The Joint Revenue Board has called for stronger use of data and analytics in tax administration as Nigeria enters the second year of its ongoing tax reform programme, according to Nairametrics. The call comes as challenges persist in implementing the reforms. The board emphasised that a data-driven tax system is needed to improve administration and support the goals of the reform agenda.

A dispute has arisen between the Organised Private Sector of Nigeria (OPSN) and the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) regarding the implementation of new tax laws. This controversy is linked to a directive from the NRS that mandates companies to file their Companies Income Tax (CIT) returns for the year 2026, according to Daily Trust.

Nigeria aims to raise its tax-to-GDP ratio from about 10 percent in 2023, among the lowest globally, toward 18 percent within a few years, according to government figures. However, an analysis by Nairametrics argues that taxation alone cannot deliver the country's ambition of a trillion-dollar economy, suggesting that broader economic growth and structural reforms are needed alongside higher revenue collection.

In the first quarter of 2026, Nigeria's manufacturing sector contributed significantly to government revenue, generating a total of N404.07 billion from Value Added Tax (VAT) and Company Income Tax (CIT). This included N329.59 billion from VAT and N74.48 billion from CIT, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Eight staff members of the Niger State Internal Revenue Service (NSIRS) have been detained by the police for allegedly diverting billions of naira from state revenue. The suspects are currently held at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), where detectives are conducting further interrogations and auditing financial records, according to sources.

The World Bank has identified Nigeria's primary fiscal challenge as weak revenue mobilisation rather than high levels of debt. Mathew Verghis, the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, emphasized the need for the government to focus on enhancing revenue generation to foster sustainable economic growth during an interview on Channels Television.