Kogi IRS Declares War On Fake Tax Collectors, Vows Ruthless Crackdown

The Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS) has sounded a thunderous alarm to illegal tax collectors wreaking havoc across the state: Back off now or face arrest, prosecution, and the full force of the law.

Alhaji Sule Enehe, Executive Chairman of the KGIRS, didn’t mince words when he addressed journalists during a fiery media briefing in Lokoja.

“The activities of illegal revenue collectors is becoming worrisome in spite of repeated warnings. We are going all out for those illegal revenue collectors across the state,” he warned sternly.

“Those involved in this unconstitutional act have to stop or face the full wrath of the law.”

Enehe revealed a disturbing trend—unauthorised individuals, disguising themselves under the cloak of transport unions, were extorting motorcycle and tricycle riders under the guise of collecting levies.

“They usually block the roads in places like Adankolo junction, suya junction near the Federal University Lokoja, first 200 housing unit junction, old market, among other places within Lokoja Metropolis and the LGAs,” he lamented.

He vowed that the agency would tighten all loopholes to stop revenue leakages and track down offenders.

“We will show no mercy to those involved in the illegal activities.”

“We will not rest until we rid the state of illegal tax collectors because their actions and activities are already posing security threat to the state.”

The KGIRS boss reaffirmed that only the state’s legally mandated revenue agency has the constitutional backing to collect taxes and levies.

“The law for revenue collection in Kogi State is very clear to every body and we don’t expect any union to be collecting revenue meant for government. It is illegal, and we are appealing to the security agencies in the state to assist us so that we can continually clampdown heavily on them,” he said.

On the implementation of the Land Use Charge Law, Enehe said it would usher in a new era of infrastructural growth, improved public services, and employment opportunities for Kogites.

“When fully implemented, it could foster data-driven decision making, pave the way for the development of smart cities and jobs creation in the state,” he said.

The service, he stressed, is focused on ensuring that nothing jeopardises Kogi’s ambitious Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) target of ₦39 billion for 2025.

“The state government was doing all it can to provide the desired social amenities such as water, roads, electricity, schools and health care centres for the people of the state,” he added.