NEWS
Abia BIR Unveils Digital Revenue Collection System, Unified Enforcement for Transport Sector
The Abia State Board of Internal Revenue (BIR) has unveiled a comprehensive reform of the state’s transport revenue administration, announcing plans to fully digitise revenue collection and introduce a unified enforcement system aimed at eliminating multiple enforcement channels, blocking revenue leakages and enhancing transparency across the transport sector.
The announcement was made by the Chairman of the Board, Mr. Uche Elekwachi, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the BIR headquarters in Umuahia. The meeting brought together government officials, enforcement agencies and representatives of transport unions to discuss the implementation of the new revenue framework.
According to Elekwachi, all enforcement operations across the transport sector will now be centrally coordinated through an integrated digital platform designed to ensure efficiency, accountability and seamless monitoring. He explained that the Board will also introduce a structured revenue target system backed by daily performance monitoring to improve productivity and strengthen revenue generation.
He noted that the reforms are expected to eliminate unauthorised revenue collections, curb irregular practices and establish a more transparent and accountable system that benefits both government and transport operators.
As part of the new measures, the BIR Chairman disclosed that commercial motorcycles operating within the state will be categorised into three standard classifications, with each category assigned unique identification codes linked to designated operational zones.
He further explained that operators will undergo verification at approved licensing offices, where their personal records will be linked to their motorcycle plate numbers and biometric data. To encourage compliance, the initial registration exercise will be conducted free of charge.
Elekwachi stated that the digitisation initiative is part of the Abia State Government’s broader strategy to build a technology-driven revenue administration capable of improving coordination among stakeholders, enhancing road safety and increasing the state’s internally generated revenue.
Also addressing participants, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Chairman of the Abia State Harmonised Task Force (ABSHTF), Prince Uzor Nwachukwu, said the initiative would harmonise enforcement activities across the state, deepen collaboration between government agencies and transport unions, and promote professionalism, discipline and accountability within the transport sector.
In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Revenue, Dr. Emmanuel Okpechi, called on transport operators and other stakeholders to embrace and support the reforms, stressing that the initiative represents a significant step towards restoring order in the transport sector while strengthening Abia State’s internally generated
revenue base.