Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has highlighted Nigeria’s low tax collection as a major obstacle to effectively funding critical sectors such as health and education. Speaking at the Nutrivision 2024 Pan-African youth dialogue on nutrition in Abuja, Gates emphasized the need for Nigeria to enhance its tax collection efforts to support large-scale public health initiatives.
Gates pointed out that inadequate tax revenue is a barrier to managing and financing essential health programs. “For citizens to trust the government’s ability to deliver quality healthcare, there must be a commitment to manage health program funding effectively,” he said. He also noted that increasing tax collection and improving fiscal management would boost the credibility of health programs and encourage public support for primary healthcare funding.
In addition to his concerns about tax collection, Gates expressed optimism about Nigeria’s potential to significantly increase its agricultural output. He suggested that with better support systems, including improved credit facilities, comprehensive soil surveys, and effective advisory services for farmers, Nigeria could transform from a net food importer to a major food exporter. Gates believes that this potential growth could significantly impact the nation’s economy, particularly by enhancing incomes in rural and northern areas.