News

FIRS Boss Reveals Multiple Revenue Collection Agencies Responsible For leakages

Published

2 years ago

February 28, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

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By Gloria Ikibah

The Executive Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zach Adedeji, has said that the collection of revenue by over 60 government agencies is the major cause of leakage of funds.

Adedeji who disclosed this when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Finance, chaired by Rep. for bugdet hearing, said this duty should solely be the responsibility of the Service to ensure greater accountability in the system.

He asserted that other revenue collection agencies of government should focus on their various core mandates; and further advocated for a single window method of tax collection to make the process less cumbersome and check the loss of government funds.

According to the FIRS boss, one of the challenges facing this was lack of verifiable data in the country.

He said a bill would be sent to the National Assembly to ensure all Nigerians have one single number of identification.

He said, “We are doing a lot of reforms including the single window because if you look at FIRS, what we collect mainly is company income tax. The problem we have is that we do not have verifiable data in the country. So one of the major things we are doing which hopefully in the next two weeks or one month maximum, a law would be sent to the House to change so that all Nigerians must have one single number of identification which by law today is NIN. The plan is to make sure everything we do as citizens is linked directly to this NIN. This would also help address issue of tax leakage.”

Adedeji said the Services was given a mandate to collect the sum of N10 trillion based on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) that was passed in 2023 which was reviewed upward to N11 trillion during the year.

He noted that the Service was able to deliver N12.3 trillion as the revenue collected for the year 2023 which was 11 percent above the target set by government.

Adedeji said the performance was as a result of the internal reform that they embarked upon and the favourable economic policy decision by the President.

The FIRS Boss said the mandate of the Service for 2024 through the MTEF is to collect N19 trillion which is an additional N7 trillion compared to what was collected in 2023.

He said the bulk of it is coming from positive projection from oil and gas revenue.

He however said if this ambitious target of N19 trillion is to be met there is need to restructure the service to be more focused.

Adedeji said, “So instead of having types of taxes, what we do now is to categorise by the turn over which is customer focused. Now we have large tax if your turnover is above N5 billion. Between N1 and N5 billion is medium and anything less than N1 billion is a small tax payer.

“The reason for this is simple. We want to provide a one stop shop for tax payers. Where one can do all forms of taxes. This would reduce multiple audits and distraction to the businesses. It is our intention that 80 percent of core service job is done by the service.

“The tax to GDP is very low compared to our peers and that is why we have to come up with those reforms that Mr President has approved. One of it is the setting up of that tax reform committee. What we see is that in other climes, you have single revenue collecting agents. But here in Nigeria we have more than 62 agencies collecting one way or the other on behalf of Federal Government.

“And when you see people focussing on revenue instead of going to their area of strength, when everybody tries to collect, the leakage is all there. Two is the law that we have. Most of them are obsolete. For example the digital tax that we are talking about there is no law in Nigeria that empowers us to effectively tax all these digital businesses which we know is on the rise.

“Also our processes, Mr Presidnent approved that going forward we should pay our contractor’s directly instead of moving money to MDAs, most especially capital funding. What that would do is that we can deduct tax and also help us in cash management.

“We are also doing a lot of reforms including the single window. Because if you look at FIRS what we collect mainly is company income tax which is result of the difference between cost of sales and gross sales. But cost of sales if inflated means you would have less profits and less taxes.

“Today we don’t have anywhere to confirm the major cost of sales of all these companies because when they do the valuation sometimes, they do not have verifiable value to do that”, he noted.

Chairman, House Committee on Finance,, Rep. James Faleke, queried if the proposed single window revenue would mean whether Customs, NIMASA, NPA and all the major revenue collectors would be subject to the FIRS or the Service would be collecting revenue on their behalf.

In response, Adedeji said these agencies should rather concentrate on their individual primary mandates and leave the revenue collection to the FIRS.

