Lagos leads VAT remittance with ₦305B, over 53% of total and more than 3x Rivers'

Key Takeaways

  • Lagos State contributed ₦305B in VAT, making up over 53% of the national total and more than three times that of any other state.
  • Rivers (₦90B) and Oyo (₦27B) followed Lagos as the second and third highest contributors, highlighting a steep drop after the top state.
  • Only a few states, including Bayelsa, Kano, Kwara, and Edo, remitted above ₦5B, showing a highly uneven distribution of VAT contributions.
  • Over 8 states, such as Kebbi, Osun, Imo, and Zamfara, contributed less than ₦2B each, indicating minimal VAT activity in many parts of the country.

In January 2025, Lagos State remitted a staggering ₦305 billion in VAT, over 53% of the national total and more than three times the ₦90 billion contributed by Rivers, the second‑highest state. Oyo was the third-highest contributor with ₦27 billion. These three states together generated nearly three‑quarters of Nigeria’s entire VAT yield, underscoring their outsized economic weight. Mid‑tier contributors such as Bayelsa (₦12.8 billion), Kano and Kwara (₦9.5 billion each), and Edo (₦5 billion) remitted less than half of Oyo’s contribution, revealing a steep drop‑off.

At the bottom tier, more than eight states each contributed under ₦2 billion, including Kebbi (₦1.9 billion), Ondo (₦0.9 billion), Imo (₦1.5 billion), Taraba (₦0.9 billion), and Zamfara (₦1.4 billion). Together, they accounted for only a few percent of the total, highlighting profound regional disparities in VAT collection.

Source:

Federal account allocation committee (FAAC)

Period:

January 2025
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