By Betty Idemudia, Reporting
THE Edo State Ministry of Business, Trade and Investment (MBTI) has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening collaboration with the Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) to boost investment, expand trade activities and support the actualisation of Governor Monday Okpebholo’s SHINE Agenda.
The Honourable Commissioner for Business, Trade and Investment, Hon. Omoh Innocent Anabor, gave the assurance during a courtesy visit to the Executive Chairman of EIRS, Otunba Oladele Bankole-Balogun, at the Service’s headquarters in Benin City.
Hon. Anabor explained that the visit formed part of his strategic engagements with key revenue and investment-related agencies within his first two months in office, aimed at aligning inter-agency operations with the ministry’s mandate of creating a business-friendly environment in Edo State.
According to him, effective collaboration between MBTI and EIRS is crucial to unlocking the state’s economic potential, improving the ease of doing business and ensuring sustainable revenue growth through expanded trade and investment activities.
“The Ministry of Business, Trade and Investment recognises the pivotal role of EIRS in revenue mobilisation, which directly supports infrastructure development and economic growth under the SHINE Agenda. We are committed to working closely with the Service to attract investors, formalise businesses and grow the state’s revenue base,” Anabor said.
In his response, the Executive Chairman of EIRS, Otunba Bankole-Balogun, commended the Commissioner for the proactive engagement, noting that strong synergy with ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) remains key to efficient revenue administration.
He disclosed that Edo State’s internally generated revenue (IGR) rose from N85 billion to N110 billion in 2025 within one year of the current board’s inauguration, attributing the growth to institutional reforms, enhanced staff training and improved inter-agency cooperation.
Bankole-Balogun appealed for sustained support from MBTI in achieving and surpassing the N162 billion IGR target for 2026, particularly through improved business data sharing, investment tracking and strengthened enforcement of the Treasury Single Account (TSA).
The visit underscored the shared resolve of both institutions to leverage collaboration for economic expansion, improved service delivery and the overall development of Edo State.
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