The Kogi State Government has issued a stern warning that anyone caught engaging in illegal revenue collection will be prosecuted as a criminal and treated as an economic saboteur.
Authorities in the North-Central state are intensifying a clampdown on unauthorised persons who have long exploited gaps in the state's revenue administration to extort motorists, traders, and business owners under the guise of collecting taxes and levies.
The government described the activities of illegal collectors as a direct threat to the state's internally generated revenue, noting that substantial sums that should flow into government coffers are diverted by touts operating without any form of accreditation or statutory backing.
Officials emphasised that revenue collection is the exclusive preserve of designated government agencies and licensed contractors. Any individual or group found collecting payments on behalf of the government without proper authorisation will face the full weight of the law.
The crackdown reflects a growing determination by the administration to plug revenue leakages, improve IGR performance, and restore public confidence in the state's fiscal management. Kogi State has in recent years pursued reforms aimed at boosting internally generated revenue and reducing over-reliance on federal allocations.
Security agencies have reportedly been directed to treat illegal revenue collectors no differently from armed robbers and economic saboteurs, signalling a zero-tolerance posture that could see offenders charged under relevant criminal statutes.
The government also urged residents to report any person demanding unauthorised payments and to verify the credentials of anyone presenting themselves as a revenue official.
Illegal revenue collection remains a persistent challenge across several Nigerian states, where touts and unlicensed agents operate with impunity on highways, in markets, and at motor parks, often with the tacit backing of powerful interests. The Kogi State Government's latest pronouncement signals an attempt to break that cycle through deterrence and stricter enforcement.
