November 25, 2025
The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), in collaboration with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA), on Tuesday convened the 2025 Abuja Business Tax Town Hall Meeting to enlighten the business community on Nigeria’s new tax policy scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026.
Held at the Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, SAN, PhD, Trade and Convention Centre, the engagement attracted a large audience comprising CEOs, MSMEs, policymakers, development partners, and representatives of the organised private sector.
Declaring the event open, the ACCI President, Chief Emeka Obegolu, SAN, PhD, ably represented by the 1st Deputy President, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, described the new tax reforms as a bold restructuring of Nigeria’s fiscal framework. He noted that the four recently assented tax bills are designed to modernise and harmonise tax administration, eliminate multiple taxation, and create a more investment-friendly business environment. He emphasised the need for clarity and preparedness among businesses as the country transitions to the new regime.
In his welcome remarks, the Director General of ACCI, Mr. Agabaidu Jideani, highlighted the importance of the town hall meeting in bridging existing knowledge gaps and addressing concerns raised by the private sector. He explained that despite ongoing government-led sensitisation efforts, many businesses still require clarity on compliance requirements, sector-specific implications, and transition procedures ahead of the 2026 rollout.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of the National Policy Advocacy Centre (NPAC), Dr. Chidiebere Onwumere, reaffirmed the Chamber’s commitment to driving policy engagement and supporting businesses to adapt to evolving regulatory frameworks. He stated that NPAC organised the town hall to provide a structured platform for dialogue, policy clarification, and the development of actionable recommendations that support both government and the private sector.
The event featured technical presentations from experts drawn from the Federal Inland Revenue Service, the Ministry of Finance, the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, the organised private sector, and corporate institutions. This was followed by a panel session that examined key issues around compliance, digital taxation, administrative alignment, and opportunities for enhanced competitiveness under the new tax regime.
Participants commended the quality of discourse, noting that explanations provided by regulators and policy experts offered much-needed clarity to guide business planning ahead of 2026. The moderator, Mr. Sunday Michael Ogwu, was widely praised for effectively coordinating the discussions and ensuring that stakeholders’ concerns were comprehensively addressed.
The town hall meeting equally recorded strong participation from ACCI management and centre heads, including Dr. Tinuke Temitope of the BEST Centre, Mr. Ezekwesili Nnaemeka Nnam of the ATC, and other senior officials. Their involvement, according to the Chamber, was critical in strengthening internal understanding and equipping member businesses with accurate guidance on the new tax framework.
ACCI expressed appreciation to Ferrato Industry Ltd., International Health Management Services Ltd., and the Central Bank of Nigeria for their support, which contributed significantly to the success of the event. The Chamber also extended gratitude to FIRS for its partnership in providing technical experts, and to AEA for mobilising SMEs to participate in the town hall meeting.
The Chamber affirmed that the insights gathered during the event will be compiled into a communiqué to guide its sustained advocacy as Nigeria approaches the full implementation of the 2026 tax reforms.
Olayemi John-Mensah
ACCI Media & Strategy Officer