He said, “This is the way. If you look at the basis of collection like you mentioned, I use NIMASA as example, the basis of collection for NIMASA is 3 percern of FOB. That has nothing to do with Marine. FOB, if you have the single window, you know the total number of vessels coming into the country and going out and the fee is just 3 percent, so what does NIMASA need to do about that.

“What we are saying is that these agencies were set up to do core duties. When you talk about Customs, they are border and trade facilitation. Revenue is not core mandate of Customs. Customs is about border and trade facilitation. So when you have single window, all what you say Customs collects because the real principle of single window is that everything coming to the country is in advance notified, so you know the number of containers coming, the volume, what is there and you know the amount and they pay you once.

“When you do that, the Customs collecting this and that or the NPA collecting also, this would go. When we talk about single that is why they say revenue service. If you go to UK or South Africa, you don’t see Customs Customs collecting revenue. They are merged.

“I am not saying it is bad but it is not the duty of FIRS to be approving payment for roads. I don’t have people who would monitor whether that road is done or not. So my duty is to access, collect and account for all revenue due to Federation. So any other job may be good and laudable but that is not my core duty. So the same things happens when you see a lot of other agencies collecting revenue. And that is when you see leakages,” he added.

The Chairman commended the initiative to ensure payments are made directly to the contractors and not the MDAs.

He reiterated the commitment of the Committee to ensure that leakages are addressed and revenue increased to make life better for the ordinary Nigerian.

He said, “No one here will doubt your capability, it’s just the political will. Thank God that we have a president who has given you the authority and of course back you with that political will to reform our tax system. What you have to do is to look inward and ensure that you have directors and staffers who will not and negotiate you out.

“We have document to show that we have operators of our revenue collection who also negotiate and say you can pay this, we will do this. That is exactly what we are facing.

“With all the things you have enumerated, only you cannot do the job. You also have to delegate. So what this means is that every one of your staff who are on oath will ensure that they do the right thing.”

News

All 13 kidnapped Otukpo passengers, successfully rescued

Published

2 hours ago

April 19, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

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All 13 passengers abducted along the Makurdi–Otukpo road in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State have been successfully rescued.

The victims were reportedly freed in the early hours of Sunday, following what sources described as a coordinated effort.

Meanwhile, official confirmation and operational details are still being awaited at the time of filing this report.

The abduction had earlier raised concerns among residents and commuters along the busy Makurdi–Otukpo axis, a route that has witnessed sporadic security challenges in recent times.

Security agencies are yet to issue a formal statement on the circumstances surrounding both the abduction and the subsequent rescue.

It also remains unclear whether any arrests were made or if ransom was involved.

Local sources, however, expressed relief over the safe return of the victims, describing the development as a significant breakthrough amid ongoing security concerns in the area.

The spokesperson of the Benue state Police command, DSP Udeme Edet could not be reached to confirm the story as at the time of filing this report.

News

Board cautions candidates after arrest of suspects over doctored UTME scores

Published

2 hours ago

April 19, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has announced the arrest of two candidates and a parent for allegedly falsifying the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination results using Artificial Intelligence and other electronic tools.

The announcement was made on Friday as the board released the results of 632,788 candidates who sat for the examination on Thursday, April 16.
In a statement issued by JAMB spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, the suspects were apprehended for tampering with official SMS result notifications to alter or fabricate scores with the intention of deceiving others, including parents and guardians.

“Currently, two candidates and one parent are in custody for engaging in result falsification using AI and other electronic means,” the statement said.
Benjamin emphasized that such actions constitute serious criminal offences and warned that the board would ensure that all those involved are prosecuted in accordance with the law.

He further cautioned candidates against interfering with result messages sent through JAMB’s official SMS platforms, 55019 and 66019.

Candidates who took the examination on Thursday can check their results by sending “UTMERESULT” via SMS to 55019 or 66019 using the phone number linked to their registration. Printing of official result slips is not yet available but will be enabled later.
The 2026 UTME commenced on April 16 and is scheduled to run until April 22 across examination centres nationwide. Results will continue to be released in batches as the exercise progresses.

