primary mortgage banks with commercial and non-interest banks, are exempted from the new withdrawal limits and excess withdrawal fees.

However, exemptions previously granted to embassies, diplomatic missions, and aid-donor agencies have been withdrawn.

The CBN clarified that the circular is without prejudice to the provisions of certain earlier directives but supersedes others, as detailed in its appendices.

Business

Shippers Council Vows Commitment To Security At Nigerian Ports

Published

13 hours ago

December 5, 2025

The Tide

The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC)has restated its commitment towards ensuring security at Nigerian seaports.

Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Council, Dr Pius Akuta, said this in Port Harcourt, while declaring open a one day workshop organized by the Nigerian Shippers Council in collaboration with the Nigerian police( Marin Division).

Theme for the workshop was ‘Facilitating Port Efficiency; The strategic Role of Maritime police “

Akuta who was represented by the Director, Regulatory Services, Nigerian Shippers Council, Mrs Margeret Ogbonnah, said the workshop was to seek areas of collaboration with security agencies at the Ports with a view to facilitating trade

Akuta said the theme of the workshop reflects the desire of the council and the Nigerian police to build capacity of police officers for better understanding and administration of their statutory roles in the Maritime environment.

He said Nigerian seaports has constantly been reputed as one of the Port with the longest cargo dwell in the world, adding,”This is so, because while it takes only six hours to clear a containerized cargo in Singapore Port, seven days in Lome Port, it takes an average of 21 days or more in Nigerian Ports” stressing that this situation which has affected the global perception index on Ease of Doing Business in Nigerian seaports must be addressed.

Akuta said NSC which is the economic regulator of the Ports has the responsibility of ensuring that efficiency is established in the Ports inorder to attract patronages.

“Pursuant to its regulatory mandate, the NSC has been collaborating with several agencies to ensure the facilitation of trade and ease of movement of cargo outside the Ports to avoid congestion”he said.

Also speaking the commissioner of police, Eastern Port Command, Port Harcourt, CP Tijani Fakai, said Maritime police has played some roles in facilitating Ports efficiency.

He listed some of the roles to include ensuring security and crime prevention at the Ports, checking of illegal fishing activities at the Ports, checking of human trafficking and drug smuggling and prevention of fire incident at the Ports.

Represented by ACP, Rufina Ukadike, the CP said police at the Ports have also helped in the decongestion and prevention of unauthorized Anchorage.

He commended the Nigerian Shippers Council for the workshop and assured of continuous collaboration.

Speaking on the dynamics of cargo handling, Deputy Controller of customs, Muhydeen Ayinla Ayoola, said the launching of electronic tracking system and dissolution of controller General Taskforce has helped to ensure efficiency at the Ports.

Ayoola who represented the custom Area Controller Port Harcourt 1 Area command, however raised concerned over rising national security threat , which according to him has affected efficiency at the Ports.

John Bibor