By Sodiq Adelakun
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has said the ongoing tax reforms initiated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will expand Nigeria’s tax net, block revenue leakages and protect small businesses, while ensuring that wealthy individuals and corporations fulfil their obligations to society.
The governor stated this on Tuesday while delivering the keynote address as Chief Host at the Tax Reform Summit held at the Marriott Hotel, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.
The summit was jointly organised by the Lagos State Office of the Special Adviser on Taxation and Revenue and the Lagos State Treasury Office.
Sanwo-Olu described the reforms as timely and far-reaching, noting that they are aimed at simplifying Nigeria’s tax laws, reducing the multiplicity of taxes, strengthening administration and modernising revenue collection through the deployment of technology.
Addressing concerns that the reforms could impose additional burdens on low-income earners, the governor dismissed such claims, insisting that the new tax framework is designed to protect small businesses, widen the tax base and ensure fairness across all segments of society.
According to him, the reforms align with Lagos State’s long-standing approach to public finance, driven by institutional reform, digitalisation and sustained taxpayer engagement.
He revealed that more than 70 per cent of the state’s total revenue is generated internally, reflecting Lagos State’s commitment to sustainable, internally driven revenue solutions.
Sanwo-Olu said Lagos, as Nigeria’s commercial hub and Africa’s fastest-growing megacity, is positioning itself as a leading sub-national government in the implementation of national tax reforms.
He stressed that the state’s priority is effective execution that delivers tangible value to citizens and businesses, rather than mere compliance with federal policies.
He noted that the theme of the summit, “The Lagos Implementation Road Map,” underscores the state’s readiness to move beyond policy discussions to practical action, with tax reform being treated as a broader governance reform anchored on simplicity, transparency, digital efficiency and fairness.
The governor described taxation as a social contract, explaining that voluntary compliance improves when citizens trust government to be responsible, accountable and responsive.
He assured that tax revenues in Lagos State are consistently reinvested in critical sectors, including transportation, healthcare, education, security, environmental sustainability and social protection programmes, in line with the THEMES+ Development Agenda.
As national reforms place increased emphasis on consumption-based taxation, data integration and taxpayer protection, Sanwo-Olu said Lagos State is strengthening its systems to ensure ease of compliance, efficient dispute resolution and a predictable tax environment that supports investment and innovation.
He added that the success of Nigeria’s tax reform drive will depend largely on effective implementation at the state level, pledging Lagos State’s leadership in aligning policy with practice, deepening intergovernmental collaboration and sustaining engagement with the private sector and professional bodies.
The governor urged stakeholders at the summit to deliver clear and practical outcomes that support national reform objectives while reflecting the economic realities of Lagos State.
