ABUJA, June 18 – Nigerian Government has dismissed reports suggesting it is planning to introduce new taxes on telecommunications services and petroleum products.
It said the claims were linked to recommendations contained in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Article IV Consultation Report on Nigeria but do not reflect government policy.
In a statement released on Wednesday by the Ministry of Finance, the government said the IMF recommendations are not binding and should not be treated as official policy direction for Nigeria. According to the ministry, decisions on taxation can only be made through established constitutional and legislative processes and must align with national priorities and economic conditions.
The clarification follows recent discussions around the IMF report, which recommended a range of measures aimed at improving government revenue and fiscal stability.
However, the Federal Government insisted that no new tax proposals are being considered for either the telecoms or petroleum sectors. It also confirmed that the Value Added Tax waiver on petroleum products remains in place and has not been removed.
The ministry further explained that although existing laws provide for a fuel surcharge, such a measure can only take effect through a formal ministerial order and publication in the Official Gazette, and no such process is currently ongoing.
On telecommunications, the government said the excise duty introduced before 2023 has already been removed under the new tax laws and is no longer in effect, adding that reports suggesting fresh taxes on telecom services or fuel products are not accurate and should be disregarded.
The Federal Government said it remains focused on reforms that support economic growth, improve revenue systems and attract investment, rather than placing additional tax burdens on citizens, further reassuring that any future tax changes would be communicated through official channels and implemented in line with the law.
