Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has invited investors to Ekiti State, promising a secure and peaceful environment conducive to business growth.
This was as he restated the government’s commitment to implementing national tax reforms to drive the state’s economic growth and enhance citizens’ welfare.
He stated this at Ikogosi Warm Springs Conference Hall, Ikogosi Ekiti, on Saturday, during the four-day 2025 Joint Tax Board strategic retreat.
Oyebanji said, “I invite you to see Ekiti as a prime destination for investment. We offer a stable, reform-minded government, a highly literate and trainable workforce, vast opportunities in agriculture, the Ekiti Knowledge Zone, tourism and solid minerals, all within a secure and peaceful environment conducive to business growth.”
The governor also said the reforms embarked upon by President Bola Tinubu would shape the trajectory of Nigeria’s economy for years to come.
“The courage and vision of Mr President deserve our highest commendation as we align with his determination to reposition Nigeria for greatness.
“We, in Ekiti State, are committed to implementing these national reforms effectively and efficiently.
“We recognise the importance of a robust tax system in driving economic growth and enhancing citizen welfare,” he said.
The governor described effective taxation as the bedrock of infrastructure development, strengthened social welfare programmes and the nation’s long-term stability.
He charged the participants to “envision how we can collectively build a tax system that is transparent, equitable, and growth-oriented.
“Your collective wisdom will significantly enrich our understanding and guide our decisions on optimising the benefits of these reforms.”
Oyebanji, who hailed Tinubu for the tax reforms, whose implementation begins in January 2026, described them as “a pivotal shift towards a resilient and self-reliant economy.
“We have been presented with a historic opportunity to reshape how our country mobilises revenue, fosters compliance, and delivers sustainable development.”
The governor also lauded the state chairman of the Board of Internal Revenue, Olaniran Olatona and his team “for professionalism and strategic innovations which have provided critical funding for our administration to deliver the dividends of democracy to our people.”
The governor said the state’s internally generated revenue had almost quadrupled within three years.
The Chairman of JTB, Dr Zacch Adedeji, described the theme of the retreat, “Re-imagining the Nigeria tax eco-system: Harnessing the four tax reform laws as game changers in tax administration,” as apt and critically chosen to enforce Tinubu’s tax reform nationally.
Adedeji, represented by the Coordinating Director of the Federal Internal Revenue Service, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, lauded Oyebanji for the enabling environment for the internal revenue service to thrive in Ekiti State.
Speaking at the event, Olatona hailed Oyebanji for living up to his promise to effectively use Ekiti IGR for the development of the state, saying that such had brought about voluntary compliance to tax payment by residents of the state.
He noted that the tax system was already equipped for a dynamic change that would bring improvement to the lives of the citizens, since it was the first time the country was experiencing such massive reforms expected to be beneficial to all.
