Awka, July 17, 2025 – The Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AiRS) has officially debunked recent public claims suggesting that SABMiller Breweries is the highest taxpayer in the state. According to the agency, data from the past two years (2023 and 2024) places the brewery company at a distant sixth position behind leading financial institutions, contrary to popular belief.
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In a public clarification titled “Peter Obi on SABMiller Breweries – Facts and Figures,” the Chairman of AiRS, Dr. Greg U. Ezeilo, highlighted that while Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in Anambra State has witnessed significant improvements — surging from a low monthly average of ₦1.5–2 billion in previous years to ₦4 billion monthly, with an all-time high of ₦10.5 billion recorded in May 2025 — SABMiller’s contribution does not place it at the top of the tax chart.
A comparative analysis of PAYE (Pay As You Earn) and Withholding Tax (WHT) paid by top companies shows that banks dominate the state’s tax revenue:
Top 6 Taxpayers in Anambra State (2023–2024)
| Rank | Company Name | Total Tax (₂ Years) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ACCESS BANK | ₦1,777,099,229.63 |
| 2 | FIRST BANK | ₦2,152,818,973.02 |
| 3 | ZENITH BANK | ₦1,697,889,702.99 |
| 4 | UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA | ₦1,681,635,505.06 |
| 5 | FIDELITY BANK | ₦1,189,664,719.85 |
| 6 | INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC (SABMiller) | ₦656,558,123.06 |
SABMiller, operating under International Breweries Plc, paid a combined total of ₦656.5 million in taxes across the two years. This includes PAYE and WHT payments of ₦336.4 million in 2023 and ₦318.4 million in 2024. On average, the company contributed about ₦28 million monthly in 2023 and ₦26.62 million monthly in 2024.
Dr. Ezeilo emphasized that the clarification was necessary in light of claims allegedly made by a former governor, widely interpreted to refer to Mr. Peter Obi. The Service stated it aims to “properly situate the claims” and ensure the public receives accurate and verifiable data.
“There’s the need to provide answers to certain public inquiries either to prove or disprove the claims as published in the media,” Dr. Ezeilo noted in the statement.
The AiRS reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and improving tax administration in the state while urging the public and media to rely on verified data in public discourse.
