RMAFC and Interior Ministry Partner to Drive Foreign Investment
By Patience Ikpeme
The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has initiated talks with the Ministry of Interior to attract investment and enhance revenue generation.
The RMAFC Chairman, Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu, led a high-powered delegation to the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja on Thursday. The visit centered on a collaborative framework intended to integrate migration governance with economic development.
Already, the Commission is making plans to organise a strategic oil and gas summit designed to draw fresh capital into the upstream and downstream sectors.
During the meeting, Dr. Shehu noted that the Commission, as one of the fourteen constitutional bodies, maintains a rigorous mandate to monitor revenue accruals into the Federation Account and ensure disbursements align strictly with legal provisions.
He pointed out that the Commission possesses the authority to demand information from any organization regarding revenue remittances to ensure the nation’s financial integrity. “Every legitimate revenue due to the Federation must be properly accounted for and distributed in accordance with the law,” Dr. Shehu said.
The Chairman praised the Ministry for its recent administrative reforms, noting that the visible changes within the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps have set a positive precedence for inter-agency cooperation. He expressed gratitude for the logistical support provided during past verification exercises, which he described as essential for effective governance.
“We are very happy to be here to appreciate the Minister and the Ministry of Interior for the visible strides being recorded. The transformation in the immigration system, civil defence and other agencies is evident, and the nation appreciates these efforts,” the Chairman remarked.
The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, welcomed the delegation and spoke on the necessity of institutional synergy. He stated that the Ministry has pivoted toward using migration management and documentation as active catalysts for economic growth and the ease of doing business.
“Collaboration is the soul of governance. No institution can succeed in isolation, and our doors remain open to every agency committed to national development. Our agenda has been to use migration management as an enabler of business. We have digitised major processes, simplified visa systems, improved transparency and reduced bottlenecks so that investors can access Nigeria more easily,” Dr. Tunji-Ojo stated.
Addressing the legalities of residency and investment, the Minister clarified that while citizenship remains a strictly constitutional matter, the Ministry is focused on creating investor-friendly residency pathways. These arrangements are intended to allow for long-term lawful stays that support the federal government’s broader economic objectives.
The Chairman of the RMAFC Investment Monitoring Committee, Hon. Enefe Ekene, also spoke during the meeting, explaining that the Committee’s oversight extends to all government initiatives aimed at drawing foreign direct investment into the country. He argued that the Ministry of Interior acts as a primary gatekeeper for the stable and transparent environment that international investors require.
Hon. Ekene concluded that by refining residency and business entry systems, the Ministry remains a vital partner in increasing investor confidence, which directly correlates to a more robust national revenue base.
