The Abia State Government has dismissed claims alleging that it imposed “draconian taxation” and carried out “ruthless enforcement on businesses and individuals in the state.”
Officials explained that touting has already been scrapped and that a Single Treasury Account is now in place to promote transparency. They also rejected allegations that filling stations were each charged N450 million.
In a statement shared on Sunday, the 14th of September, 2025, Okpechi, Special Adviser to Governor Alex Otti on Internally Generated Revenue, clarified that the introduction of the Harmonized Task Force has eliminated multiple ticketing and extortion across the state.
He noted that every official revenue now goes directly into one account, a move designed to close financial leakages, ensure proper cash handling, and eliminate irregular accounting practices.
Okpechi added that tricycle operators are only required to pay a daily e-ticket of N500, an amount set after consultations with their unions.
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“The notion that N450 million is charged per filling station is false, bogus and illogical.
If a single station were to pay N450 million in “fees,” what revenue would be left for them to operate? There is no such levy anywhere in Abia’s approved schedules.”
He also dismissed suggestions that the state had entered a deal to hand 15 percent of its 2025 revenue to Access Bank, stressing that both parties are only in “professional partnership to strengthen financial processes and technology.”
The government encouraged residents to make payments only through official platforms such as AbiaPay, banks, licensed PoS or e-channels, and to always demand their e-receipts.
Okpechi further urged that any instances of touting, unauthorized ticketing, or cash demands should be reported to the Harmonized Task Force.