News

CRFFN Moves To Boast Nation’s IGR

Published

4 years ago

October 4, 2021

Determined to improve and boost the nation’s internally generated revenue (IGR), the Council for the Registration of Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (CRFFN) has begun a nationwide sensitization of its members on the payment of the operational fee through the digitalised online portal.
The Director of CRFFN in charge of Regulation and Enforcement, Mr Basil Opara while speaking during a sensitisation programme in Port Harcourt, recently, with the theme: ‘Sensitization and Demonstration of CRFFN Portal Registration, Annual Subscription and Processing of Practitioners’ Operating Fee (POF) Payment” organised by the council on simplified ways of paying practitioners’ operating fee (POF), said the new online portal payment regime introduced by the council would check fraud in the system and boost the IGR of the Federal Government.
Opara stated that the programme was designed to educate members on how to queue into the modified online payment system as introduced by the council as well as enable the operators pay their fees online with ease.
He said that the importance of the online payment portal was a deliberate effort designed to boost the nation’s IGR, adding that 35per cent of the fee paid goes back to the freight operators’ coffers.
“We are here to sensitize our members in the freight forwarding business on how they can pay their registration fees and other bills through the online portal platform. We were here in January this year to introduce this new digital payment system”, he stated.
In his remarks, the Zonal Coordinator, Special Control Unit Money Laundering (SCUML) in Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Port Harcourt, Sunji Audu, said that the commission monitors, supervises and regulates activities of designated non-financial institutions which include clearing and forwarding agencies.
He urged them to obtain evidence of registration, ensure that they comply with all the laws in compliance with the Money Laundry Act, as well as the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment of Non-Financial Institutions Regulations 2013, and advised them to keep records of all transactions and ensure they carry out proper Customs identification when doing business to avoid EFCC’s sanctions during inspection.
Also speaking, the Commissioner of Police in charge of Eastern Ports, Tamunoemi Peterside, explained that the introduction of the payment of the operators’ fee online would help ease their job in ensuring the maintenance of security and peace keeping in the ports.
Represented by DCP in charge of Operations, Monday Agbonika, Peterside, said that the online payment system would help hasten investigation of crimes in the ports, especially in the areas of tracing and tracking of payments and forgery of documents, and urged freight forwarding operators to seek legal remedies on any issue that has to do with their payment.
Earlier, the Chairman, Area 1, Seaport chapter of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Mr Ngozi Uzohuo, commended the initiative of the council in introducing the online portal as well as the advocacy sensitization campaign in the state.

By: Akujobi Amadi

News

198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

Published

3 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

A total of 198 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN ) Edo State, bagged a First Class degree out of 14,083 students to be awarded first degree at the institution’s 51st Convocation and Founder’s Day ceremony.

Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, disclosed this on Monday in Benin at a pre-convocation press briefing.

He said 4,217 students bagged a Second Class Upper, 7, 928 got a Second Class Lower, while 578 bagged a Third Class degree.

He said 15 new approved programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) would commence in the 2025/2026 academic session.

According to him, “The wheel of progress is on course and moving steadily in the University of Benin. This administration is poised to deliver on its mandate of effective, practical teaching, sound learning, result-oriented research and impactful community service.

“We must applaud the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for establishing NELFUND, and by so doing significantly reducing the financial stress of students in the process of acquiring tertiary education. We enjoin students and their parents to take full advantage of the federal government’s benevolence in instituting the fund.”

Prof. Omoregie disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, would deliver the Founders’ Day lecture with the topic, “Reforms for a Shared Prosperity”.

The UNIBEN VC said Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Former Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, would deliver the Convocation Lecture on the theme, “Making Our Universities Great”.

News

Bayelsa Education Fund, British Council trains tra 1,000 teachers

Published

3 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The last batch of 400 public school teachers in Bayelsa State on Monday commenced training under the sponsorship of Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) and the British Council.

This batch will bring to 1000 the number of public school teachers in the state who have benefited in the partnership arrangement.School supplies

The EDTF, British Council and Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board collaborated in the capacity development programme.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the five day capacity building program, Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah reiterated the commitment of the Bayelsa government to training and capacity of teachers in the state.

He noted that the improved teaching methodology in the state was responsible for the state producing the best student in the 2025 West African School Certificate Examinations.

Prof Ebimiowei, Executive Secretary at EDTF, noted that the collaboration is aimed at improving learning outcomes for pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa.

“You will agree with me that until the cutlass is sharpened, it will have no impact on the hands of the farmer and so it is with our teachers., you need to be sharpened very well to give good delivery in your various classes and schools.

“Let me at this juncture appreciate the British Council for accepting to train 1,000 teachers, 50 education managers and 60 trainers for Bayelsa,” he said.

On his part, Chairman of the EDTF board, High Chief Fidelis Agbiki expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah for his supportive role to the fund.

Agbiki urged the beneficiaries to justify the enormous resources invested by the government of Bayelsa by being dedicated within the five days the exercise would last.

He said; “This board will not operate on business as usual but on business unusual as we will push the frontiers outside the box to ensure that we get value for money,” Agbiki said.

Chairman of Development Partners Committee of the EDTF applauded the commitment of the partners for the successful completion of the programme, urging them to sustain the tempo

Speaking on the programme, Mr Fwanshishak Daniel, Head, English and Schools, British Council noted that the Bayelsa government had shown exemplary commitment to educational development.

He explained that the commitment has enabled the British Council and Bayelsa government to achieve within one year greater milestones that took other states three years to achieve.

He explained that the resources of the British Council have been made available to Bayelsa with the training of 60 resource persons from the state who will in turn train other teachers to improve education.

According to Daniel, the training will lay emphasis on new teaching methods, use of digital tools for self development and access to school amongst others.

Dr Peremoboere Ogola, Acting Chairman of TTRC, which facilitated training, thanked the EDTF for supporting training of teachers in Bayelsa with world class resources of the British Council.

She noted that another batch of newly recruited teachers are currently undergoing training at State government owned University of Africa, Toru Orua, Sagbama LGA in Bayelsa

News

RSG INAUGURATES ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY COMMITTEE

Published

3 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Central Planning Committee to organize the celebration of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) in the State.

The committee was formally inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.

Dr Anabraba who also serves as Chairman of the Committee

highlighted the State Government’s deep appreciation for the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes who laid down their lives for the nation’s peace and unity.

“These heroes have given their lives for the security and peace of our nation and deserve to be celebrated. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an opportunity to show our gratitude for their sacrifice,” he said.

Dr. Anabraba further extended recognition to all Security Agencies in the State, emphasizing the importance of the event in appreciating their contributions to national security and sovereignty.

The annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed on January 15 across the country is dedicated to remember Nigeria’s departed soldiers and honouring the nation’s veterans.