Business
ESG Compliance, Future For Financial Service – FITC
The Managing Director, Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC), Mrs. Chizor Malize, has emphasised that the future of Nigeria’s financial services industry will be shaped by substantial regulatory changes driven by the increasing importance of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors.
Speaking during a chat in Lagos, Malize emphasised the influence of ESG considerations on the regulatory transformation in Nigeria’s financial services industry.
She stressed the importance of implementing enhanced reporting standards, integrating ESG criteria into risk assessments, and providing incentives for compliance.
Additionally, she noted that financial institutions are witnessing changes in investment patterns, operational adaptations, and evolving consumer demands as they adjust to these developments.
She noted that integrating ESG into operations is not only a regulatory obligation, but also a strategic advantage that enables institutions to excel in an increasing sustainable and responsible financial landscape.
To this end, she indicated that the government and the private sector are challenged to ensure the goal to fully decarbonise the economy, which has prompted sectors across the country to assess the ways in which they can alter their practices to become more climate-friendly and sustainable.
She noted that the financial services industry is also following suit, as banks are now embracing innovative approaches to address ESG challenges and to comply with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s reporting requirements.
She said, “financial service providers are considering offering products and services that support sustainable goals. These include sustainable funds that evaluate investments based on ESG criteria to measure their social and environmental impact, as well as sustainable bonds that facilitate fundraising for initiatives aimed at sustainable development and environmental and social objectives”.
In response, Mrs. Chizor Malize said FITC decided to establish its ESG institute to support financial institutions in meeting their ESG regulatory and reporting requirements.
She said the institute comes as the financial services sector is faced with a growing set of regulatory requirements, adding that it will support such organisations to build internal capabilities to implement company- wide culture for ESG understanding and helping clients to ensure that they remain compliant with the evolving regulatory environment.
According to her, FITC wants to help financial services institutions provide a range of ESG-centric products and services that extend far beyond investment products.
These, she added, include loans, which provide businesses with funding for environmental projects such as energy efficiency.
According to her, while the opportunities for financial institutions in the ESG area are vast, there is need for banks and other institutions to build capacities to explore.
She emphasised the importance of the financial services sector in leading the way towards a sustainable future, stating that FITC is committed to facilitating knowledge transfer to assist banks and other financial institutions in fostering innovation in sustainable financial services.
Additionally, she highlighted the necessity of repositioning the economy to address the challenges posed by the energy crisis.
As Nigeria confronts energy security challenges, she noted that it was important to assist the government in transitioning to a sustainable, green economy in order to address the risks associated with rising carbon emissions and climate change.
To this end, she said FITC is hosting sustainability/ESG Summit in Lagos today to provide fresh impetus as sustainable practices and responsible investments come to the forefront of economic growth discussions.
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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
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
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
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