…as Tinubu unveils new NRS headquarters after over 20 years of delay
By Damilare Adeleye
Nigeria’s revenue collection has surged by 322.06% to reach a record ₦28.7 trillion by the end of 2025, the Nigerian Revenue Service (NRS) has revealed.
Speaking at the official commissioning of the corporate headquarters of the NRS in Abuja yesterday, the Executive Chairman of the NRS, Dr Zacch Adedeji, described the commissioning of the headquarters building as “the culmination of a defining institutional journey.”
He appreciated the President for providing support to the NRS, emphasizing that the the new tax laws have birthed a better system with broadened coverage and improved structural governance.
“Five years ago, the total collection for Nigeria’s revenue was N6.8 trillion, and by 2025, we ended the year with N28.7 trillion,” he remarked.
He added that, beyond taxation, fiscal governance has been strengthened to improve remittances, enhance transparency, and tighten control over public finance flows.
“To put this in perspective, Mr President, in May 2023, when you assumed office, the total money available for the federation was N711 billion. By September 2025, it was N3.6 trillion, which is 400% above what we inherited, and you can see that from the commissioning you’ve done in the states. They allude to the fact that you’ve given them what no government in the history of Nigeria has given to them.
“Trade has been modernised through the recently launched National Single Window (NSW), reducing inefficiency and boosting revenue. Ten years ago, we tried to implement the National Single Window six times. In less than three years under your leadership, in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service, we launched the National Single Window on March 27th,” Adedeji stated.
In his remarks, President Bola Tinubu said the edifice represents a shift towards a more transparent and efficient taxation system.
“No government can demand much from its people when the taxation system is opaque,” he said, adding that the tax reforms now in place are designed to reward entrepreneurship and improve compliance.
He described early outcomes from the new tax laws as “encouraging” and “fantastic”, attributing the gains to deliberate policy choices and careful planning by his administration.
He emphasised that the facility goes beyond its physical structure, noting that it embodies a new standard of professionalism, efficiency and service delivery expected from public institutions.
“We are here to mark a milestone in the Nigerian national journey, a reaffirmation of our fiscal foundation and a rebuilding of confidence in public institutions,” he said.
“No serious nation can achieve lasting prosperity on a weak and fragmented economic system. No government can demand trust from its citizens when taxation is opaque, inefficient, or unjust.”
The President noted that the administration took “bold decisions” to implement far-reaching fiscal reforms designed to simplify the system, eliminate distortions, and create a transparent, investment-friendly environment.
According to him, the Nigerian Revenue Service must not only focus on revenue collection but also demonstrate accountability, responsiveness and efficiency in its operations.
“It must become a model institution that inspires confidence both at home and abroad,” Tinubu said.
The President also commended Nigerians for their resilience and patience, urging future generations to build on ongoing reforms and strive to surpass the achievements of previous leaders.
“The work of nation-building demands consistency, courage, and collective resolve. Nigeria’s future will not be determined by chance but by the decisions we make together.”
“We have chosen reform. We have chosen discipline. We have chosen progress,” he said.
Tinubu added that the country’s future would be shaped by the collective choices of its citizens, insisting that his administration is already delivering visible progress.
The state-of-the-art facility, which consists of three towers rising up to 16 floors, was unveiled on Tuesday after over 20 years of delay.
The ultra-modern complex was designed to provide a conducive working environment for staff, enhance operational efficiency, and support the digitalisation of tax processes.
About 3,000 employees are expected to work at the newly inaugurated complex, which will serve as a centralised hub for the NRS’s operations.