Rivers State business environment has been grossly enhanced with reduction in multiple taxes and harassment of businesses, according to the state governor, Nyesom Wike. The governor spoke while flagging off a branch of the latest bank in Nigeria, Globus Bank, which is slightly one month old in operations.
Wike said his administration had fundamentally reduced cases of multiple taxes in order to encourage private investors.
He said: “We have stopped harassment of businesses and multiple taxes in the State. As a result, several businessmen are trooping to the state. We have created the right environment for investors to operate.”
The governor said his administration’s investments in the security sector have paid off as the state has been declared safe for investments by the United States embassy in Nigeria.
Read also: Magnus Abe walks tight rope in Rivers’ dirty politics
He urged the new bank to offer employment to qualified Rivers people. He said, that is the only way that Rivers State Government will support the institution.
The new bank, which opened shop in Lagos on November 6, 2019, says it aims to be the leading digital bank in the country by leveraging cutting-edge technology to deliver exceptional value to its customers.
It also aims to bridge the customer experience gap in the industry by offering innovative products tailored to its customer’s needs and by offering exceptional customer service. The bank says it would prioritise sustainability and will be the first bank in the country to deploy green technology in its branch operations. Green technology is about rolling out a kind of technology that is environment friendly and does not harm its workforce and customers.
In his remarks, the managing director, Elias Igbinakenzua, said the presence of the bank in Rivers State shows the economic importance of the State.
He said with Rivers hosting the second largest economy in the country with 21 percent of the nation’s crude oil, the bank resolved to open its second branch in the state.
He stated that the Rivers State government had improved the investment climate of the state by encouraging private investors.
“I urge the government and people of Rivers State to support the new bank because it will help in driving the empowerment of Rivers people”, he stated, noting that the bank would work towards improving the economy of the oil-rich state.
