Zamfara State has taken the lead in Nigeria’s revenue growth, skyrocketing its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) by an astounding 240.44%, according to BudgIT’s 2024 State of States Report. This remarkable achievement reflects Zamfara’s strategic move to reduce dependency on federal funds and focus on self-sustaining revenue initiatives.
The state’s impressive climb is largely credited to policies that expand local revenue streams, cutting down reliance on the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC). Speaking on this transformation, Governor’s spokesperson Sulaiman Bala Idris confirmed that Zamfara’s new approach enabled a sharp pivot toward financial independence, transforming it into a fiscal model for other states to follow.
The BudgIT report ranks Nigeria’s 36 states on fiscal sustainability, and Zamfara has made a notable leap, rising from 36th place in 2023 to 26th in 2024. Previously struggling with a 49.75% drop in IGR in 2022, Zamfara turned the tide by ramping up its revenue from N6.51 billion in 2022 to an impressive N22.16 billion in 2023—a 240.22% increase.
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The rise in IGR emanated from Income tax revenues which climbed 142.26%, leaping from N5.03 billion in 2022 to N12.18 billion in 2023. Revenue from Licenses saw a staggering 5,921.22% jump in license fees, from N22.78 million to N1.37 billion. Fee revenue growth surged by 3,610.38%, rising from N82.44 million to N3.06 billion. Fines skyrocketed by 1,924.52%, generating N491.32 million, while sales revenues increased by 32.49%, totaling N1.02 billion.
In addition to these key revenue drivers, Zamfara also tapped into untapped resources such as rent on government properties, investment income, and land rents, further enhancing its financial profile.
With these achievements, Zamfara has dramatically reduced its reliance on FAAC allocations, dropping from 90.52% in 2022 to 74.66% in 2023. The state’s total revenue soared by 65.35% to reach N144.95 billion in 2023.
