The first quarter of 2026 opened with the most far-reaching changes to Nigeria's fiscal and regulatory landscape in years. Here are the developments that mattered most for businesses and investors.
The Nigeria Tax Act 2025 and its three companion Acts took effect on 1 January 2026, consolidating more than 60 separate taxes into a leaner code. Workers earning ₦800,000 or less a year are now exempt from personal income tax, companies' capital gains tax rose from 10% to 30%, the minimum tax was abolished, and the Federal Inland Revenue Service became the new Nigeria Revenue Service.
From January, the Nigeria Data Protection Commission tightened audit enforcement, signalling a move from education to penalties. Non-compliant organisations now face fines of up to ₦10 million or 2% of annual gross revenue, whichever is higher.
On 23 February 2026 the FCT Minister nullified 485 Area Council land documents across Bwari, AMAC and Kuje after they failed official genuineness checks, a stark reminder of the title-verification risk in FCT land transactions.
Read our guide to buying land in AbujaThe CBN's recapitalisation programme closed on 31 March 2026, with banks raising roughly ₦4.65 trillion in fresh capital. Most institutions met their new thresholds, while a handful moved toward mergers or restructuring to comply.
This roundup is a general summary prepared for information only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice on how any of these developments affect your business, contact Vintage Solicitors.
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