Tax collection in Nigeria is very low - Bill Gates

American billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates says tax collection in Nigeria is low.

Speaking on Tuesday at the Nutrivision 2024 pan-African youth dialogue on nutrition in Abuja, Nigeria's capital, was the co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Gates was answering a question on financing mechanisms the Federal Government of Nigeria could adopt for funding large-scale public health interventions.

He added that Nigeria's large land area and diverse soil type present the possibility of the nation turning into a net exporter of food.

The billionaire philanthropist said, “In agriculture, Nigeria, today, is a net food importer given the geography, if the right credit facilities and advice to farmers, soil surveys, (and other) things are available, there’s the opportunity for Nigeria to more than double its food output which would be pretty transformative because it would mean that you’d be a net food exporter instead of having to use very scarce dollars particularly at the current exchange rate to go buy food, you’re bringing dollars in.

"Agricultural productivity, in particular, is crucial for the incomes in rural and more northern areas. Therefore, adopting digital methods and better seeds is necessary to bring about this kind of agricultural miracle that will benefit the nation's women, equity, and nutrition issues.

“The health piece will have to be a priority. Over time, there are plans for Nigeria to fund the government more than it does today. The actual tax collection in Nigeria is pretty low.”

Gates said citizens who want education and health can develop confidence in some public and private programmes.

“Our foundations are involved with a lot of the examples, showing the way in terms of making sure the money is spent well, running a very efficient primary health care system where the employees are doing great work, the centres are where they should be, you don’t have under-loaded centres or overloaded centres.

It is great that we are enhancing the legitimacy of those health initiatives, and as a result, the public will believe that, yes, receiving adequate funding for primary healthcare is a priority given some financial leeway.(Channels TV)