Business

Economy: FG Sensitises 14 Ministries On Medium Term Strategies

Published

10 years ago

August 17, 2016

Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma says 14 ministries are critical to turning around Nigerian economy based on Federal Government’s Medium Term Sector Strategies (MTSS) 2017-2019.
Udo Udoma said this at the opening of a sensitisation workshop for 14 critical ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to develop and document Medium Term Sector Strategies (MTSS).
According to him, the ministries are “large capital spending ones” that are critical to the preparation of 2017 budget in line with the Change Agenda of the present administration.
He listed the ministries as: Transport, Power, Works and Housing, Water Resources, Health, Education, Defence, Environment and Solid Minerals among others.
“The current MTSS exercise will be limited to selected critical sectors to support the preparation of the 2017 budget.
“ And it is so limited because we want to focus and because of time constraint.
“It is planned to roll out the MTSS process to all sectors and MDAs from 2017 and beyond.
“This is aimed at guiding MDAs for more efficient and effective investment of national resources in critical sectors of the economy, in line with the Change Agenda of this administration.’’
He stressed the need to capture both existing and new initiatives in the development of credible MTSS that would help in achieving the sectoral and national aspirations.
“The MTSS, 2017-2019 of these selected Ministries/Agencies will serve as basis for their 2017 Budget Proposals.
“It will also serve as credible input into development of 2017-2020 Medium Term Plan, currently being developed under the coordination of the Ministry of Budget and National Planning.
“This is aimed at improving the linkage betweenthe spending of the MDAs and the goals of medium term plan.
“The support of Permanent Secretaries is a critical success factor in the process of preparation of MTSS and the 2017 Budget.
“I, therefore, implore you to be committed to the process and also provide all the necessary support to your staff involved in the exercise’’.
Udo Udoma noted that the MTSS would entail a well articulated medium-term goal that is gearing towards overall goals of Medium Term Development Plan (2017-2020) and the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“It will identify initiatives, projects and programmes that will contribute to the achievement of the slated sectors goals and define the expected outcomes of the identified initiatives in clear measures terms.
“It will ensure costing the identified key initiatives projects and programmes in a clear and transparent manner and phasing implementation of identified over the medium-term.
“It will also link expected outcomes of their objectives and goals and defining the Monitoring and Evaluation framework for the sector,’’ the minister said.
The Tide source reports that the theme of the workshop was “Addressing the Approach to Developing the Medium Term Sector Strategies and Plans.’’

Business

FG Approves 4 New Channel Management Firms For Seaports

Published

2 days 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

2 days 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

2 days 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