NRS Rollout: SEREC Raises Critical Maritime Questions Ahead 2026 Takeoff

BY GBOGBOWA GBOWA

With the Federal Government preparing to launch the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) in January 2026, a new policy brief by the Sea Empowerment Research Center (SEREC) has warned that the reform—though promising—faces a steep trust deficit that could undermine its effectiveness in the maritime industry.

The NRS is designed to centralize federal revenue collection across agencies such as the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) and the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).

According to SEREC’s December Bulletin, the reform could streamline port operations, eliminate duplicate charges, strengthen audit trails and improve trade facilitation. But the centre cautions that public distrust, weak service delivery, and fears of elite capture pose serious risks if not addressed through enforceable safeguards.

Centralization Meets Public Distrust

SEREC notes that while centralization promises efficiency, many stakeholders worry it may simply concentrate fiscal power without improving transparency or spending discipline. The brief highlights that Nigeria’s longstanding governance deficits—poor infrastructure, weak public services, and rising insecurity—have eroded confidence in government-led reforms.

The bulletin also flags a growing public concern: the potential use of private consultants to manage centralised revenue systems. Many fear such consultants could become opaque intermediaries or “fronts” that siphon public funds through non-competitive contracts, hidden fees, or proprietary systems resistant to audit.

Maritime Sector Risks: From Liquidity Shocks to Trade Disruptions

SEREC warns that the maritime industry—already grappling with high logistics costs and operational bottlenecks—could face short-term disruptions as the NRS takes off. Potential risks include:

Slower cargo clearance during transition—Liquidity shocks for truckers, freight forwarders and SMEs dependent on cash—Increased costs for port operators—Possible litigation or public pushback that delays implementation

New vulnerabilities for money laundering if AML controls are weak

The brief also draws attention to security concerns. With kidnap-for-ransom networks still operating largely in cash, strict cash withdrawal limits could have unintended consequences in high-risk regions.

Consultant-Driven Capture: A Key Red Flag

SEREC dedicates a significant portion of its analysis to the “consultant fear”—the worry that private firms could gain undue control over national revenue flows. The risks outlined include:

Opaque transaction chains and off-ledger accounts — Moral hazard, where political actors outsource sensitive tasks to avoid accountability — Rent-seeking through high-fee contracts — Proprietary systems that resist independent audit

The centre argues that without strict legal and technical guardrails, consultant involvement could worsen corruption rather than curb it.

Safeguards: What SEREC Wants Implemented Before Rollout

To prevent abuse and build public trust, SEREC proposes a suite of enforceable safeguards:

Legal & Institutional Controls — Full publication of all consultant contracts, including fees and KPIs — Open competitive bidding with parliamentary oversight — Time-limited contracts capped at 24 months — Prohibition of private custody of public funds — Financial & Technical Integrity — Real-time remittance to government escrow accounts — Ring-fencing of maritime levies — Open APIs and machine-readable receipts for independent verification — Quarterly independent audits published in full.

Governance & Oversight

SEREC also canvassed a multi-stakeholder oversight board with civil society and maritime representation with the under listed framework:

-Public dashboards showing collections, remittances and consultant fees

-Strong whistleblower protections

-Social & Security Mitigations

-Emergency cash corridors for high-risk areas

-SME support for digital transition

-Joint AML/security taskforce to monitor ransom-financing channels

Phased Implementation: No Full Rollout Without Benchmarks

SEREC recommends a phased rollout beginning with a limited pilot, followed by independent evaluation before scaling. Full nationwide deployment should occur only after meeting transparency, audit, and security benchmarks.

The centre also calls for a nationwide communication campaign to explain how funds will be ring-fenced, how oversight will work, and how citizens can monitor revenue flows in real time.

A Reform With Promise—But Only If Trust Is Rebuilt

In its conclusion, the SEREC Head of Research, Fwdr Eugene Nweke Rff stressed that the NRS could significantly enhance Nigeria’s maritime competitiveness and fiscal integrity. However, the success of the reform hinges on rebuilding public trust through transparency, strong procurement rules, credible oversight, and protections for vulnerable groups.

“The fear that private consultants may become opaque intermediaries is legitimate,” the bulletin notes, urging policymakers to address these concerns before rollout.

Without robust safeguards, SEREC warns, the NRS risks deepening the very governance challenges it seeks to solve.