Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the Federal Government of attempting to “nationalise a Lagos-style revenue cartel” through the recent appointment of Xpress Payments Solutions Limited as a new collecting agent under the Treasury Single Account (TSA).
In a strongly worded statement issued on Sunday, Atiku said the appointment—made quietly and without public engagement—mirrors the controversial Alpha Beta revenue model used in Lagos State, which he described as a “private tollgate around public revenue.”
According to him, the new arrangement risks funnelling national revenue into the hands of politically connected private interests, effectively turning Nigeria “from a republic into a private holding company.”
Atiku condemned the timing of the decision, noting that Nigerians are still mourning victims of worsening insecurity across the country. Introducing a new revenue collection structure at such a time, he said, is “insensitive” and amounts to “governance by stealth.”
He raised several questions about the process, including why the appointment was made without consultation, stakeholder input or National Assembly oversight. He also queried the value Xpress Payments would add beyond existing TSA channels.
“This is not reform. This is state capture masquerading as digital innovation,” he insisted.
The former Vice President called for the immediate suspension of the appointment pending a public inquiry, as well as full disclosure of contract terms, beneficiaries, fee structures and selection criteria. He also demanded a comprehensive audit of TSA operations and the establishment of a legal framework to prevent private proxies from being inserted into core government revenue systems.
Atiku further urged the administration to prioritise national security, stressing that a nation battling widespread attacks “cannot afford economic governance conducted in the shadows.”
“Nigeria’s revenues are not political spoils,” he said. “The government must abandon this Lagos-style revenue cartelisation and return to transparency and public accountability.”
The statement was issued in Yola on November 23, 2025.
