Environment
Rivers State Government Suspend Fire Service Collection Levies
Rivers State Government has suspended the collection of Fire Service levies, charge and rate in the state.
Speaking during a press conference on Thursday in Port Harcourt the Permanent Secretary ministry of special Duties Mr Sokari- George D. P, said that from the 1st of January 2026 no nobody is authorized to collect fire service levies, tax and rate from any entity operating in Rivers State.
He said that tax is what government uses to develop and when they got the tax they use it to evaluate things, projects and programs of government and it help government to plan.
” A Statutory body, Board of Internal Revenue, a ministry of Special Duties has a department of the River State fire service that collect fire service levies, charges, and rate but ordering the money should have been paid to Rivers State government cover but they discovered that their are tax forces going around with some staff of the ministry issuing demand notice and Fire certificate to taxable entity hospital, School, hotels, business premises and so fought.
” River State government as directed the general public that ends force no such body is recognized from1st January 2026.
” Nobody is authorized to collect fire service levies, tax and rate from any entity operating in Rivers State.
” Fire Service tax collection is here by suspended for now until further notice, when government will come out with clear court guidelines on how to go about collection of the taxes.
” Rivers State Government will introduce a sinless process where the board of internal Revenue will be also involved.
” So that the state will benefit from the taxes, so I here by advise the general public that nobody should collect tax on behalf of the River State fire service.
” in due course government of Rivers State we made further announcement on how the taxes is will be collected” Mr Sokari – George stated.
By: Kiadum Edookor