By Seun Ibiyemi
The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) has recorded a significant boost in revenue collection, with total collections rising from ₦6.8 trillion five years ago to ₦28.7 trillion in 2025, reflecting the impact of sweeping tax reforms and institutional restructuring.
Executive Chairman of the NRS, Zacch Adedeji, disclosed this on Tuesday during the commissioning of the agency’s new 16-storey headquarters in Abuja.
Adedeji attributed the sharp increase in revenue to the comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s tax system, including the consolidation of over 60 fragmented tax laws into a simplified and coherent framework designed to improve compliance and efficiency.
According to him, the reforms have not only enhanced revenue generation but also strengthened fiscal governance, improved transparency, and boosted public confidence in the system.
“To put this in perspective, five years ago, total revenue collection stood at ₦6.8 trillion, but by 2025, we closed at ₦28.7 trillion,” he said.
He further revealed that funds available to the federation grew from ₦711 billion in May 2023 to ₦3.6 trillion by September 2025, representing a 400 per cent increase, driven by improved remittances and tighter control of public finance flows.
Adedeji emphasised that the reforms were not aimed at increasing the tax burden but at building a more effective system with broader coverage and stronger structural governance.
He noted that the agency has been repositioned as a technology-driven revenue hub, leveraging data, research, and modern systems to enhance collection and service delivery.
The NRS boss also highlighted the role of the National Single Window initiative, implemented in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service, in modernising trade processes, reducing inefficiencies, and boosting revenue inflows.
President Bola Tinubu, who commissioned the headquarters, commended the NRS leadership for driving the reforms and strengthening the country’s fiscal framework.
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He noted that the transformation of the tax system is critical to improving revenue mobilisation, enhancing transparency, and positioning Nigeria for sustainable economic growth.
The new headquarters, completed within 30 months, is expected to further enhance the operational capacity of the agency, providing a conducive environment for over 3,000 staff and reinforcing its role as the nation’s central revenue institution.
The development underscores a major shift in Nigeria’s revenue architecture, with the NRS playing a central role in driving fiscal sustainability and economic stability through improved tax administration.
