Oluchi Chibuzor

The Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr. Zacch Adedeji and the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Nigeria, Bengt van Loosdrecht have commenced the process of the renegotiation of the Double Taxation Agreement between Nigeria and the Netherlands.

The event took place at the Revenue House in Abuja and marked the beginning of a new phase in Nigeria’s international tax relations.

Following the signing of the Tax Reform Bill into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) on June 26, 2025, interest in Nigeria’s new tax structure has already started to grow. In less than a week, both local and international stakeholders have begun to respond. Among them is the Kingdom of the Netherlands, one of Nigeria’s long-standing trade and investment partners, which is now the first foreign government to begin formal talks with Nigeria to renegotiate its existing tax agreement. The aim is to bring the agreement in line with the new reforms and remove outdated terms, especially those relating to double taxation which no longer reflect the current realities.

Zacch welcomed the delegation on behalf of the president, government, and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He described the visit as timely, especially considering recent changes in both domestic and global tax systems. 

He said; “Recent developments in the domestic and global tax landscape have made the review of the existing agreement unavoidable. Particularly the tax reforms being carried out by our government, global measures against Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS), and other evolving international tax standards will render extant agreement out-of-date.”

He further emphasised that the discussions align with the policy direction of the current administration and reflect Nigeria’s commitment to a transparent and fair process; “This renegotiation meets with the policy objectives of the ongoing fiscal and tax reforms initiated by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We are committed to broadening the domestic tax base, strengthening tax administration, and ensuring that our tax system supports inclusive economic growth.”

In his remark, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Nigeria, His Excellency Bengt van Loosdrecht, expressed appreciation for the warm welcome and highlighted the spirit of cooperation guiding the negotiations. 

He noted; “The fact that we meet here today is an indication of the goodwill and the good faith in which we want to meet with each other. And I can assure you that my colleagues from the Netherlands will act in good faith. That is always an important basis for good negotiations.”

Reflecting on the nature of treaty talks, he expressed optimism about the process and the teams involved.