Gombe State is planning to generate ₦39 billion in internally generated revenue (IGR) to help fund its ₦535.7 billion 2026 budget, according to Salihu Baba-Alkali, the State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning.
That target represents a 19.22% increase over the ₦32.7 billion IGR goal set for 2025, which Baba-Alkali described as bold but realistic, given the Gombe Internal Revenue Service’s (GIRS) recent performance. In fact, he noted that the GIRS exceeded its 2025 target by 103% before the fiscal year ended.
The additional IGR will “complement other funds needed to sustain and complete the massive ongoing projects in the state,” he said. To reach this goal, Gombe has strengthened its revenue service, making it more efficient.
Beyond IGR, the state expects to receive ₦80 billion from statutory allocations, ₦65 billion from its VAT share, and ₦132 billion from other FAAC receipts in 2026. However, it is also planning to take on ₦186.7 billion in external borrowing, mainly “drawdowns from multilateral organisations, which the Federal Government borrow[s] on behalf of states,” including the World Bank and the Islamic Development Bank.
Baba-Alkali emphasized that reducing dependence on federal transfers is a long-term goal, and called on residents to support the state government’s infrastructural development by willingly and regularly paying their taxes.
By raising its IGR, Gombe is pushing for fiscal self-reliance, reducing its dependence on federal allocations. This shift promotes sustainable development and strengthens the state’s economic resilience, a growing trend among Nigerian states eager to fund infrastructure via their own revenue rather than loans or transfers.
