ASABA/Nigeria: The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has commenced an assessment of Delta State’s economic diversification efforts, with state officials outlining reforms they say have significantly increased internally generated revenue and reduced dependence on oil receipts.
The assessment formed part of a visit by a delegation of the commission to Asaba on Monday, where officials of the Delta State Government presented policies and programmes aimed at expanding the state’s revenue base through investments in agriculture, industrialisation and other non-oil sectors.
Speaking during the engagement, the Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr. Sunny Ekedayen, said the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) had grown from about ₦84 billion in 2023 to more than ₦200 billion, attributing the increase to reforms in tax administration, improved compliance and an expansion of the tax net rather than increases in personal income tax rates.
According to Ekedayen, the state government has adopted measures designed to strengthen revenue generation while encouraging investments in sectors considered critical to long-term economic growth.
He identified agriculture as one of the sectors receiving increased attention, explaining that the state is using Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements to attract investment into commercial farming, particularly cassava and oil palm production.
The commissioner said the initiative is intended to stimulate economic activity in rural communities, create employment opportunities and provide additional sources of government revenue outside the oil sector.
Also addressing the delegation, Commissioner for Finance, Chief Fidelis Tilije, said the state government is investing in infrastructure to attract industries, citing ongoing efforts to prepare the Kwale Industrial Park for operations.
Tilije said prospective investors had indicated interest in establishing businesses within the industrial park once supporting infrastructure is completed.
He also pointed to the shallow navigation channel at the Forcados Port as one of the challenges affecting maritime activities in Delta, expressing hope that collaboration with the Federal Government would accelerate efforts to improve port infrastructure and enhance commercial activities.
Earlier, Chairman of the RMAFC Mobilisation and Diversification Committee, Mr. Victor Eboigbe, said the commission’s visit was part of a nationwide assessment of states’ efforts to diversify their economies and improve internally generated revenue.
He noted that heavy reliance on crude oil revenue has continued to expose governments to fluctuations in the international energy market, making economic diversification increasingly important for long-term fiscal sustainability.
According to Eboigbe, the commission is constitutionally mandated to advise governments on revenue mobilisation and fiscal efficiency, adding that the current exercise is intended to evaluate existing initiatives and identify areas where improvements may be required.
He said the delegation had already engaged relevant ministries, departments and agencies in the state and would continue consultations with key stakeholders before concluding its assessment.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, the Federal Commissioner representing Delta State in the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Hon. Aruviere Martins Egwarhevwa, said the exercise was aimed at strengthening collaboration between the commission and state institutions on issues relating to revenue generation and economic diversification.
He added that findings from the assessment would contribute to ongoing efforts to encourage states to broaden their economic base and reduce dependence on revenue from crude oil.
The RMAFC delegation also acknowledged the presentations made by Delta State officials and said the outcome of its consultations would form part of its overall assessment of the state’s diversification initiatives.
