At the 2025 Annual Lecture of the Delta Online Publishers Forum (DOPF) in Asaba, experts and local leaders hailed Nigeria’s newly enacted tax law as a transformative move for the country’s economy—especially for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The consensus among panelists was that, with careful and transparent implementation, the new legislation could energize business growth, improve government revenue, and promote long-term economic stability.
Keynote speaker Dr. Ochuko Emudainohwo, a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and associate professor at Dennis Osadebay University, described the 2025 tax reform as a proactive response to urgent economic realities, including dwindling oil income, population-driven demands on public resources, and the persistent effects of the pandemic.
Dr. Emudainohwo explained that the new tax framework merges income and corporate taxes to create a more unified, efficient system. This consolidation is intended to simplify compliance, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and foster greater openness in the tax process.
The forum’s discussions emphasized that, if authorities maintain a commitment to transparency and accountability, the new tax law holds significant promise for empowering SMEs and supporting Nigeria’s broader development goals.
