The Sea Empowerment Research Centre (SEREC) has raised concerns that the forthcoming Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) collection system could pose significant disruptions to trade operations if critical implementation issues are not addressed before it becomes operational in January 2026. The Guardian Nigeria
In a policy brief published in the centre’s weekly bulletin, the research body expressed caution over the planned engagement of third-party vendors to manage the new revenue collection platforms, warning such arrangements might create opaque intermediary channels, facilitate off-ledger transactions, and weaken parliamentary oversight over key maritime revenue streams. The Guardian Nigeria
The NRS is expected to consolidate revenue administration currently handled by multiple agencies — including the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Shippers’ Council, and the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) — under a unified framework. The Guardian Nigeria
While SEREC acknowledged the reform’s potential to eliminate duplicate charges, enhance trade facilitation, and strengthen audit trails, the centre warned that public distrust rooted in corruption, poor infrastructure delivery, and rising insecurity could undermine confidence in the system. The Guardian Nigeria
SEREC further cautioned that the proprietary nature of the proposed collection systems — operated by third-party vendors — could introduce short-term trade disruptions, increase cargo clearance times, and trigger liquidity challenges for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and transport operators reliant on port throughput, potentially raising costs and reducing Nigeria’s competitiveness at key seaports. The Guardian Nigeria
The research brief, signed by SEREC’s Head of Research, Dr. Eugene Nweke, stressed the need for transparent governance frameworks, independent oversight mechanisms, and stakeholder engagement to mitigate the risks associated with transitioning to the new NRS revenue collection model. The Guardian Nigeria
December 10, 2025
Source: The Guardian Nigeria