February 12, (THEWILL) – The Kano State Government has unveiled plans to generate over N100 billion in revenue in 2025 to enhance service delivery across the state.
The Executive Chairman of the Kano State Internal Revenue Service (KIRS), Dr. Zaid Abubakar, disclosed this during the 2025 Annual Performance Review and Strategic Planning Meeting of the service held in Kano on Wednesday.
Abubakar noted that Kano, as a major commercial hub, has the potential to generate over N200 billion annually, given its vast industrial and commercial base.
“Kano is a centre of commerce; we have five major markets that are critical not only in sub-Saharan Africa but also the entire continent in terms of fabrics, grains, and other commodities,” he said.
He added that KIRS would leverage existing manufacturing industries and agriculture to achieve its revenue targets.
As part of efforts to curb leakages and improve revenue collection, Abubakar said the state would introduce a central single revenue account to enhance transparency and accountability.
He also revealed that the government, under Governor Abba Yusuf, has approved a review of the state’s revenue laws to strengthen the legal framework for tax collection.
“We have to rewrite the laws because approval has been given by His Excellency Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, which we hope to complete before the end of the first quarter of this year,” he stated.
According to him, the existing tax laws are outdated and ineffective, necessitating a comprehensive review to optimize revenue generation.
The KIRS boss further disclosed that the agency has introduced **taxpayer engagement initiatives to enhance compliance and ease the burden on enforcement staff.
“The taxpayer engagement is aimed at bringing us closer to taxpayers, reducing enforcement burdens, and fostering voluntary compliance,” he added.
He commended Governor Yusuf for his unwavering support, which he said has significantly strengthened the agency’s operations.
In his remarks, Special Adviser to the Governor on Revenue, Prof. Ibrahim Barde, urged KIRS to address key challenges affecting the state’s revenue generation system to maximize its potential.
Abdullahi Yusuf is a seasoned journalist, communicator and was previously the Deputy Editor-In-Chief and Zonal Manager, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Jos, where he retired on December 15, 2021
