Adamawa State has witnessed a remarkable transformation in its fiscal capacity under the leadership of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, with the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) rising by an impressive 161% over the past five years , from ₦6.2 billion in 2019 to ₦16.2 billion in 2024.
This phenomenal growth reflects the Fintiri administration’s deliberate economic reforms, improved tax administration, and aggressive drive toward diversifying the state’s revenue sources beyond federal allocations.
Economic analysts and observers attribute the surge to the governor’s strategic reforms in the state’s revenue system, which include the automation of tax collection processes, the expansion of the tax net to capture the informal sector, and the plugging of revenue leakages through enhanced monitoring and accountability mechanisms.
The Adamawa State Internal Revenue Service (ADIRS) has also been repositioned through digital innovation, staff training, and enforcement of compliance with modern fiscal standards. According to official figures, the state’s reliance on federal allocations has significantly reduced as internally generated funds now play a greater role in financing key infrastructure and social development projects.
Governor Fintiri’s administration has channeled part of the increased revenue into critical sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and youth empowerment, underscoring his commitment to sustainable development and inclusive growth.
Speaking recently at a fiscal performance review session, Governor Fintiri reiterated his administration’s resolve to further improve the state’s revenue base without imposing unnecessary hardship on citizens. “Our goal is to build a self-sustaining economy that can fund our priorities and support the future of our people.
What we have achieved so far is only the beginning,” the governor said.
Observers note that Adamawa’s revenue success story stands out in the North-East region, where most states still rely heavily on federal allocations to meet recurrent and capital expenditures.
The 161% increase in IGR not only highlights Governor Fintiri’s financial prudence and policy foresight but also positions Adamawa as one of the emerging models of fiscal innovation and governance efficiency in Nigeria.
With ongoing reforms in land administration, transport regulation, and business registration, experts predict that the state’s IGR could exceed ₦20 billion before the end of the current administration, a testament to the enduring impact of Fintiri’s leadership and vision for a prosperous Adamawa.
