12/07/2026
KGIRS Declares Zero Tolerance for Illegal Tax Collection, Warns Highway Revenue Offenders of Prosecution
By Muhammad Mukhtar Idris
The Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS) has declared zero tolerance for illegal tax collection across the State, warning that anyone found collecting revenue on highways in contravention of Nigeria's new tax law will face arrest and prosecution.
The Executive Chairman of KGIRS, Dr. Salihu Sule Enehe, gave the warning recently in Lokoja while speaking on the implementation of the country's new tax regime, which came into effect on January 1, 2026. He said the legislation has fundamentally reformed tax administration by outlawing all forms of unauthorised revenue collection on highways under the guise of taxation.
Dr. Enehe stressed that the era of indiscriminate roadblocks and illegal tax collection has come to an end, adding that the Kogi State Government remains fully committed to enforcing the provisions of the new law.
According to him, any individual or group found engaging in illegal revenue collection will be regarded as an economic saboteur and treated as an enemy of both Kogi State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He warned that offenders would be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law, stressing that the government would not tolerate any activity capable of undermining lawful revenue administration, public confidence, or the state's economic development.
The KGIRS Chairman further disclosed that the new tax law has abolished the sale of revenue emblems and the collection of haulage fees on highways.
He explained that all legitimate haulage charges are now restricted to designated loading and off-loading points, in line with the provisions of the law and internationally recognised best practices aimed at improving the ease of doing business.
Dr. Enehe called on transport operators, business owners, and members of the public to comply fully with the new directives and promptly report any illegal tax collectors or unauthorised revenue checkpoints to the appropriate authorities.
He reaffirmed the commitment of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo's administration, through KGIRS, to building a transparent, efficient, technology-driven, and business-friendly tax system that promotes voluntary compliance, enhances investor confidence, and safeguards the interests of law-abiding citizens.