Nigeria: Nigeria increases excise duties on tobacco and alcohol
Nigerias President Muhammadu Buhari has approved an increase in excise duties on tobacco and alcoholic beverages, the finance ministry said in a statement on March 11, Reuters reported.
The West African country, which has Africas biggest economy, fell into recession in 2016 largely due to low oil prices. It emerged from recession last year, mainly as a result of higher crude prices, and is trying to raise non-oil revenues.
In addition to a 20 percent tax on tobacco, the government will add an extra fixed tax per cigarette. A percentage tax on alcoholic beverages will be replaced by taxes of fixed amounts based on volume.
The finance ministry said the changes will take effect from June 4 this year.
The move would have a dual benefit of raising the governments fiscal revenues and reducing the health hazards associated with tobacco-related diseases and alcohol abuse, it said in its statement.
The ministry said the new regime was in line with a directive from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) regional bloc on the harmonisation of member-states legislation on excise duties.
Raising duties in Nigeria for alcohol could further hit consumer demand amid fragile growth.
Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), the worlds largest beer maker, expects its new $250 million brewery being built in Sagamu, Nigeria, to start production in the middle of this year, its head of Africa head has said.
E-malt.com, the global information source for the brewing and malting industry professionals. The bi-weekly E-malt.com Newsletters feature latest industry news, statistics in graphs and tables, world barley and malt prices, and other relevant information. Click here to get full access to E-malt.com. If you are a Castle Malting client, you can get free access to E-malt.com website and publications. Contact us for more information at marketing@castlemalting.com .