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Plateau State Charts New Course for Tax Reforms with Landmark Summit on Land and Property Administration
Plateau State has taken a bold step toward transforming its internally generated revenue (IGR) system by convening a two-day Tax Summit focused on property and land administration. The summit, which ended on Friday, August 22, 2025, brought together top government officials, legal experts, technocrats, development partners, and community leaders to address long-standing challenges in domestic resource mobilization.
The event, themed “Unlocking Domestic Resources: Strengthening the Administration of Property and Land-Related Taxes in Plateau State,” emphasized the centrality of land as a driver of sustainable revenue.
Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, represented by the Secretary to the Government, Arch. Samuel N. Jatau, stressed that the summit was about redefining governance and renewing the social contract between the government and citizens.
“Land is one of our greatest assets, yet it remains underutilized in driving development. What we are doing with this summit is to set a new tone—that Plateau must look inward, harness its resources, and build a transparent system of taxation that benefits every citizen. Property and land taxes are not punishments; they are contributions toward building a state we are proud to call home,” he said.
The governor pledged reforms to harmonize land administration, expand the tax net, and enforce fairness. He noted that a transparent and predictable tax regime would inspire citizens’ compliance under the Plateau Project vision.
Data presented at the summit revealed staggering underperformance: though NASA surveys identified over one million buildings across the state, only about 14,000 are currently within the tax net—just 1.4 percent of the total stock.
Dr. Jim Pam Wayas, Executive Chairman of the Plateau State Internal Revenue Service (PSIRS), described the situation as a “medical emergency,” comparing revenue to the lifeblood of government. “Plateau has been operating with just six pints of blood when it could easily have seven or more,” he said.
Legal experts highlighted the need to bridge the gap between statutory land laws and customary tenure systems. Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon. Philemon Audu Daffi, noted that the challenge was not the absence of laws, but fragmentation in Nigeria’s land administration.
The Plateau Geographic Information Service (PLAGIS), represented by Mr. Sunday Bulus, showcased how digital property mapping and spatial data could automate identification, valuation, billing, and collection. Property owners, he explained, could soon receive tax notices via SMS or email and pay electronically.
“Data has become the new oil. The question is: how do we harness it to generate wealth? That is why we are here,” Dr. Wayas emphasized.
International case studies were also presented, including Sierra Leone’s reforms in property taxation and comparative research in Kaduna, Niger, and Ekiti States that attracted interest from the Gates Foundation.
A key highlight of the summit was the inauguration of an Implementation Committee chaired by the Attorney General. A seven-point action plan was adopted to address:
- Harmonization of land tenure systems.
- Capacity building for local governments.
- Data-driven revenue forecasting.
- Technology integration across agencies.
- Community sensitization.
- Objective property valuation reforms.
- Updates to legal frameworks.
Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Town Planning, Hon. Peter Nyam Gei, assured that the reforms would simplify processes and eliminate harassment. “Once you are given a demand notice and make your payment, that’s it—you are done,” he said.
The second day of the summit examined the performance of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) under the theme “Appraising the Revenue Performance of MDAs and the Way Forward.” Governor Mutfwang was represented by the Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Jatau Davou Gyang.
A five-year review revealed poor performance between 2020 and 2022, with improvements in 2023 when Plateau achieved 102 percent of its revenue target and raised IGR contributions to 34 percent. Performance reached 62 percent in 2024, but mid-year 2025 data showed worrying trends: only 13.4 percent of MDAs had met at least half their targets, 63.4 percent performed below 25 percent, and 17.1 percent recorded no revenue at all.
Top-performing MDAs included the Ministry of Information & Communication (1,243.76%), Ministry of Justice (729.43%), Jos Main Market Authority (428.96%), and Plateau State Scholarship Board (125%). Underperformers included the Ministries of Agriculture, Science and Technology, ICT Development Agency, and Health.
Recommendations put forward included setting realistic targets, diversifying revenue sources, deepening automation, quarterly performance reviews, and rewarding high-performing MDAs.
Summit participants expressed optimism that Plateau’s reforms could serve as a model for other states amid shrinking federal allocations.
“This is not a talk-shop. We are moving beyond rhetoric to action,” one participant declared, as the summit closed with renewed commitment to building a fair, predictable, and transparent taxation system that underpins sustainable governance and development.
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has urged Muslims and Islamic organisations across Nigeria to heighten vigilance and immediately report suspicious persons, movements and objects to security agencies following a nationwide terror alert.
MURIC’s warning came after the Nigeria Police Force raised concerns over intelligence indicating increased mobilisation of terrorist elements for possible coordinated attacks on places of worship, schools, NYSC orientation camps and other vulnerable locations.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, MURIC Executive Director, Professor Isiaq Akintola, urged Islamic organisations and individuals to be wary of unfamiliar faces at their gatherings and take precautionary measures to prevent possible attacks.
Akintola specifically advised mosques to strengthen security arrangements and exercise caution over individuals carrying bags or luggage into their premises.
He said, “Islamic organizations and individuals must be wary of strange faces at their gatherings. People carrying bags and baggage, especially back-packs, must not be allowed into mosque premises.
“Mosques must up their vigilance. Entertain no unknown faces even if their turbans carry the stamps of Saudi Arabia and Iran altogether. No sleep-over should be allowed in the mosques.
“Most importantly, dispose of any bag or luggage found inside or around the mosque immediately. They must also report suspicious persons to the police even if such person or persons pray with them in the same mosque.”
The Nigeria Police Force had, in a wireless message dated September 13, 2026, directed commands nationwide to intensify security measures following intelligence on possible coordinated terrorist attacks.
Issued by the Force Department of Operations in Abuja and marked “Security General” and “Treat as Very Important,” the message was circulated to police formations, including Commissioners of Police, Assistant Inspectors-General overseeing various zones, counter-terrorism units and other specialised formations.
According to the directive, the North-East, North-West, North-Central and parts of the South-West were areas of particular concern.
The police also disclosed intelligence indicating the movement of armed elements from Katsina through Kaduna towards Plateau State, while suspected Islamic State West Africa Province operatives and local collaborators were reportedly conducting surveillance of potential targets.
The Force expressed particular concern over possible attacks on learning institutions, warning that terrorists could exploit the resumption of the 2026/2027 academic session to target concentrations of students and staff.
It further noted that such attacks could be aimed at causing mass casualties, spreading fear and destabilising communities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The police assessed the situation as a possible progression from “intent to preparatory activity” and ordered immediate proactive measures.
Consequently, commanders were directed to intensify intelligence-led surveillance, patrols, stop-and-search operations, access control and rapid-response arrangements around vulnerable locations.
The Force also ordered tighter security at borders, entry and exit routes and other critical approaches to prevent the infiltration and movement of armed elements.
“All personnel should maintain heightened vigilance and report suspicious persons, vehicles, movements or objects through established channels,” the message stated.
Police commands were further instructed to collaborate with other security and intelligence agencies, religious leaders, school authorities and the NYSC management to strengthen information sharing and early-warning mechanisms.
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