The Ogun State Internal Revenue Service (OGIRS) has unveiled a new tax reform initiative aimed at simplifying road taxes for interstate transporters and manufacturers. Known as the Single Interstate Road Tax Sticker (SIRTS), the scheme is designed to unify transport levies across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
OGIRS Chairman, Mr. Olugbenga Olaleye, announced the initiative during a sensitisation workshop hosted by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) in Lagos. The event, which focused on the SIRTS and the Single Haulage Fee (SHF) initiatives, brought together key stakeholders from the transport, manufacturing, and public revenue sectors.
According to Olaleye, the SIRTS will introduce an annual payment system that grants vehicles a single sticker recognised across all Nigerian states. This sticker will serve as proof of payment for all interstate road taxes, thereby reducing cases of multiple taxation, harassment, and extortion at checkpoints.
“The SIRTS initiative simplifies interstate road taxes by introducing an annual payment for a single sticker recognised across all states,” Olaleye said. “This will reduce harassment, improve compliance, and make road transportation more business-friendly.”
The SIRTS is being rolled out in collaboration with the Joint Tax Board and all state revenue agencies to ensure uniform adoption. Olaleye emphasised that the broader goal is to enhance Nigeria’s ease of doing business, particularly for the transport and logistics sectors, which have long suffered from regulatory fragmentation.
In addition to the SIRTS, Olaleye also explained the Single Haulage Fee (SHF) initiative, which standardises loading and off-loading charges nationwide. However, he acknowledged that the SHF’s rollout is facing implementation hurdles due to inconsistent regulations and a lack of synergy among key stakeholders such as state ministries, departments, and transport unions.
“The true challenge lies in harmonising the activities of relevant states, ministries, departments and agencies, including those overseeing transport, commerce, and taxation,” Olaleye said. “Without a unified framework, SHF implementation will continue to face roadblocks.”
Also speaking at the event, the Director of Other Taxes at OGIRS, Mrs. Oluyomi Dawodu, reiterated the need for a harmonised road tax system, noting that both SIRTS and SHF represent major reforms aimed at eliminating double taxation and enhancing fiscal transparency.
“The SIRTS and SHF are major steps towards eliminating duplication of levies and promoting transparency,” Dawodu said.
The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) also lent its support to the initiative. Represented by Special Adviser Tokunbo Akande, the LIRS Chairman, Dr. Ayodele Subair, commended the move towards tax harmonisation and called for national adoption.
“We need to work towards full adoption of SIRTS and SHF as transformative tools for tax modernisation, revenue transparency, and economic growth,” Akande stated.
Industry stakeholders present at the workshop, including manufacturers and logistics operators, expressed optimism that these initiatives would help streamline road levies, reduce travel delays, and lower operational costs for businesses transporting goods across Nigeria.
The sensitisation session also provided an opportunity for stakeholders to share concerns and ideas on how to overcome the implementation challenges facing the new system.
With Nigeria’s transport and manufacturing sectors facing rising costs and regulatory complexity, the SIRTS and SHF initiatives are expected to bring relief and increase efficiency across the logistics value chain. However, successful execution will depend on full buy-in from all states and regulatory bodies.
