Tinubu’s Revenue Centralization plan sparks Fears of Operational Breakdown in Maritime, Others

Samuel Mobolaji

President Bola Tinubu’s proposal to centralize revenue collection under a new Nigeria Revenue Service has sparked concerns in Nigeria’s aviation and maritime sectors, with experts warning of potential disruptions to essential operations.

Regulatory agencies like the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), traditionally focused on industry oversight and safety, may lose their ability to generate and manage revenue under this new plan.

Industry stakeholders argue that stripping these agencies of their revenue functions will cripple their capacity to address critical needs, such as port maintenance, channel dredging, and aviation safety oversight. Many fear that delays in government fund disbursement will paralyze the operations of agencies that rely on immediate access to revenue to handle emergencies and maintain infrastructure.

President Tinubu’s bill, currently under review by the National Assembly, seeks to transfer the revenue collection duties of 62 agencies to the proposed Nigeria Revenue Service. While the move is aimed at improving efficiency and eliminating revenue leakages, experts caution that it may hinder the regulatory mandates of agencies not designed to function as revenue generators, threatening the long-term health of critical sectors.