Nigeria Revenue Service Executive Chairman Zacch Adedeji dismissed online reports linking the agency to fraud involving the Frontier Exploration Fund on Monday [1].
The denial comes as the agency seeks to protect its reputation against what it describes as a coordinated disinformation campaign. Such allegations could undermine public trust in the nation's revenue collection systems, and the management of strategic investment funds.
Adedeji said the reports are sponsored fake news [1, 2]. He said the claims circulating online regarding the Frontier Exploration Fund are false and intended to mislead the public [1, 2].
The Executive Chairman said the reports are part of a wider effort to spread misinformation about the agency's operations [1, 2]. The Nigeria Revenue Service has not released a detailed audit of the specific claims but maintains that the allegations have no basis in fact [1].
While some reports referred to the agency as the Nigeria Revenue Commission, other records identify the body as the Nigeria Revenue Service [1, 2]. This discrepancy appears in various reports covering the chairman's response to the allegations [1, 2].
Adedeji said the agency remains committed to transparency in its financial dealings. He said the public should rely on official government channels for information regarding the Frontier Exploration Fund rather than unverified online sources [1, 2].
“The reports are sponsored fake news”
This incident highlights the growing challenge of digital disinformation targeting government financial institutions in Nigeria. By labeling the reports as 'sponsored,' the NRS suggests the misinformation is not organic but funded by specific interests to destabilize the agency's credibility during a period of economic scrutiny.
