Executive Snapshot: Today’s discourse is dominated by a diplomatic standoff with Burkina Faso and an intensely polarised debate on Nigeria’s economic direction, particularly focused on a new tax agreement with France.
1. Diplomatic Tension: Nigerian Military Aircraft Held in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso detains a Nigerian Air Force C-130, alleging espionage, in a move straining regional relations.
Burkina Faso is still holding a Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft that landed in Bobo-Dioulasso a week ago, officially on a routine logistical mission. Burkinabè authorities suspect the plane was used for intelligence-gathering on behalf of France.
Key Developments:
• Personnel Released: Late Monday, 11 Nigerian soldiers on board were released and repatriated.
• Aircraft Remains Detained: The strategic C-130 transport aircraft remains impounded.
• Diplomatic Efforts: Negotiations for its release are being led by Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with talks ongoing.
2. The Great Economic Divide: Sovereignty Fears vs. Growth Claims
Economic commentary dominated digital platforms, mainly X and Facebook, exposing two contrasting narratives about the Tinubu administration’s performance.
A. The Sovereignty Alarm: “Nigeria is Walking into a One-Chance”
Platform: X
Voice: Alex Onyia
Core Argument: The recent MoU between Nigeria’s FIRS and France’s DGFiP (Direction Générale des Finances Publiques) represents a dangerous surrender of fiscal sovereignty and data control to a former colonial power.
Key Excerpts & Analysis:
“If you like, believe in better grammar. Translation: Nigeria has opened the engine room of its tax system to France.”
“France does not play. Without Africa, France would be a mid-tier country nobody sends… Once France enters your revenue backend, it can read your entire economy like a Bible.”
“The chains are called: ‘MoUs’; ‘Digital transformation’; ‘BEPS frameworks’; ‘Cross-border cooperation’. Same script. New costume.”
“Every sensible Nigerian must speak with one voice. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever.”
Why it resonates: This narrative frames technical cooperation as a profound national security risk, tapping into deep-seated post-colonial sentiment and suspicion of foreign influence. It warns that control over tax data equates to control over the nation’s economic and political levers.
B. The Growth Narrative: “Twenty-One Economic Miracles”
Platform: Facebook / Broad Circulation
Voice: Reno Omokri
Core Argument: The Tinubu administration is delivering historic, measurable economic turnarounds that deserve patriotic promotion to counter negative narratives.
Claimed Milestones (Abridged):
#Claimed Achievement
- Foreign reserves exceed $45B, 4th highest in Africa.
- GDP growth: 4.23% (Q2) and 3.93% (Q3).
- Transition from largest petrol importer to West Africa’s largest exporter.
- Consistently exceeding OPEC quota, producing ~1.71M bpd.
- Naira stabilized below ₦1500/$, among world’s best-performing currencies.
- Inflation falling to 16.05% from peaks above 20%.
- Fuel prices below ₦1000 from major retailers.
- Record power generation of 5,801.84MW.
- Credit rating upgrades to Stable B (Fitch & S&P).
- ₦20.59T non-oil revenue (Jan-Aug 2025), a 40.5% increase.
Call to Action: “Effective rebranding projects a positive image… If you are a patriot who loves Nigeria and wants your country to progress, please spread this truthful message.”
Why it resonates: Provides a dense, quantitative counterpoint to criticism, appealing to national pride and the desire for tangible progress. It frames support for the administration as synonymous with patriotism.
Read also: Burkina Faso releases 11 Nigerian troops after ‘unauthorised’ landing
3. On the Horizon: Upcoming Tax Changes
Context: Amidst the debate on the FIRS-DGFiP MoU, public attention is turning toward the planned transition from FIRS to the new Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) in 2026.
Watchlist: Critics, as seen in Section 2A, are already framing this transition as a potential pathway for embedding foreign influence into Nigeria’s future tax system. How the government communicates and manages this transition will be a crucial point in the sovereignty-versus-modernisation debate.
From Nefertiti*
Why not the Big Four for Nigerian Taxation?
So, the Big Four: 1. KPMG. 2. Deloitte. 3. Ernst & Young (EY), and 4. Can PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) not handle the MoU on Taxation?
A dishonest group had to travel all the way to France. The question remains, “What’s the relationship between Nigeria’s revenue agency & France?” No one gets out of bed for nothing!
1. What does France stand to gain?
2. From where do we start to plot the graph?
3. What’s the nexus btw the FIRS & France?
PricewaterhouseCoopers, KPMG, Deloitte, and Ernst & Young (EY); do none of them have the infrastructure to manage the so-called taxes?
IS THAT YOUR FINAL ANSWER?
With the whole secrecy surrounding the MoU, the “dishonest bunch” already told you there will be no transparency in the collection & the utilisation of your taxes; & I will tell you why.
The document contradicts itself! According to the MOU, France will “provide technical assistance” but will not “provide technical services.” What is the difference?
The FIRS claimed that France does not have access to your data, but they said they will share knowledge. So how will France gain the insight that could enable it give the FIRS quality “advice” without access to “sensitive” data?
The FIRS issued this contradictory statement at 9:43 PM (WAT) on a Saturday. Let’s see how long it takes before they realise how damaging it is and delete it. You can see the red flags yourself.
There are two plausible reasons for the contradictions, and neither is acceptable:
1. FIRS don’t fully grasp the implications of this.
2. They understand the implications perfectly; they are just being economical with the truth.
However, since there is no National Assembly, the Office of the Citizens of Nigeria has taken it upon itself to hold the government accountable.
Leave plenty of English &:
1. Publish the signed MoU.
2. Publish the oversights.
3. Publish the framework.
4. Publish the safeguards.
While at it, consider the money saved from all the subsidy removals. This should be an easy task for a so-called Deloitte Accountant.