News

How NDLEA operatives uncovered cocaine, loud in food flasks, snacks, nabs fashion designer, others(Photos)

Published

3 hours ago

April 19, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

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. Raids Edo, Cross River forests, destroys over 17,000kg skunk; recovers large consignments in Lagos, Delta, Kaduna operations

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted 12 large parcels of cocaine concealed in false bottom of food flasks heading to the United Kingdom via a Virgin Atlantic Airline flight from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos.

The cocaine consignment with a gross weight of 2.80 kilograms was intercepted on Thursday 9th April 2026 by NDLEA operatives attached to the export shed of the Lagos airport while two cargo agents involved in the export bid: Ama Obinna Ufeim, 33, and Ogabi Monday Akorede, 39, were swiftly arrested. Further investigation revealed a 52-year-old freight and forwarding agent Agoro Tajudeen Moninuola as the sender of the consignment and he was arrested in a follow-up operation.
In a similar operation, NDLEA officers at the import shed of the Lagos airport on Wednesday 8th April intercepted a consignment of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis, with a gross weight of 2.90 kilograms and concealed in snack food packs, which arrived from the United States of America aboard a Delta Airlines flight.
Two cargo clearing agents: Animashaun Moshood Adetunji and Mercy Gabriel Oluwasegun, were initially arrested in connection with the seizure before the consignee, Saheed Adeshina Adegoke, a 29-year-old fashion designer, was nabbed in a follow-up operation at 3 Oba Ogunji road, Ogba, Lagos, on Monday 13th April.

In Kaduna, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Kaduna-Zaria highway by Gwargwaje Zaria on Monday 13th April intercepted a trailer conveying cement heading to Hadeja in Jigawa state. A search of the truck led to the recovery of 760 blocks and 33 jumbo bags of skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing 847 kilograms. The truck driver Umar Garba Haruna, 33, was arrested in connection with the seizure.

A 53-year-old female suspect, Alice Sunday Udoh, was arrested on Thursday 16th April when NDLEA officers supported by soldiers raided a forest in Uwet community, Akamkpa LGA, Cross River state, where 15,000 kilograms of skunk on six hectares of farmland were destroyed and 119kg of same substance recovered.

Another cannabis farm was raided on Tuesday 14th April at Saboro camp, Ovia North East LGA, Edo state where NDLEA operatives destroyed 2,281.43kg of same psychoactive substance, while three suspects: Nweke Smart, 27; Christopher Egbe, 62; and Monday Ayan, 45, were arrested, with the duo of Christopher and Monday caught with 38.5kg cannabis and its seeds. Two suspects: Sunday Odili, 49, and Ijenebe Joshua, 39, were nabbed with 87.838kg skunk and seeds at Powerline area of Okwo, Delta state on Friday 17th April.

In Lagos, two suspects: Chinedu Ogbekene and Zindozin Aloukou Bienvenu were arrested on Wednesday 15th April at Mile 2, Lagos/Badagry expressway while conveying 11,900 capsules of tramadol and 400 ampoules of phenobarbital injection in a truck to Ghana. Same day, NDLEA operatives raided a two-storey building at Petti, Lagos Island, where a total of 95.8kg skunk was recovered.

With the same zeal, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities in schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week. These include: WADA enlightenment lecture for students and staff of Alfurgan Islamic School, Paiko, Niger state;
Edgerly Memorial Girls Secondary School, Calabar, Cross River; Heritage Model School, Ankpa, Kogi; Government Day Junior and Senior Secondary School, Kankia, Katsina; Government Senior Secondary School, Rano, Kano, and De Ambassador Secondary School, Epe, Lagos state, among others.

While commending the officers and men of MMIA, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Kaduna, and Lagos Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) noted their drug supply reduction efforts balanced with WADA sensitization activities while he charged them and their compatriots across the country to maintain the current tempo.