The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised alarm over the recently signed digital tax reform and revenue administration agreement between Nigeria and France, warning that the deal could expose the country’s data security and compromise national sovereignty.
In a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said it had reviewed expert opinions on the agreement executed by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) on behalf of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration and found “overwhelming concerns” about its implications for Nigeria’s strategic economic information.
According to Abdullahi, attempts by the FIRS to dismiss public concerns have failed to reassure Nigerians that the agreement was negotiated in the country’s best interest, particularly given what he described as the “hurried and secretive manner” in which it was concluded.
“Tax matters are about business, not charity,” Abdullahi said. “In entering into this business agreement, the FIRS has told Nigerians what the country stands to gain. However, it has failed to explain what France stands to benefit from the deal.”
He questioned why an agreement with far-reaching implications for national security and sovereignty was entered into without public disclosure of its full terms, meaningful engagement with the National Assembly, or efforts to carry Nigerians along.
The ADC spokesperson also placed the agreement within a broader regional and political context, noting that France’s influence across West Africa is increasingly being challenged, with several former French colonies reassessing or severing longstanding ties.
“Yet, under the Bola Tinubu administration, Nigeria appears to have become more Francophone than the French,” Abdullahi said.
He argued that Nigeria’s local content policy was designed to strengthen domestic capacity and reduce capital flight, stressing that the country already has competent local service providers capable of handling digital tax administration and related services.
“With a plethora of globally acclaimed Nigerian professionals in this sector, why should the President promote foreign connections over local capacity?” he asked.
Abdullahi warned that tax reforms should be used to strengthen national institutions rather than create new dependencies or hand over strategic economic intelligence to external actors.
The ADC therefore called for the immediate publication of the full agreement, a comprehensive briefing of the National Assembly, and an independent assessment of its implications for data security, cybersecurity, and national sovereignty.
“The details of this closed-door arrangement must be made public for all Nigerians to see,” Abdullahi said, “or the agreement should be terminated.”
