Business

VAT: Wike Fumes, Threatens To Shut FIRS Offices In Rivers If …

Published

4 years ago

September 8, 2021

Editor

Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has threatened to shut offices of the Federal Inland Revenue Service ,FIRS, domiciled in the state should the FIRS continue to threaten companies domiciled in the state or bully the state over its (Rivers State) bid to collect Value Added Task (VAT).

Recall that a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt had August 9, 2021, ruled that it was the right of the Rivers government to receive VAT in the state.

The state argued that it was against the constitution for it to generate VAT that is later shared to other states.

However, the FIRS, allegedly issued threat to companies, warning that companies that pay to the state rather than the Federal Government would be sanctioned.

But Wike, in an interactive session with stakeholders in the state which was monitored by Info Daily on national television, further threatened to shut down companies or banks that refuse to pay its VAT to the state.

While stating that Rivers State is not among the “small, small, small states” that can be threatened by anyone including the Federal Government, Wike also stated that he’s not among those governors who shy away from what is right.

“FIRS should stop bullying at us. Rivers is not among the small, small small states they can bully at. If they continue their threats and bully, I will short all their offices in Rivers.

“I am not among the governors that will shy away from what is right.
I have the political will and constitutional rights to collect VAT.

“Any bank or company that refuses or fail to pay to us, I will shut down, I will be happy that during my time, heaven falls,” he said.

While stating that some states “are just waiting in Abuja to benefit from proceeds from other states”, disclosed that Rivers State made nothing less than N15.8bn VAT in the month of June for Federal Government, but only N4.8bn was given back to the state by the Federal Government.

“In the month of June, N15.8bn was collected as VAT in Rivers State but only 4.8bn was given back to the state as VAT. Where did the remaining go?,” he questioned.

Asked about the State of Execution order and appeal at the Court of Apeal, Wike said it’s a delay tactics by FIRS and other parties concerned

He, however, vowed that if the court rule otherwise in the case, which he doubted, the state government would abide by the ruling.

Business

Nigerian Stock Market Hits 10th Consecutive Uptrend As investors Gain N308bn

Published

1 day ago

October 10, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian Stock Market recorded its 10th consecutive uptrend as investors raked in N308 billion gain on Thursday.

This comes as the Nigerian Exchange Limited, NGX, market capitalisation, which opened at N92.490 trillion, appreciated by 0.33 per cent to close at N92.798 trillion on Thursday.

Also, the All-Share Index added 0.33 per cent, or 485.25 points, to close at 146,204.34, compared with 145,719.09 recorded on Wednesday.

Increased trading in Eunisell Interlinked, Caverton Offshore Support Group, Sunu Assurances, Industrial and Medical Gases, Mecure, and 27 other advancing stocks boosted market performance on Thursday.

To this end, the market breadth also closed positive with 32 gainers and 21 losers.

Further analysis showed that Eunisell Interlinked and Caverton Offshore Support Group led the gainers’ chart by 10 per cent each, closing at N44 and N6.93 per share, respectively, while FTN Cocoa Processors led the losers’ table by 6.67 per cent, closing at N5.60 per share.

Market activity showed a decline in the number of deals and volume traded but an improvement in trade value.

Accordingly, a total of 346.99 million shares worth N27.43 billion were traded in 24,691 deals, compared with 525.72 million shares worth N13.61 billion exchanged in 25,597 deals on Wednesday.

Fidelity Bank topped the activity chart with 42.01 million shares valued at N861.54 million.

According to DAILY POST, NGX has continued its bullish run from last month’s end to date.

Business

CBN Sets POS Maximum Transactions In Fresh Guidelines

Published

3 days ago

October 8, 2025

Editor

The Central Bank of Nigeria has rolled out fresh guidelines for agent banking, known as Point of Sales, across the country.

The apex also in the guidelines pegged daily POS transactions at N1.2 million per agent and N100,000 per individual.

CBN disclosed this in a circular signed by its Director of the Payments System Management Department, Musa Jimoh.

The guidelines further mandate all financial institutions to publish the list of all their POS agents on their website and to display it in their branches.

CBN noted that the guidelines would take effect from April 1, 2026.

“The Guidelines aim to establish minimum standards for operating agent banking in Nigeria, enhancing agent banking to provide financial services and promoting financial inclusion, encouraging responsible market conduct and improving service quality in agent banking operations.

“This circular takes effect from the date of release, while the implementation of agent location and agent exclusivity shall be in effect from April 1, 2026.

“POS agents are restricted to a maximum of N1.2 million per day. Individual customers are limited to N100,000 in daily transactions.

“These limits are intended to curb misuse, enhance financial integrity, and protect consumers within the agent banking framework,” it stated.

Business

Naira Records First Appreciation Against US Dollar At Official Market

Published

3 days ago

October 8, 2025

Editor

The Naira recorded appreciation on Wednesday against the United States dollar at the official market, the first time in three days this week.

The Central Bank of Nigeria’s exchange rate data showed that the Naira strengthened to N 1,470.62 per dollar on Wednesday, up from N1,471.09 traded on Tuesday.

This means that the country’s currency firmed up slightly by N0.47 against the dollar on a day-to-day basis.

Monday and Tuesday, the Naira recorded negative sentiment at the official foreign exchange market.

However, at the black market, the Naira remained unchanged at N1,500 per dollar on Wednesday, the same rate exchanged on Tuesday.

The apex bank data indicated that the country’s external reserves, a determinant of the exchange rates, stood at $42.57 billion as of October 7, 2025.