As part of measures to boost Edo State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), enhance its revenue system, and strengthen bilateral state collaboration through knowledge sharing, the Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) and the Edo Geographic Information Service (Edo GIS), recently, embarked on a comprehensive study tour of the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS).
The delegation from Edo State, led by Otunba (Hon.) Oladele-Bankole Balogun, the Executive Chairman of EIRS, was warmly received by key officials from LIRS, including Maruf Tijani (Director of Accounts), Michael Adeniyi (Commissioner, Stamp Duties & Capital Gains Tax), Segun Tijani (Assistant Director, High Networth Individuals), and Deputy Directors from Personal Income Tax, Information Sector, and Special Duties. They also met with Mr. Abdul-Rasheed Muri-Okunola, Permanent Secretary of the Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA) in Lagos State.
The EIRS team was taken through LIRS’s digital process of tax administration for key revenue streams. The session covered process flow, deployed communication and other strategies, shared success stories, and challenges faced.
The visit provided both teams with a crucial opportunity to ask targeted questions, provide answers, and share experiences that could significantly aid and scale Edo State’s IGR.
Speaking at the end of the visit, EIRS Executive Chairman, Hon. Oladele Bankole-Balogun Esq., expressed his appreciation to the leadership of the LIRS for sustaining its outstanding IGR performance among states of the Federation.
He affirmed EIRS’s commitment to meeting the developmental agenda of His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, through an efficient and effective revenue administration system, which necessitated the strategic visit to LIRS.
Other members of the delegation from Edo included Hon. Patrick Idiake (Executive Director, Income Tax), Dr. Tony Ikpasaja (Managing Director, Edo Geographic Information Service), Mrs. Osariemen Ogedegbe (Secretary to the Revenue Service), and other EIRS management staff.
Engagement with Lagos State Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA)
In a separate engagement, the Edo State team visited the Lagos State MVAA at its Corporate Headquarters in Alausa, Ikeja, to strengthen collaborations and drive revenue innovation.
The visit was specifically aimed at understudying MVAA’s operational framework, particularly in areas such as vehicle registration, licensing, and automation processes, with the goal of adopting best practices to enhance efficiency in Edo State’s revenue system.
Receiving the delegation, Mr. Abdul-Rasheed Muri-Okunola, Permanent Secretary of MVAA, gave an overview of the agency’s core operational departments, including Licensing and Records (managing vehicle registration and number plate issuance), Dealers’ License (responsible for auto trade permits), and the Control and Regulation of Licenses Department (overseeing driver’s licensing). He highlighted that Lagos remains a trailblazer in motor vehicle administration, particularly with the establishment of the state-owned Number Plate Production Plant in Oshodi, a key innovation that has improved efficiency and service quality.
During the interactive session, discussions focused on enforcement, data management, and public engagement strategies. Mr. Muri-Okunola clarified that traffic law enforcement in Lagos is handled by agencies such as the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS), and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), while MVAA focuses solely on vehicle documentation and regulatory functions.
Regarding data sharing, he explained that the Lagos State Data Protection Law imposes certain constraints and that the MVAA operates independently, despite its physical proximity to the LIRS.
Further presentations were made by senior MVAA officials. Mr. Bolaji Pitan, Chief Licensing Officer, detailed the distribution process of number plates from the Oshodi plant to the 57 licensing stations across Lagos State, ensuring smooth accessibility and accountability.
Similarly, Mr. Abiodun Shasanya, Director of Dealers’ License, stressed the importance of annual renewals by registered auto dealers to ensure compliance and maintain operational integrity.
In her remark, Mrs. Osariemen Ogedengbe, Secretary to the Edo State Revenue Service, commended the Lagos MVAA for its structured systems, transparency, and operational excellence.
She described the visit as “an eye-opener that will significantly impact Edo State’s e-revenue transformation drive,” emphasizing the value of learning from Lagos State’s advanced vehicle administration structure to improve service delivery back home.
The visit concluded with both parties expressing optimism about future partnerships and knowledge exchange to drive improved efficiency and innovation in revenue administration
across Nigerian states.
