Haulage Gets a Break as Nigeria Targets 200-Plus ‘Nuisance’ Taxes
The Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms is putting Nigeria’s tax clutter on a diet, and the haulage & logistics sector could be first in line for relief. Speaking at a Lagos industry conference, committee chair Taiwo Oyedele said the reform package signed into law in June is “an intentional, structured reboot” of a system that officially lists 60 taxes but really extracts more than 200 when the unofficial charges are counted, The PUNCH reports.
The overhaul eliminates several overlapping levies and illegal roadblocks that can cost truckers ₦500,000-₦700,000 on a single north-to-south trip, according to Oyedele. One operator even collected 73 different stickers just to stay on the road, he said at the event.
“This reform will move Nigeria away from its current uncompetitive tax structure,” Oyedele told attendees, promising simpler rules and digital tools to curb harassment.
The reaction was swift: Transport players cheered the potential cut in operating costs, while state revenue officials warned that coordination will be key once the Acts kick in on 1 January 2026.
Around the Tax World
• Fuel faces fresh duty. President Bola Tinubu approved a 15 % import tariff on petrol and diesel to nudge investors toward local refining, according to a leaked memo cited by Business Insider Africa. A 30-day consultation window precedes implementation.
• Inflation worries bubble up. FIRS boss Zacch Adedeji admitted the fuel duty could lift pump prices but said the aim is to “reinforce national energy security,” Semafor writes.
• Quick cash no longer tax-free. Banks and brokers must now withhold 10 % tax on interest from treasury bills and other short-term securities, ending a long-running exemption (Reuters/Zawya).
• Lawyers on the VAT hook. The government reminded law firms they must charge and remit 7.5 % VAT; exemptions apply only below ₦100 m turnover, The Guardian notes.
• E-invoicing gets another integrator. Redtech won certification as a system integrator for FIRS’s national e-Invoicing platform, boosting real-time tax reporting (TechCabal).
• Diaspora fears eased. Money sent home for family support won’t be taxed, and foreign income of non-resident Nigerians remains exempt, Tribune Online confirms.
By the Numbers
Prime Number: 200+, the estimated total of formal and informal taxes currently hitting Nigerian businesses, far above the 60 recognised in law (The PUNCH).
Looking Ahead
All eyes now turn to January 1, 2026, when the new Acts, VAT rules, and e-Invoicing mandates go live. FIRS says detailed guidance will drop “in the coming weeks.” keep your compliance teams on speed dial.