Digital tax agreement with France endangers Nigeria’s data security — ADC

…says government should make full disclosure or terminate agreement

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised concerns over the recent digital tax agreement between Nigeria and France, warning that the deal could endanger Nigeria’s data security and expose strategic national economic information to foreign exploitation.

Bolaji Abdullahi, the party’s national publicity secretary, said in a statement on Sunday that while the ADC supports efforts to modernise the country’s tax system, “the process by which the deal was reached raises serious questions about transparency, national sovereignty and the protection of Nigerians’ data.”

The party called for full public disclosure of the details of the agreement or its immediate termination.

The agreement comes just weeks ahead of the January 1, 2026, implementation of new national tax policies being introduced by the federal government.

Read also: Nigeria, France sign tax administration pact to drive digital reforms ahead of 2026 transition

In recent months, the government has stepped up efforts to educate Nigerians about the new tax policies, which have generated apprehension over a possible increase in the number of taxes citizens will be exposed to.

However, the ADC said it had “carefully reviewed expert opinions on the recent agreement on digital tax reform and revenue administration signed by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), on behalf of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, with the Government of France.”

“Quite significantly, we note the overwhelming concern that the agreement potentially endangers Nigeria’s data security and exposes strategic national economic information to foreign exploitation. Attempts by the FIRS to explain these concerns away have failed to convince anyone that the agreement was done in the nation’s best interest, especially given the manner in which it was hurriedly and secretly packaged,” the statement said.

The party added that “tax matters are about business, not charity,” noting that while the FIRS has outlined what Nigeria stands to gain from the agreement, it has failed to explain what France stands to benefit.

“Why did the Federal Government of Nigeria enter into a serious agreement such as this, which potentially infringes on national security and sovereignty, without public disclosure of its full terms, without open engagement with the National Assembly, and without any meaningful effort to carry Nigerians along?” the party asked.

The ADC also pointed to the broader political context of the agreement, noting that across West Africa, France’s role and influence are increasingly being questioned, with several former French colonies loosening or severing their neo-colonial ties.

“Yet, under the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, Nigeria appears to have become more Francophone than the French,” the party said.

The party further noted that Nigeria’s local content policy was designed to promote the development of national human capital and reduce capital flight by encouraging domestic industries, particularly in the provision of services.

“With the plethora of competent and globally acclaimed national service providers in this sector, why does President Tinubu prefer to promote his French connection rather than local capacity?

“These tax reforms should strengthen national institutions and build local capacity, not create new dependencies or hand over strategic control of Nigeria’s economic intelligence to external actors,” it added.

The ADC therefore called on the federal government to publish the full details of the agreement, properly brief the National Assembly, and commission 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 to see or be terminated,” the statement said.

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