Kebbi State, located in northwestern Nigeria, holds immense untapped economic potential that could elevate it to one of the region’s top internal revenue-generating states. Bordered by Sokoto, Zamfara, Niger State, and internationally by Niger and Benin Republics, Kebbi occupies a highly strategic geographical position.
By Yusuf Muhammad Ladan
Yet, despite this advantage, its current revenue collection system has not evolved in line with national and global best practices.
There is an urgent need for the Kebbi State Government to transform its existing State Internal Revenue Board into a fully-fledged Internal Revenue Service (IRS), mirroring models already adopted by many other Nigerian states.
Kebbi’s unique location as a border state offers access to dynamic local and cross-border trade routes. Towns such as Tsamiya, Lolo, Illo (in Bagudu LGA), and Kamba (in Dandi LGA) serve as commercial hubs, experiencing constant inflow and outflow of goods, often involving transactions in both the Nigerian Naira and the West African CFA franc.
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However, much of the revenue potential in these areas remains untapped due to an outdated and inefficient revenue collection system. Unlike Kano State, which generates a significant portion of its IGR through digital tools and coordinated revenue mobilization strategies, Kebbi’s infrastructure remains largely analogue and fragmented.
During my involvement with ActionAid Nigeria’s Breaking Barriers: A Tax Justice Project, I had the opportunity to visit several states across the country. What stood out was how those with strong, digitized revenue services were thriving. Revenue officers in those states were proactive, tech-savvy, and backed by robust legal frameworks that enabled efficient tax collection.
States like Lagos and Kano have moved beyond traditional tax collection. They now deploy data analytics, automated systems, and real-time reporting to track, monitor, and enforce tax compliance. Kebbi can adopt and adapt this model—particularly in its border regions—by establishing tollgates, customs checkpoints, and digital tax kiosks to monitor trade and revenue flows in real time.
To make this a reality, Kebbi must go beyond a name change. Transforming the Board into an “Internal Revenue Service” must be accompanied by legislative reform that redefines its powers, structure, and operational capacity.
With the right political will and reforms, Kebbi can position itself as the “next Kano or Lagos” in internal revenue generation—especially in the Northwest—leveraging its trade corridors, agricultural base, and border economy.
Ladan is a Journalist and Tax Policy Advocate based in Birnin Kebbi
