The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has dismissed reports alleging that France was granted access to Nigeria’s tax data, digital infrastructure, or operational control of its systems, following the signing of a recent cooperation agreement between both countries.
The clarification comes amid widespread criticism, particularly across social media, after FIRS entered into a partnership with France aimed at supporting Nigeria’s digital tax administration, capacity development, and cross-border enforcement.
The agreement precedes the agency’s transition into the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) scheduled for January 2026.
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, FIRS, Dr Umar Ahmed, it emphasized that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with France’s Direction Générale des Finances Publiques (DGFiP) is strictly a technical assistance and capacity-building framework.
The agency stressed that the pact does not, at any point, grant France access to tax data, digital systems, or operational control.
FIRS noted that all Nigerian laws on data protection, cybersecurity, and national sovereignty remain fully operative, adding that the MoU includes stringent confidentiality provisions.
The agency described DGFiP as one of the world’s most advanced tax administrations, with over a century of institutional experience and more than 90,000 professionals specializing in digital tax systems, governance, and public finance management.
According to FIRS, the collaboration is advisory, non-intrusive, and mutually beneficial, designed to strengthen institutional capacity as the agency prepares for its transition into the NRS.
It also addressed concerns that local technology firms were being sidelined, stating that Nigerian providers such as NIBSS, Interswitch, Paystack, and Flutterwave remain active partners in ongoing digital transformation initiatives.
The agency clarified that the MoU does not involve the delivery of technical services but focuses on knowledge sharing, workforce development, policy modernization, taxpayer education, digital transformation guidance, and regional integration.
All efforts, it said, are aligned with Nigeria’s sovereignty and national interests.
The FIRS reaffirmed that Nigeria maintains full authority over its tax administration, data, and policy direction, describing the agreement as a strategic step toward modernizing operations and strengthening long-term economic resilience.
The agency reiterated its commitment to transparency, professionalism, and constructive engagement in advancing national development while encouraging informed public discourse on tax reforms.
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