CALABAR — The Cross River State Government says the state is gradually breaking away from dependence on federal allocations, following a reported increase in internally generated revenue under Governor Bassey Edet Otu.
According to the state government, Cross River now generates enough internally generated revenue (IGR) to cover about 30 per cent of its fiscal obligations, a development it says reflects the impact of reforms introduced by the Otu administration.
The claim comes after Cross River was excluded from a list of 25 states reportedly depending on the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) for at least 80 per cent of their fiscal needs.
The figures, attributed to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), were highlighted by TheCableIndex on its X handle and subsequently referenced by the state government.
The government also pointed to Cross River’s reported fiscal performance in the first quarter of 2026.
The state reportedly generated ₦63.36 billion during the period and spent ₦48.01 billion, leaving a balance of ₦15.35 billion. The figure placed Cross River 17th among the 26 states reported to have recorded fiscal surpluses in the quarter.
IGR rises from ₦22bn to ₦46bn
The Cross River Internal Revenue Service (CRIRS) said the state’s IGR increased from ₦22 billion in December 2022 to ₦46 billion in December 2024.
The agency attributed the growth to reforms including tax-payment automation, stronger collection processes and the creation of data-mining units aimed at expanding the state’s revenue base and blocking leakages.
CRIRS Chairman, Dr Edwin Okon, said the agency is targeting ₦10 billion in monthly IGR, while the state has projected ₦64 billion in IGR for 2026.
The agency said its half-year review showed that more than ₦31 billion had already been generated, with officials expressing confidence that the annual target could be surpassed.
One of the areas identified as contributing to the increase is the forestry sector. According to CRIRS, monthly revenue from forestry has risen from about ₦100 million to between ₦400 million and ₦450 million, while mining and other sectors have also recorded increases.
The question residents may now ask
While the figures paint a picture of improving state finances, the bigger question for many Cross Riverians is what the reported increase in government revenue means for them.
If the state is indeed becoming less dependent on FAAC and is generating more money internally, residents will likely expect to see the impact in areas such as roads, healthcare, education, water supply, employment opportunities and other basic services.
The development could also intensify scrutiny of how the additional revenue is being collected and spent, particularly as the government seeks to expand its tax base.
CRIRS Director of Accounts, Edem Enifon, said the agency's progress was the result of reforms backed by political will. He said Cross River can now fund more than 30 per cent of its monthly capital needs from internally generated revenue.
The state government says its ultimate objective is to achieve complete decoupling from federal allocations.
For Cross River residents, however, the real measure of that ambition may not simply be how far the state moves up an IGR ranking.
It may ultimately be whether stronger state revenue translates into better services and a noticeable improvement in everyday life.
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