Stakeholders at the 2025 Delta Online Publishers Forum (DOPF) Annual Lecture in Asaba have hailed Nigeria’s new tax law as a major reform that could boost SMEs, improve revenue generation, and support long-term national development provided the government implements it with transparency and accountability.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Ochuko Emudainohwo, an Associate Professor of Accounting at Dennis Osadebay University, said the 2025 tax law was designed as a strategic roadmap to help Nigeria build a more diverse and resilient economy.
Speaking on the theme, ‘Nigeria’s New Tax Law: Implications and Opportunities for Businesses and Society’, he explained that the reform was introduced to tackle pressing economic problems such as dwindling oil income, increasing pressure on public services due to population growth, and the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that taxation is one of the strongest tools for national growth and that the new law merges income and company taxes into a single, simplified system that cuts red tape and encourages openness.
Dr. Emudainohwo described the new tax policy as “people-centered,” pointing out that businesses earning less than N50 million annually are now exempt from capital-based and company income taxes. He said this relief will reduce the strain on small businesses, encourage entrepreneurship, and spur innovation. He also praised the law’s digital tax provisions, which he said will modernize Nigeria’s revenue system, reduce leakages, and improve accountability.
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori; 2025 DOPF Lecture Chairman, Mr. Edward Obiefuna Martyns; and DOPF Chairman, Mr. Emmanuel Ochonogor Enebeli, all stressed that the success of the tax reform will depend on how responsibly the government uses the revenue it collects. Represented by the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, Governor Oborevwori said visible improvements in infrastructure, public services, and economic stability are essential for maintaining public trust.
Martyns added that the new tax system will influence how businesses operate and raise public expectations for government accountability. He urged journalists to maintain strict oversight of public spending and report consistently on transparency issues.
In his remarks, DOPF Chairman Enebeli said Nigerians expect real improvements once the new tax system takes effect. He acknowledged progress on the Ughelli–Kwale–Asaba Road but called for urgent repairs on other key routes, including the Agbor–Asaba–Onitsha Road, Effurun–Sapele–Benin Road, and the neglected Agbor–Umutu–Obiaruku–Abraka–Eku–Sapele corridor, which he said has worsened economic hardship.
He also stressed the importance of security in economic development, commending the Delta State Security Trust Fund and urging quick approval and implementation of the newly passed State Community Security Bill. He encouraged businesses, organizations, and residents to support efforts that will boost investor confidence.
The 2025 DOPF Annual Lecture brought together academics, government officials, business leaders, and media professionals to examine how the new tax law could reshape Nigeria’s economic future.
Across the board, speakers agreed that while the law offers major opportunities for SMEs and national revenue growth, its success will ultimately depend on transparency, citizen engagement, and responsible governance as Nigeria enters a new tax era.
