The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has clarified that its recent memorandum of understanding (MoU) with France’s Directorate General of Public Finances (DGFiP) does not give France access to Nigerian taxpayers’ data or systems. Signed on December 10, the agreement is aimed at promoting efficient tax administration through advisory support and capacity building, not operational control.
FIRS emphasized that the MoU is a standard international cooperation framework, strictly technical and non-intrusive. “It does not grant France access to Nigerian taxpayers’ data, digital systems, or any element of our operational infrastructure,” the agency stated. All existing Nigerian laws on data protection, cybersecurity, and sovereignty remain fully applicable.
The service added that the MoU leverages France’s expertise in digital transformation and public finance while remaining fully under Nigeria’s control. FIRS noted continued collaboration with Nigerian innovators like NIBSS, Interswitch, PayStack, and Flutterwave, stressing the agreement is limited to knowledge sharing, workforce development, policy support, and institutional strengthening.