Fubara Promises To Tackle Multiple Taxations In Rivers

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has promised to resolve the issue of multiple taxation that is affecting the ease of doing business in the State.
The governor made the promise while hosting some Executive members of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Rivers and Bayelsa States branch, who paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Port Harcourt.
He said he would instruct caretaker committee chairmen, especially the CTC chairmen of Ikwerre, Obio-Akpor, Port Harcourt, and Eleme Local Government councils to enhance the ease of doing business in their areas.
The governor also said that modalities are in place to build a state industrial park, adding that the old Port Harcourt-Trans Amadi industrial area has been taken over by residential estate and can no longer serve as the state industrial park.
He said electricity and other enabling facilities that will support industrial park will have to be put in place when siting the new location of the state industrial park.
Fubara also promised to support MAN in relevant areas that the state government can.
On his part, the leader of the delegation and MAN chairman, Elder Vincent Okuku, lauded Governor Fubara for driving the policy that has enabled investors within the State to have Certificates of Occupancy (C of O).
Okuku spoke to newsmen at the sideline of the MAN’s meeting with the state governor.
The MAN chairman noted that it had been difficult for manufacturers and investors to assess loan lending agencies due to difficulties in obtaining C of O for landed property needed as collateral, especially with the Bank of Industry.
He said, however, that with Fubara’s new policy, manufacturers now obtain C of O with ease and they can now access loans, adding that the development will further boost investment in the State.
The MAN chairman commended the Governor Fubara for moves to establishing state industrial park, noting that it will be a one stop for intending investors to be furnished with regulatory policies that will enable their ease of doing business in the State.
He pointed out that MAN is still faced with multiple taxation and poor energy supply, and pleaded that MAN should be considered as partners in the development fund.

John Bibor