As long as NNPC and its subsidiaries keep their doors and books open to RIRS for the necessary tax audit and verification processes, they will not have cause to experience enforcement actions
By Sam Ovie
·
Published on August 21, 2026
·
3 min read
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has opened discussions with the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service (RIRS) on deeper collaboration, transparency and tax compliance involving the oil company and its subsidiaries operating in the state.
The NNPC Group Tax Team, led by its Taxation Manager, Muhammad Ali, made the commitment during a courtesy and working visit to the Executive Chairman of RIRS, Sir Israel O. Egbunefu, FCTI, in Port Harcourt.
Receiving the delegation of Senior Tax Analysts representing the Tax Manager, Egbunefu welcomed the engagement, stressing that RIRS was committed to a collaborative approach to tax administration rather than unnecessary enforcement.
The RIRS Chairman, however, made it clear that cooperation must be matched by transparency, particularly through access to the books and records required for statutory tax audits and verification.
“As long as NNPC and its subsidiaries keep their doors and books open to RIRS for the necessary tax audit and verification processes, they will not have cause to experience enforcement actions,” Egbunefu said.
He explained that while NNPC and its subsidiaries had been making tax remittances, such payments alone could not be regarded as evidence of complete compliance until the relevant audit and verification processes had been conducted and concluded.
In response, the NNPC team disclosed that its audit report was not yet ready but assured RIRS that the company and its subsidiaries would be prepared for a comprehensive tax audit exercise in September 2026.
The RIRS Chairman also called on Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) across the Federal, State and Local Government levels to demonstrate leadership in tax compliance by opening their books, cooperating with tax authorities and fulfilling their statutory obligations.
According to him, stronger cooperation among government institutions is critical to building a more robust revenue system capable of supporting economic growth, attracting investment, creating prosperity and safeguarding the economic future of coming generations.
He described the meeting with the NNPC Group Tax Team as a “positive step towards greater compliance, transparency and collaboration”, expressing optimism that the engagement would strengthen institutional cooperation and contribute to a more effective tax administration framework in Rivers State.
The meeting marks another step in RIRS’ drive to deepen tax compliance through engagement, verification and institutional collaboration while maintaining enforcement as a measure for cases where statutory obligations and audit processes are not honoured.
Source: Bonye Longjohn
Head, Exchange of Information/Corporate Communications,
Rivers State Internal Revenue Service (RIRS).
