Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) chairman, Dr. Zacch Adedeji, has credited Nigeria’s Armed Forces for helping the agency achieve its 2025 oil and gas tax revenue target for the first time in years, citing improved security in the Niger Delta as a key factor.
Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday during a courtesy visit by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, Adedeji said the peace maintained in oil-producing areas had boosted production, increased company profits, and translated into higher tax receipts for the Federation.
“The Armed Forces are critical stakeholders in sustaining peace, which is essential for prosperity,” Adedeji said in a statement by his media aide, Dare Adekanmbi. “For the first time in a long while, we met our oil and gas target due to stability where production facilities are located.”
He noted that President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to security includes enhanced welfare and equipment for personnel, citing last month’s approval for 1,550 housing units for security operatives. Adedeji also pledged FIRS support for the African Chiefs of Defence Staff Conference, to be hosted in Abuja from August 25–27, 2025.
Earlier, General Musa commended FIRS for sustaining government funding, describing the agency’s revenue drive as vital to military operations. He said Nigeria’s hosting of the maiden continental defence chiefs’ summit would provide a platform for African-led security solutions.
“For us in the Armed Forces, we are nothing without funds. Revenue has increased almost tenfold, and we can see new initiatives making a real impact,” Musa said, adding that the conference would “showcase Nigeria to Africa and the world” and strengthen regional security cooperation.
