NNPC, NLNG, Nestle, GTB, Dangote among Nigeria’s top taxpayers, says FIRS

BY ANITA OKORO

The Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) and Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, have been recognised as the most supportive and highest taxpayer, respectively, in the list of 18 leading top performing taxpayers in 2021, according to recent data released by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

Also, the Northern Cables Processing and Manufacturing Limited (NOCACO) was rated by the revenue agency as the most improved company in tax filing, while Ikeja Electric Plc topped the list of companies in terms of Value Added Tax (VAT) compliance.

Other notable companies that made the list of highest taxpayers in the country include, Mobil Producing Unlimited, Star Deep Water Petroleum, MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Total E & P Nigeria Limited, Airtel Networks Limited, Nigeria Petroleum Development Company Limited, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Dangote Cement, Nigeria Breweries Plc, Total Upstream Nigeria Limited, Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited, Nigeria Agip Oil Company Limited, British American Tobacco Marketing, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc and Lafarge Africa Plc.

Muhammad Nami, executive chairman of FIRS, commended the country’s taxpayers for their active support, noting that without them the service would not have been able to accomplish the feat it recorded in 2021 where it surpassed its tax collection target for the year and crossed the N6 trillion threshold for the first time.

Nami also expressed gratitude to the top tax payers whom he said defied the very harsh global economic conditions imposed by the lingering COVID-19 pandemic to produce a heroic performance in tax payment, compliance and support.

“The combined efforts of all taxpayers made it possible for the Service to achieve the tax revenue collection of 2021 which provided our governments with necessary funds to meet their social contracts with the citizens,” he noted.

The FIRS chairman further disclosed that the feat recorded by the agency was made possible by the uncommon leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, the active support of the supervisory ministry, the backing of the National Assembly and its leadership, as well as the cooperation of all other stakeholders in the tax area.

Going forward, he urged taxpayers to continually cooperate with the FIRS to make taxation the machinery of the nation’s development and economic growth.