…Moves to Block Revenue Leakages

By Davies Iheamnachor, PORT HARCOURT

The Executive Chairman of Rivers State Internal Revenue Service, RIRS, Sir Israel Onwuanaku Egbunefu, has called for the domestication of the new tax law by the Federal Government in the state, adding that such move would improve the tax and economy of the state.

Egbunefu said the service has intensified efforts to block revenue leakages and expand the state’s tax net, promising residents that no individual’s bank account would be debited directly by the agency in the name of tax collection.

Egbunefu spoke while appearing on a radio programme in Port Harcourt, for sensitisation on taxation, where he addressed public concerns and clarified some misconceptions surrounding tax administration in the state.

Egbunefu explained that the agency’s renewed public engagement was necessary to reassure residents and educate taxpayers about the reforms currently being implemented within the system.

He said: “We are here to inform the public and dispel misconceptions.

Nobody’s money will be taken from their bank account by RIRS in the name of taxes.”

The RIRS chairman stressed that the service is prioritising the registration of individuals and businesses into the tax system in order to clearly identify those who are liable to pay taxes and those who are not.

He said while many residents already comply with tax obligations, the agency is focusing on bringing into the tax net individuals and organizations who ought to be paying more but are currently not captured in the system.

He revealed that all tax agents previously engaged by RIRS officially stopped operations on December 31, 2025, noting that no external agent is currently authorized to collect taxes or issue demand notices on behalf of the agency.

He said: “Rivers people do pay taxes, but our target is those who ought to pay more but are not even in our net. We are putting structures in place to track those who should be paying taxes but are not.

“All previously engaged agents’ appointments ended on 31st December 2025. No agent has been empowered to deliver demand notices, receive money, or issue receipts on our behalf. We now serve demand notices directly.”

Egbunefu warned residents to be wary of individuals impersonating tax officials, noting that the agency’s Compliance and Enforcement team has already apprehended some suspects involved in such illegal activities.

Egbunefu disclosed that the Service is working towards a more transparent tax payment system by encouraging electronic payments and reducing the use of cash in tax transactions.

He said: “Going forward, we want to deploy methods that will encourage electronic payment and reduce cash collections.

“The government of Rivers State is constructing and commissioning projects across the local government areas as a result of the people’s tax. Let us support government efforts by paying our taxes.”

Meanwhile, the Director of Compliance and Enforcement, RIRS, Rosemary Orubo, described taxation as a mandatory civic responsibility necessary for sustaining economic growth.

Orubo said: “Taxation is a compulsory obligatory remittance to the government. Everyone should pay; the chairman pays, I pay. Everyone should pay for the viability of the economy.”