NRS may simplify complex and overlapping revenue and duties collection in the port – SEREC

A marine-based centre, Sea Empowerment and Research Centre (SEREC), has posited that the collection of taxes including customs duties by the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) under the new Nigeria Tax Act by January 2026 may centralise and simplify the complex and overlapping revenue system in the nation’s maritime sector.

The Head of Research at SEREC, Fwdr Eugene Nweke Rff, made this position known in an interaction with PortNews in Lagos on Monday, December 8, 2025.

Nweke said the new tax would cause a shift of the Customs from revenue collection to trade facilitation and border security management.

Amidst diverse expectations, concerns and reservations by maritime industry stakeholders and wider public over the new tax law, Fwdr Eugene Nweke said “the tax reform seeks to harmonise and centralise revenue collection currently fragmented across FIRS, Customs, NPA, NIMASA, Shippers’ Council, CRFFN, and others. When combined with the CBN’s cash withdrawal and electronic transaction limits, the country is moving aggressively toward a cash-light, digital, and centralised revenue ecosystem.

“However, the reform is unfolding in a context of widespread public distrust, governance gaps, security challenges, and persistent service-delivery failures. These underlying realities shape how the reform is being interpreted—not only as an economic measure but also as a political act with deep socio-economic implications.

“With revenue functions less dominant, Customs can concentrate more on enforcement, border security and trade facilitation. This may improve cargo clearance timelines,” said he.

He added that the long-term macroeconomic benefits will lead to a streamlined tax system that will strengthens government revenue, fiscal planning, international competitiveness and Nigeria’s AfCFTA readiness.

In compliance with the tax law, Fwdr Eugene Nweke called on his colleague freight forwarders to upgrade their accounting systems,  documentation and corporate structure and tax compliance digitally.

On possible risk of over-centralisation of revenue collection, he posited that this may slow decision-making, weaken agency autonomy, create bureaucratic delays as there are possibilities of cyber attacks, network outages and payment platform failures.

To make make NRS work as a symbol of reform, he called on the Federal Government to embed trust-building safeguards into the law and implementation.

“The NRS reform has undeniable potential to modernize Nigeria’s tax administration and streamline maritime sector revenue processes. But in a country where public trust is low—due to corruption, insecurity, poor infrastructure, and lack of transparent governance—reform must be deliberate, inclusive, transparent, and trust-centered.

“The success of NRS will depend not only on the sophistication of its digital systems but also on whether citizens and industry players believe that the centralised revenue is being used for their benefit, not for elite enrichment.

“Nigeria must fix governance, reinforce accountability, address insecurity, and invest visibly in the welfare of her citizens. Only then will NRS be seen not as a weapon of impoverishment, but as a foundation for national renewal and maritime sector transformation,” Nweke submitted.