Abia governor’s adviser reports 356% rise in internally generated revenue
Emmanuel Okpechi, adviser to the governor of Nigeria’s Abia State on internally generated revenue, said these receipts increased from 14.67 billion naira in 2022 to 66.86 billion naira in 2025. This is 52.19 billion naira, or approximately 356%, more. The data were provided in Okpechi’s press release.
As Premium Times Nigeria reports, the author refers to a report by the analytical organization BudgIT on the finances of Nigeria’s states after the removal of fuel subsidies. According to the data cited in the publication, among 34 states with comparable indicators, Abia ranked third in the growth rate of internally generated revenue, second among South-East states, and tenth in the absolute volume of these receipts in 2025.
Digitalization of revenue collection
Okpechi links the growth in receipts to a revision of the revenue administration system. According to him, the administration of Governor Alex Otti introduced a three-month moratorium on tax collection at the beginning of its term and subsequently developed digital payment channels and a cashless payment collection policy.
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The state also introduced a consolidated tax notice that combines legal obligations previously issued by different government agencies. The author of the press release says this should reduce multiple taxation and make payments clearer for businesses. The Harmonised Task Force coordinates work in this area.
Dependence on FAAC allocations
Despite the growth in internal receipts, the article notes that in 2025 Abia generated approximately 21 naira in own-source revenue for every 100 naira received through the FAAC mechanism. The author links this to a sharp increase in federal allocations following large-scale fiscal reforms in Nigeria.
Okpechi named expanding the taxpayer base, improving records of businesses and real estate, and automating processes from registration to payment monitoring as priorities for the next stage. He also proposed developing revenues from land administration, urban services, transport, signage, digital commerce, and state assets. According to him, enforcement collection must take place lawfully, after proper notification of the taxpayer and with an opportunity to appeal assessments.
