President Bola Tinubu has officially scrapped the 5% excise duty that was previously imposed on mobile voice and data services in Nigeria.
The announcement was made by the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Aminu Maida, during a media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to him, the levy—which had been suspended in 2023—has now been completely removed under the updated national tax laws.
“The 5% excise duty is no longer in place. At first, it was only put on hold, but the President has now directed that it be taken out entirely. I was present when the matter came up, and he made it clear that Nigerians should not be made to bear that burden. I’m glad to see this reflected in the new legislation,” Maida explained.
Tinubu had first suspended the duty in July 2023 as part of efforts to reduce the weight of multiple taxes on businesses and households. That decision came through a series of executive orders shortly after he took office.
The debate resurfaced in October 2024 when the National Assembly considered reintroducing the duty, alongside new levies on gaming, betting, and lottery activities. The proposal faced strong opposition from the telecommunications industry.
With the latest directive, the matter has now been conclusively settled, bringing relief to both consumers and businesses within Nigeria’s digital space.
