Domestic VAT drives Nigeria’s Q1 tax collections to N2.42trn

By Chinwendu Obienyi
Nigeria’s value added tax (VAT) collections rose to N2.42 trillion in the first quarter of 2026, with strong growth in local VAT payments emerging as the key driver of the increase, according to the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The figure represents a 17.06 percent increase compared with the N2.07 trillion recorded in the corresponding period of 2025, underscoring improved domestic economic activity and enhanced tax administration following the implementation of new fiscal reforms.
Data from the NBS show that local VAT accounted for the largest share of total collections, contributing N1.11 trillion during the quarter. This outpace...