Anambra Revenue Service Dismisses Obi’s Claim on SABMiller Brewery’s Tax Status

The Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AiRS) has refuted claims by former governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, that SABMiller Breweries is the highest taxpayer in the state. The agency described the statement as misleading and not supported by official tax records. In a statement issued by the AiRS Chairman, Dr. Greg Ezeilo, the agency stated that SABMiller, operating under the name Intafact Beverages Limited, is currently ranked sixth among the state’s top taxpaying entities. According to AiRS, the company paid a total of ₦656.5 million in taxes between 2023 and 2024, averaging ₦28 million monthly in 2023 and ₦26.62 million monthly in 2024. Dr. Ezeilo emphasized that Fidelity Bank Plc is the highest taxpayer during the period under review, remitting over ₦1.5 billion to the state. He noted that while the state appreciates the economic value SABMiller brings, its tax contribution does not place it at the top of the list. The AiRS chairman warned against the spread of unverified claims, particularly from influential public figures. He said the agency deemed it necessary to provide accurate information to protect the integrity of Anambra’s revenue data and to uphold public trust. He also highlighted significant growth in the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), which rose from an average of ₦1.5 billion to ₦2 billion monthly in previous years to over ₦4 billion monthly in 2025, with a record ₦10.5 billion collected in May 2025. Obi, who governed Anambra from 2006 to 2014, had recently stated that SABMiller was the highest revenue contributor to the state, citing the brewery as one of his major achievements in office. His comments sparked public debate and prompted clarification from the revenue agency. AiRS urged the public to rely on verified data when discussing the state's fiscal matters and reiterated its commitment to transparency and accountability in revenue collection.