The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has assured stakeholders in the manufacturing sector that data shared under the federal government’s electronic invoicing (e-invoicing) initiative will remain secure and confidential.
This reassurance was given by Mike Adoga, Acting Director of Tax Automation at FIRS, during a stakeholder engagement session held with manufacturers in Lagos. Adoga emphasized that the agency is fully guided by the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) and has put systems in place to ensure that all data submitted for tax-related purposes is handled with strict confidentiality.
“I want you to rest assured that we are guided by the Nigerian Data Protection Act and that all data that is passed for tax purposes remains confidential,” he said.
He clarified that the e-invoicing initiative is not solely an FIRS project, but a broader federal government program involving multiple regulatory agencies. According to Adoga, the initiative is being coordinated by a steering committee that includes the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Ministry of Finance, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and other key government bodies. While the FIRS is responsible for operational execution, he stressed that oversight and technical regulations are set by the collective steering committee.
Adoga noted that NITDA, as the primary regulator of Nigeria’s technology ecosystem, has established detailed technical and regulatory requirements for any entity wishing to operate as an access point provider under the e-invoicing framework. One of the key criteria is compliance with the NDPA, as well as obtaining relevant international certifications for data protection.
“Data, as far as we are concerned, is going to be safe within the ecosystem because we have laid out requirements that will ensure compliance with the necessary regulations. The necessary ISO certifications in terms of data protection have to be in place before an access point provider is approved to perform such services,” he added.
The e-invoicing system is part of the federal government’s broader effort to digitize tax administration, reduce fraud, and improve transparency in financial reporting and compliance. FIRS says it will continue to engage with stakeholders to build trust and ensure a smooth rollout of the initiative.
