17th President of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Mr Innocent Ohagwa, FCTI
The Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) has commended the recent resolution of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) to eliminate illegal roadblocks and harmonise levies imposed on the transportation of agricultural produce across Nigerian states.
Innocent Ohagwa, 17th President/Chairman of Council, CITN in a recent statement noted that the resolution made at NGF meeting held on June 18 follows a detailed briefing by the National Security Adviser and key ministers on the implications of checkpoint proliferation and unregulated taxation, adding that it “is a step in the right direction towards improving the food supply chain and addressing food inflation—reported at 21.14percent in May 2025, an increase of 2.19 percent compared to the previous month”.
CITN commended the NGF for recognising the role that fiscal coordination and administrative streamlining play in achieving national development objectives.
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“It is well established that the widespread imposition of illegal levies and multiple taxes on agricultural transportation has disrupted supply chains and adversely impacted food affordability across the nation.
“This decision, if uniformly implemented across all states, will not only improve food availability but also enhance public trust, reduce cost-push inflation, and support the livelihoods of millions of Nigerians”, Ohagwa said.
CITN also urged the state governors to closely monitor their local government Chairmen and the Chairmen of their States Internal Revenue Service “to ensure the full implementation of this directive. The Executive Secretary of the Joint Tax Board should liaise with the Inspector-General of Police to implement this directive”.
CITN said, “The Governors on their own part too, should ensure the implementation of statutory allocation of the required percentage of the State Internally Generated Revenue to their Local Government Councils in order to cushion the funding pressure on the Local Government Councils
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“As the professional body statutorily empowered to regulate tax practice in Nigeria, CITN has long advocated against multiplicity of taxes and unregulated collection practices. These practices increase compliance burdens, discourage investment, and ultimately result in revenue losses for the government”.
“CITN calls on all tiers of government to continuously implement people-centred reforms that will improve the standard of living, reduce the cost of doing business, and foster inclusive economic growth,” CITN said.
