The nation’s brewing industry has warned the Federal Government that the implementation of new tax stamps could further worsen inflation, drive up production costs, reduce consumer demand, and put additional pressure on an already fragile market.
The industry described the policy as “counterproductive,” emphasizing that it poses operational challenges and financial risks that could hinder economic growth.
Abiola Laseinde, Executive Director of the Beer Sectoral Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), highlighted how inefficient the tax stamp system could be, leading to unnecessary setbacks in production and distribution, inventory gaps, and increased operational overheads.
“The industry is concerned that this proposal is coming at a time when operators are already grappling with rising excise rates, foreign exchange volatility, and high inflation — making the additional burden of implementing tax stamps a serious threat to business,” she said.
Laseinde explained that the brewing industry is not prone to illicit trade, noting that tax stamps are unnecessary. She added that the brewing process is already complex, with products that are bulky and have low resale value — making counterfeiting largely unprofitable.
She further emphasized the accountability and transparency of the brewing sector, stating that it maintains auditable records, strict compliance with digital counters, and on-site customs officers.
“Most recently, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) successfully launched and piloted the B’odogwu Automated Excise Reporting System (ERS) — a modern platform that digitizes excise administration. ERS replaces manual registers with an automated process that tracks production volumes and excise computation in real time, enhances compliance monitoring through full transparency, and creates an auditable digital trail that reduces leakages and inefficiency,” she explained.
Laseinde, therefore, urged the federal government to reverse the tax stamp policy to prevent disruptions to production, jobs, and revenue. She advised the government to instead strengthen existing systems such as the Customs Service’s ERS and the FIRS e-invoicing system, which she described as efficient, transparent, and locally developed.
She affirmed that the industry remains committed to supporting government revenue generation under effective frameworks and is keen on protecting both the government’s interests and business sustainability without unnecessary operational hurdles.
By Miracle Chidinma Amaechi
