The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has announced it has already surpassed its 2025 oil revenue target months ahead of schedule attributing the milestone to sustained peace in the Niger Delta and improved compliance in the petroleum sector.
In a statement released on Wednesday, FIRS Chairman, Dr. Zacch Adedeji, revealed that the agency collected over ₦9.2 trillion in oil-related taxes as of the second quarter of 2025, exceeding its annual projection by nearly 8%. This marks a historic achievement for Nigeria’s tax authority, which has been under pressure to boost non-debt revenue amid growing fiscal demands.
“The relative calm and improved security in the Niger Delta have had a profound impact on production stability,” Adedeji said. “With fewer disruptions to oil operations, coupled with strengthened tax enforcement and digital monitoring systems, we were able to optimize collections far earlier than projected.”
The FIRS credited the success to stronger collaboration with security agencies, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), and host communities, which have largely embraced ongoing amnesty and development initiatives.
The Niger Delta region, once plagued by militancy and pipeline vandalism, has seen a significant decline in attacks on oil infrastructure, leading to a steady rise in production output and tax compliance.
Analysts say this development could bolster investor confidence in Nigeria’s oil sector, especially as the country works to attract more foreign direct investment into its upstream and midstream industries.
“This is a fiscal win for Nigeria, and it reinforces the idea that peace is not just a moral imperative—it’s an economic one,” said Titi Adebayo, a Lagos-based energy policy analyst.
The FIRS also hinted at a similar upward trend in non-oil revenue collections, promising a full report by the end of Q3.
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