

Just when we thought the peak in tax collection was attained, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) brought forward another harvest of revenue collection, peaking any collection in our nation’s history.
The tax agency recently announced a total tax revenue collection of N5.5 trillion for the half-year period of January to June 2023 signifying the highest tax revenue collection ever recorded by the Service in any first six months of a fiscal year.
Even though this did not come as a shocker, it is still fascinating to see how the FIRS has improved so much under it’s current leadership and by extension set the country’s course on the path of economic growth, development and sustainability.
Prior to this feat, the Service achieved a total collection of N4.95 trillion in 2020 (representing 98% of target met). This was amidst the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Nigerian economy as well as the business disruptions and lootings during the #EndSARS protests.
The tax agency collected in tax revenue the total sum of N6.405 trillion (representing 101% of target met) in 2021 and a total of N10.1 trillion in the year 2022.The 2022 tax collection was the highest ever made by the FIRS in a single year, signifying over 96% of its collection target for the year, marking the highest tax collection ever recorded in its history and the first time that the FIRS will cross the N10 trillion mark in tax revenue collection.
That was a jinx breaker as it rewrote Nigeria’s tax collection history and set in motion the journey to future collections in double digits. There is no doubt that the coming of Muhammad Nami as Executive Chairman of the FIRS , birthed a new era of reinvigoration and transformation of the agency.
His reforms and strategies have paved ways for the service to achieve much more than it had achieved in time past under previous leaderships. The FIRS have been diligently building on the Executive Chairman’s 4-Cardinal Goals of: Making FIRS a Customer-Centric Institution; Making FIRS a data-centric Institution;Improving Stakeholder Collaboration; and Rebuilding the Institutional Framework of the Service. These goals were carefully curated to give direction towards transforming the service for improved tax revenue collection.
The service at the same time identified more areas where it could improve in the delivery and efficiency of its collection. And this has no doubt yielded tremendous success as seen in it’s 2023-2024 tax revenue outlook presented to the National Economic Council.During the presentation, Mr. Muhammad Nami noted that the service was able to collect N5.5 trillion in tax for the first half of the year as a result of “improved voluntary tax compliance by taxpayers, the continued improvement of automation of our tax administration processes, including the updated VAT filing processes; as well as our dogged engagement with stakeholders in both the formal and informal sectors of the economy.”
The FIRS boss also stated that the tax revenue collected from the oil sector from January to June 2023, stood at N1.73 trillion, as against a target of N2.3 trillion; while non-oil tax collection stood at N3.76 trillion, as against a target of N2.98 trillion. With this, the agency has achieved over one hundred percent of its target for the first-half of the year when compared with a mid-year target of N5.3 trillion. Further more, the Service collected a total of N1.65 trillion tax revenues in June 2023. This sum is the highest tax revenue collected by the Service in any single month. With it’s continued hyper achievements, one question that keeps coming to mind is, what is this current management of the FIRS doing differently? What are they adding to the table that is yielding these progressive results?Muhammed Nami while speaking on how the tax agency achieved its 2023 half-year collection on channels television Business Morning Show revealed the key reforms responsible for it’s continuous successes.
The reforms includes: Improvement in stakeholder engagements; ensuring that taxpayers are satisfied; issuance of circulars to guide and educate taxpayers on tax laws, legislations, how to file, filing returns, etc;enlightenment of taxpayers on their rights and obligations and redesigning the FIRS organizational structure to ensure optimum efficiency of staff.
Other reforms he stated include the constant training and retraining of FIRS staff to improve their capacity; the use of data and intelligence for tax collection and taxpayer profiling; building a comprehensive tax database; consistent stakeholder engagement in both the formal and informal sector; and deployment of the “TaxPro Max” as a tax administration solution as well as other technological tools automation of tax administration processes.These reforms indeed are the contributors to the huge, unprecedented successes in revenue collection. Given its antecedent, one can confidently project better, prosperous days for the agency and the nation at large going forward.
Mr. Nami also attested to this when he said that: “We believe that the performance in the second half of the year would be better considering the continuing improvement to our tax administration processes and positive impact of current government’s policies on the economy.”The FIRS have a bigger target of N7.5 trillion for the second half of the year. It is almost certain that this will not be one nut too hard to crack for the agency and who knows, it might just surprise us again by exceeding its target as seen in the first half of 2023.
News
Davido Announces 5IVE Alive Tour in Five Cities in Nigeria

Nigerian Afrobeats star Davido has revealed the Nigerian dates for his 5IVE Alive Tour, linked to his fifth studio album released in April 2025, following a successful North American run.
The tour kicks off on October 26 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, and includes stops in Yola, Enugu, Ibadan, culminating on December 25 in Lagos.
Tickets are now available starting at ₦5,000 for most venues, with fans urged to purchase quickly amid high demand.

