The Ondo State Government said it has so far generated N900m from the sales of tickets to commercial motorcyclists and tricyclists across the state.
The government hoped to make over N1 billion before the end of December 2023.
The Chairman of the state Internal Revenue Service, Mr Tolu Adegbie, stated this on Monday at the 2023 raffle draw ceremony for commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators in the state which was held in Akure.
Adegbie, however, noted that the state recorded a revenue shortfall compared to 2022 when it generated N1 billion between January and November, attributing the decline to some factors which included naira scarcity problem experienced in the early part of the year and the removal of fuel subsidy.
He said, “A sum of N900 million has been generated compared to last year. I mean from January to November, we’ve generated about N900 million. Meanwhile, this time last year, January to November, we had done N1 billion. This is for motorcycles and tricycles, but the bulk is from motorcycles.
“For the tricycle, they are doing roughly about N250 – N350 million which is not much. That is why we are giving out more gifts to the motorcyclists. We’ve charged the tricycle owners, even fewer in number, to increase their performance.”
He expressed optimism that by the end of this month (December), the revenue generated from motorcycle and tricycle owners will be over N1 billion.
Earlier, in his remarks, the Special Adviser to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu on Special Duty and Strategy, Doyin Odebowale, explained that when the present government came on board, the revenue being generated from commercial motorcyclists was about N400,000 in a month and N4.8million in a year. In 2018, Akeredolu administration was able to generate N350 million.
At the programme various items ranging from motorcycles, bags of rice, among others were gifted to operators by the ODIRS, to appreciate their commitment.