The Imo State government says it has achieved a record-breaking Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of N43 billion in 2025, surpassing its N42 billion target.

The executive chairman of the Imo State Internal Revenue Service (ISIRS), Justice Okoye, disclosed this at a news briefing in Owerri, the state capital, on Wednesday.

Mr Okoye, represented by the head of Human Resource Capital Management, Chinwe Jude-Ibemere, said the revenue reached an all-time high, surpassing all previous records since the creation of the state.

He said, “The state government saw monthly collections jump from N3.5 billion in January 2025 to a historic peak of over N4.5 billion by December 2025.

“The year recorded consistent month-on-month growth, demonstrating the effectiveness of policy reforms, digital platforms, taxpayers’ awareness, stakeholder engagement, and disciplined revenue enforcement.

“The total collection in 2025 was over N43 billion as against the budgeted N42 billion, which represents more than 102.3 per cent achievement as against the budgeted revenue.”

He said the success recorded in 2025 was firmly anchored on the vision of Governor Hope Uzodimma, “whose administration prioritised technology/digitisation of processes, institutional strengthening, and transparency.”

“This digital system ensured a safe, secure, and compliant tax collection and eliminated leakages and manual inefficiencies.

“It further provided real-time monitoring and accountability, improved taxpayer confidence and voluntary compliance, premised on digital filing, payment, registration of complaints, among others,” he said.

Mr Okoye said that, for the first time in the state’s history, multiple months crossed significant revenue thresholds.

He said this culminated in a record-breaking year-end performance, with December recording the highest monthly collection ever achieved.

Mr Okoye also said the feat had set a new benchmark for revenue administration in the state.

He emphasised that the 2025 revenue achievements strengthened the state government’s capacity to fund critical infrastructure, social services, and development projects.

The ISIRS chairman assured taxpayers that the state government, in collaboration with security agencies, would continue to ensure peaceful and professional revenue enforcement.

He also disclosed that the revenue target for 2026, as approved by the state assembly, was over N281 billion, with a monthly budget estimate of N23.4 billion.

Mr Okoye said the government would further leverage its technology-based innovations to achieve the 2026 revenue target.

(NAN)