Anambra State has witnessed a significant surge in its monthly Internally Generated Revenue, increasing from ₦2.2 billion to ₦5.2 billion over the past year—a remarkable growth of over 100%.
According to Daily Post, this milestone was announced by Amara Oyeka, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on IGR, during the presentation and validation of a research study conducted across 21 key markets in the state’s three senatorial zones.
The research was carried out as part of the Tax for Service Project, a collaborative initiative between the Tax Justice and Governance Platform and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, with support from Oxfam Nigeria.
Despite this impressive progress, Oyeka highlighted serious challenges affecting the state’s revenue system. He pointed out that tax evasion by affluent residents and systemic leakages in revenue collection remain significant hurdles. According to Oyeka, over 50% of the state’s collected revenue is lost to private interests.
“We have a situation where revenue collectors are richer than the government,” Oyeka revealed. “Most of those tarnishing the government’s image are not even employed by us. While we work harder than other states, the system is plagued by numerous leakages. We are determined to address these issues.”
He stressed the importance of collaborative efforts to sanitize the system and ensure the state retains its rightful revenue. “The higher the revenue, the greater the citizens’ power to demand public goods,” Oyeka added.
Ugochi Ehiahuruike, Executive Director of the Social and Integral Development Centre, which hosts the Tax Justice and Governance Platform in Anambra, elaborated on the objectives of the Tax for Service Project.
“The Tax for Service Project is designed to bridge the gap between taxpayers and service providers, fostering transparency, accountability, and trust in governance,” she explained. “This research provides a foundation for strategic interventions to improve tax compliance and public service outcomes.”
Speaking further, Dr. Greg Ezeilo, Chairman of the Anambra State Board of Internal Revenue Service, represented by Director of Taxes, Herbert Ofomata, decried the mismatch between the state’s economic potential and its revenue profile.
“The financial worth of markets in Anambra is immense, yet government revenue does not reflect this reality,” he said. “Markets are the oil wells of this state. From Onitsha to Awka, markets dominate, and we must leverage this resource to fund public services effectively.”
The state government’s commitment to reforming its revenue collection system, in partnership with civil society organisations and other stakeholders, underscores its resolve to enhance transparency, accountability, and economic potential. These efforts aim to ensure that the increased revenue translates into tangible improvements in public services for the people of Anambra.
