The latest report on internally generated revenue (IGR) across Nigeria’s 36 states has highlighted a significant financial gap between regions, with the Southeast ranking among the lowest. In particular, Imo State has emerged as the least-performing state in the Southeast for IGR, with total revenue of approximately 21 billion naira, placing it behind its neighboring states in the region.
The data shows a wide disparity in revenue generation, with states in the Southwest like Lagos leading by a considerable margin. Lagos State alone generated over 815 billion naira, demonstrating strong financial independence compared to other states. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) follows with 211 billion naira, further illustrating the fiscal imbalance across the country.
Among the five Southeastern states—Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo—Imo stands last, which places it at a disadvantage for economic development and public service funding. The entire Southeast region ranks just above the Northeast, indicating a regional need to strengthen revenue-generating mechanisms to fund local projects and services.
The low revenue figures in the Southeast highlight a broader national issue regarding economic diversity and sustainability. Economists suggest that states need to find innovative ways to boost revenue generation, such as enhancing tax collection processes, developing local industries, and attracting investments to support economic growth.
For now, however, the report underscores the need for Imo State and the Southeast region as a whole to focus on improving their IGR performance to keep pace with more financially robust states and regions.