News
Lagos Re-Arraigns Evans For Alleged Murder Of Two Policemen

The Lagos State Government has re-arraigned convicted billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, on a fresh murder charge involving the deaths of two police officers.
Evans and his co-defendant, Joseph Emeka, were re-arraigned before Justice Oyindamola Ogala on a five-count charge bordering on murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit kidnapping.
The case was transferred from Justice Adenike Coker, and according to the charge, Evans and his co-defendant allegedly killed two policemen, Peter Nweke and Chijioke Ngozi, on August 27, 2013, around 10 p.m. at Festac Town, Lagos.
The offences violate Section 221 of the Lagos Criminal Law, 2011.
At the proceedings, State Prosecutor A. O. Azeez confirmed the transfer of the case and requested a fresh arraignment despite Evans’ earlier plea bargain applications before the former judge.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the five-count amended charge.
The court adjourned the matter to November 19, 2025, for hearing and issuance of witness summons.
Evans has already been convicted before another court and is currently serving sentences for two of his five criminal cases.
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News
‘Taking Nigeria’s Situation to God’ Peter Obi’s Message After Visit to Rome

After his visit to Rome, Peter Obi the former presidential Candidate of the Labour party in 2023 general election write what he did while in Rome.
Read below 👇
My Visit to the USA, Rome: Taking Nigeria’s Situation to God.
After my 2-day trip to the United States – where I addressed the Friendship Club on Saturday, 4 October, and spoke at the 1st Ubuntu African Youth Assembly in Washington on Sunday, 5 October – I departed that same night for Rome, arriving on 6th October to join my dearest wife, who was already in Rome waiting for me.
This year marks a Jubilee Year, an event celebrated every twenty-five years, and my dearest wife and I chose to dedicate our prayers to Nigeria. With hearts full of gratitude, we thanked God that, despite our differences and the many challenges faced over sixty-five years of independence, He has kept us together as one nation – a rare and profound blessing for which we remain deeply thankful.
We also sought forgiveness for our national transgressions and implored God to intervene in the suffering of the Nigerian people. We prayed for the injection into our political landscape selfless and compassionate leaders whose hearts He God would touch—leaders who would be truthful in word and deed, altruistic in service, and committed to using public resources for the common good. Leaders whose decisions would reflect competence, capacity, character, and commitment to the welfare of all. Leaders who understand that they were not created to live in isolation but in community with others, and must ensure that actions are for the benefit of the community.
On Tuesday, the 7th of October, as part of our pilgrimage, we passed through three Holy Doors of the four major Papal Basilicas in Rome, praying at each that God would open the door of His mercy to Nigeria. At St. Mary Major, we prayed, passed through the Holy Door, and reflected at the grave of the late Pope Francis. From there, we journeyed to the Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, where Cardinal James Harvey warmly received us, led us through the Holy Door, and shared the basilica’s rich history and the deep significance of the Jubilee Year. Our third stop was the Papal Basilica of St. John Lateran, dedicated to Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist, where, together with other pilgrims, we passed through the Holy Door and joined in prayer. We then proceeded to the Scala Sancta – the Holy Steps which Jesus ascended before Pontius Pilate – where we prayed with profound reverence, completing a day of deep spiritual reflection at some of Rome’s most sacred sites.
On Wednesday the 8th of October, we rose early for the Papal General Audience at St. Peter’s Basilica, where we were blessed to hear the Catechesis of His Holiness on hope, perseverance, and steadfast faith in times of hardship. Afterwards, we passed through the final Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica, praying and reflecting deeply on God’s mercy, thus completing our pilgrimage through the four doors with hearts filled with gratitude and renewed faith.
At St. Peter’s, we were privileged to be received in audience by His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV @Pontifex, to whom we humbly appealed for prayers for our beloved country, Nigeria.
Along the way, we met several Nigerian pilgrims: men and women of faith whose faces shone with quiet hope. Together, we renewed our trust in God’s divine mercy and in the promise of a renewed and better Nigeria.
I believe fervently in the power and providence of God. Yet, as we lift our nation before Him in prayer, we must not surrender to fatalism. Faith does not absolve us of responsibility; rather, it calls us to action. As Nigerians, we must each continue to do our part – with honesty, diligence, and love – for the healing and progress of our country.
A new Nigeria is POssible. -PO
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Lagos State
VIDEO: Lagos Govt demolishes Ola of Lagos showroom

The Lagos state government has demolished the car showroom owned by popular auto dealer and influencer, Olaoluwa Osunkoya, widely known as Ola of Lagos.
The demolition took place in Lekki after authorities found that the structure was built directly beneath 33kV high-tension power lines, a violation of safety regulations.
News
Maryam Sanda, Convicted Of Killing Husband, Receives Tinubu’s Presidential Pardon

President Bola Tinubu has pardoned Maryam Sanda, who was convicted of killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, in Abuja.
Bello was the son of former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Haliru Bello.
Sanda was sentenced to death by hanging by Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in January 2020.
She would receive the pardon after spending six years and eight months at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre..
This was revealed in a statement released on Saturday by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said, “Her family pleaded for her release, arguing that it was in the best interest of her two children.”
”The plea was also anchored on her good conduct in jail, her remorse, and her embracement of a new lifestyle, demonstrating her commitment to being a model prisoner,” the statement read.
READ ALSO: Details of The Presidential Pardon and Clemency
According to Onanuga, the gesture was made on the recommendation of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, chaired by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi (SAN).
It also stated that the convicts were considered for clemency based on factors such as remorse, good conduct, old age, and rehabilitation through education or vocational training. Some inmates were recognised for their enrolment in the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), while others had demonstrated notable behavioural reform.
Others who recived presidnetial pardons include, llegal miners, white-collar convicts, remorseful drug offenders, foreigners, Major General Mamman Vatsa, Major Akubo, Professor Magaji Garba, capital offenders such as Ken Saro-Wiwa, and the other Ogoni Eight were among the 175 convicts and former convicts.
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