Opinion
The Untiring FIRS Boss
By Arabinrin Aderonke
When I ventured into the office to see the tax boss, Dr. Zacch Adedeji, Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, I was met with an unexpected sight. He was wearing a face cap, a T-shirt, and jeans. It was the first time I had seen him dressed so casually during official hours, and I couldn’t help but smile and think, “This is so unlike him.” But before I could ask, I learned he was heading out for an inspection of the ongoing construction of the FIRS headquarters. This is the Dr. Zacch, we know, very demure, very mindful, and always prepared to take action.
The Tax Boss is not your regular chairman. Since his first day in office, he has been on the move, handling one responsibility after another with so much energy. It’s no wonder he was casually dressed; he was ready to dive into the work at hand. The construction of the FIRS Headquarters is a long-awaited project. It has been on the agenda of the agency for over 20 years but has experienced delays and setbacks. Dr. Zacch is now ready to ensure its completion during his tenure. His hands-on attitude is clear in everything he does, and the inspection was no different.
When Dr. Zacch arrived at the site. He didn’t just walk about; he inspected every detail with the seriousness of a man on a mission. He was interested in the structural design, material quality, and even project timeframes. It was clear that he wasn’t just there for the appearance; he wanted to make sure everything was in order.
The Tax Boss spoke to the engineers and workers, saying, “Let’s hurry up and get this done.”Together, we will scale through.” His energy was contagious, and you could see the workers feeling motivated by his presence.
And, yes, we are just a few weeks into 2025, but Dr. Zacch is showing workings. FIRS’s momentum is at an all-time high, and the agency will move back-to-back again this year. Every decision, visit, and action is aimed at transforming the FIRS into Nigeria’s tax administration powerhouse.
Dr. Zacch sets an example for public servants everywhere, demonstrating that leadership is about action, not just words. This visit was eye-opening for me, as it demonstrated what true leadership entails: rolling up your sleeves, putting in the effort where it matters most, and staying involved at all times.
FIRS is an unstoppable agency in Nigeria. The new headquarters represents a vision for the future and a commitment to transforming the agency. It will stand as a testament to FIRS’ efficiency, transparency, and progress.
The next time you hear someone mention Dr. Zacch Adedeji (Tax Boss), think beyond his everyday suits or sometimes casual outfits (t-shirt and jeans) while inspecting projects. Think of a leader who is proactive in his quest for excellence, committed to changing the tax system, and who prioritizes taxpayers in Nigeria. He is a man building the foundation for a stronger and more efficient system that will benefit all Nigerians.
Arabinrin Aderonke is the technical assistant on broadcast media to the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service.
Opinion
The Greater Abuja Land Heist: The Yesufu Family, Colleen Mero Yesufu, AGIS, and the Hidden Hands of a Billion-Naira Empire
By Dominion Duke
A civil society organisation under the banner of the National Advocacy for Justice and Truth (NAFJAT) has raised a clarion call, accusing estate agency owner Colleen Mero Yesufu of brazenly violating the 1978 Land Use Act through a campaign of alleged land grabbing.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, NAFJAT’s National Coordinator, Barr. Uthman Zango, described the leaked documents that supposedly expose Yesufu’s sprawling land acquisitions as a “stain on justice.” He expressed astonishment at how Yesufu could reportedly manipulate the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS) to secure plots under multiple first names—an action that, if true, would strike at the heart of Nigeria’s land laws.
*“In Katampe District,” Zango explained, *“File No. MISC/89XX/AGIS/2020 lists Mero Y. as an allottee — ‘Application Approved, Ministerial Consent Granted.’
Weeks later, in Kabusu, a record shows C. Yesufu under ‘New Regularization – Revalidated.’ Same surname, different first names, the same month of approval. Across Jahi, Apo, Orozo, and Guzape, the same pattern repeats — overlapping allocations, identical handwriting, synchronized endorsements. Each document fits into the next like pieces of a puzzle only insiders could assemble.”
Zango lamented what he believes to be an unholy alliance between Yesufu and government officials, claiming that hardworking Nigerians have been defamed while the “true land grabber” evaded scrutiny. He underscored the need for a comprehensive investigation into the alleged “shady deals” that facilitated the land acquisitions and urged Nigerians to see through what he called a “blackmailing machine driven by envy, jealousy, and baseless hatred.”
Calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to scrutinise the leaked documents, Zango warned that land in the Federal Capital Territory—already scarce and meant to be tightly regulated—must not be commodified by a privileged few. AGIS records allegedly show the Yesufu family obtaining several prime plots within months, while countless applicants wait.
“This kind of abnormality is only possible with complicity from the inside,” Zango asserted. “Someone is feeding them timing, file codes, and clearance windows. That’s not luck — that’s access.”
He pointed to matching “Accepted,” “Scanned,” and “Temporary Revalidation” stamps as evidence of systemic fast-tracking, implying that the Yesufu family were not merely beneficiaries but active participants in a wider conspiracy. He expressed frustration over what he sees as public complacency in the face of such alleged wrongdoing.
When rumours of multiple plots began to circulate, Zango noted, the Yesufu family allegedly sought to deflect attention by accusing others. Documents show that Mrs. Rebecca Godwin-Isaac’s lands were lawfully acquired on the secondary market, yet she was tarnished, while the Yesufu name appeared on initial AGIS approvals. This inversion of guilt, Zango argued, was a calculated diversion.
He accused AGIS of systemic manipulation and highlighted the recurring term “Temporary Revalidation” across the Yesufu files, insisting that “until those files are opened, AGIS will remain a crime scene disguised as a database.” According to Zango, the Yesufu family’s alleged land empire was built not with bulldozers but with stamps, connections, and a bureaucracy reluctant to resist.
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