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Tax Ombud, OGFZA Partner to Resolve Investor Tax Complaints, Boost FDI
The Office of the Tax Ombud (OTO) and the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA) have agreed to deepen collaboration aimed at strengthening investor confidence and attracting more foreign direct investment (FDI) into Nigeria’s oil and gas free zones.
The resolution was announced during a courtesy visit to OGFZA by Tax Ombud and Chief Executive Dr. John C. Nwabueze, who described the partnership as “a panacea for promoting fair, transparent, predictable and investor-friendly tax administration within Nigeria’s oil and gas free zones.”
Dr. Nwabueze explained that the Tax Ombud complements OGFZA’s regulatory functions by providing an independent channel for resolving disputes.
“The Office of the Tax Ombud provides an independent channel for reviewing and resolving complaints relating to taxes, levies, regulatory fees, customs duties and excise matters,” he said.
He noted that collaboration could cover taxpayer complaint resolution, clarification of tax incentives, review of systemic complaints, and promotion of transparency and accountability.
“These efforts will contribute to increased voluntary tax compliance and a higher tax-to-GDP ratio, which is critical to national development and consistent with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR,” Nwabueze added.
Responding, OGFZA Managing Director/CEO Alhaji Usman Bamanga Jada welcomed the initiative, stressing its importance for investor confidence.
“Investors in Nigeria’s oil and gas free zones have benefited from incentives, tax exemptions and customs duty concessions deliberately introduced by the Federal Government to encourage sustainable FDI inflows. Collaboration with the Office of the Tax Ombud to advance OGFZA’s mandate is timely, as it will help build investor confidence and promote business activities,” he said.
Both agencies have appointed liaison officers to coordinate the partnership and ensure that objectives are achieved within the shortest possible time.
