Anambra Government Refutes Peter Obi’s Claim On Top Corporate Taxpayer

The Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AIRS) has strongly dismissed recent claims by former Governor Peter Obi, who asserted that SABMiller Breweries is the highest corporate taxpayer in the state. In a detailed rebuttal issued on Thursday, the tax authority clarified that the brewery ranks only sixth on the list of top corporate taxpayers in Anambra.

The clarification followed remarks made by Obi during a Labour Party campaign event held at the All Saints Cathedral field in Onitsha. While addressing party supporters and stakeholders at the flag-off rally for the November 8, 2025, governorship election, Obi highlighted SABMiller as a leading contributor to the state’s revenue. He used the claim to underscore his administration’s pro-business record, contrasting it with what he described as burdensome taxation of the poor by subsequent governments.

“You can judge governance by compassion. For me, it’s about empathy and care for the poor, not taxing them to death,” Obi stated. “As governor, I made sure the poor could feed, send their children to school, and live with dignity, and the facts about my tenure are verifiable.”

However, the AIRS swiftly countered Obi’s assertion, describing it as misleading. According to data released by the Service, SABMiller paid a combined total of ?656.5 million in taxes for the years 2023 and 2024—averaging ?28 million monthly in 2023 and ?26.62 million monthly in 2024.

“This level of contribution clearly places SABMiller in a distant sixth position among the state’s highest corporate taxpayers,” the AIRS noted. “Contrary to the widely circulated claims, SABMiller is not Anambra’s top taxpayer by any verifiable metric.”

The statement also named Fidelity Bank Plc as the actual leading corporate taxpayer in the state for the assessed period. The tax authority emphasized that setting the record straight was necessary to ensure the public is not misled by inaccurate statements, particularly during a politically sensitive campaign season.

“The AIRS remains committed to transparency and the publication of accurate tax data. Misinformation, especially by public figures, has the potential to distort public perception and undermine trust,” the statement concluded.

This development adds a new dimension to the ongoing campaign discourse ahead of the 2025 Anambra governorship election, where fiscal policy, taxation, and economic management have emerged as central themes.