The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has intensified its collaboration with Nigerian security agencies as part of efforts to combat tax evasion and protect national revenue ahead of the implementation of the National Revenue Service Act on January 1, 2026.
At a multi-agency engagement held in Lagos on Tuesday, the Head of the FIRS Special Enforcement Division, CSP Kyes Bakfur, emphasized that the transition to the new revenue regime requires enhanced cooperation, intelligence sharing, and coordinated field operations across all security formations.
Bakfur noted that the Special Enforcement Division has consistently safeguarded FIRS facilities nationwide and led investigations into tax-related criminal offenses. He stated that enforcement operations executed this year have contributed significantly to FIRS’s broader revenue collection efforts.
The primary goal of the engagement is to establish a more robust agenda for tax enforcement across Nigeria through collaborative efforts between security agencies and FIRS. Officials emphasized that enhanced revenue generation would ultimately translate into better funding for security agencies.
FIRS consultant Oladipo Olayemi, who presented a paper on inter-agency collaboration, warned that insecurity issues including smuggling, illegal mining, oil theft, cyber-enabled fraud, and illicit financial flows continue to erode national revenue. He stressed the importance of intelligence sharing, calling for joint task forces and coordinated compliance operations to dismantle tax evasion networks.
Olayemi emphasized that revenue authorities require a secure environment to function effectively, noting that increased revenue would provide more funding for security outfits to ensure everyone lives in a safe environment.
Addressing concerns about equipment and logistics gaps, Bakfur assured participants that the FIRS Executive Chairman has taken steps to resolve these issues. The meeting concluded with participating agencies reaffirming their commitment to a unified national approach to revenue protection through sustained cooperation and coordinated enforcement.
