The Office of the Tax Ombud and the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA) have agreed to explore inter-agency collaboration aimed at strengthening investor confidence and attracting more foreign direct investment (FDI) into Nigeria’s oil and gas free zones.
The proposed collaboration will focus on addressing tax- and fee-related grievances through effective mediation and dispute-resolution services, with the broader objective of promoting a fair, transparent and investor-friendly business environment.
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This was contained in a statement signed by Chukwudi Achife, Chief Press Secretary to the Tax Ombud, dated August 20, 2026.
According to the statement, the resolution followed a courtesy visit to OGFZA by the Tax Ombud/Chief Executive, Dr. John C. Nwabueze, who described the proposed partnership as a means of improving tax administration and strengthening confidence among investors operating within Nigeria’s oil and gas free zones.
Nwabueze said OGFZA regulates and coordinates activities within the zones, including the granting of permits and licences, administration of incentives and resolution of disputes among stakeholders.
He added that the Office of the Tax Ombud would complement these functions by providing an independent channel for reviewing and resolving complaints relating to taxes, levies, regulatory fees, customs duties and excise matters.
The Tax Ombud said areas of collaboration could include taxpayer complaint resolution, clarification of tax incentives, review of systemic complaints, as well as the promotion of transparency and accountability.
He noted that such measures could contribute to increased voluntary tax compliance and ultimately improve Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio, in line with the national development objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed
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Responding, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of OGFZA, Alhaji Usman Bamanga Jada, said investors operating in Nigeria’s oil and gas free zones had benefited from incentives, tax exemptions and customs duty concessions introduced by the Federal Government to encourage sustainable FDI inflows.
Jada said the incentives were also designed to support private-sector-driven infrastructure development and employment generation.
He described the proposed collaboration with the Office of the Tax Ombud as timely, saying it would help strengthen investor confidence and promote business activities, particularly within the special economic zones being championed by OGFZA across the country.
As part of efforts to translate the proposed partnership into concrete action, the two agencies have appointed liaison officers to coordinate their relationship and facilitate the implementation of the agreed objectives within the shortest possible time.
The collaboration is expected to provide investors with a clearer channel for resolving tax-related concerns while supporting a more predictable regulatory environment within Nigeria’s oil and gas free zones.