Anambra Revenue Chief Refutes Peter Obi’s Claim on SABMiller as Top Taxpayer
The Anambra State Government has debunked recent claims by former Governor Peter Obi that SABMiller, a multinational beverage company operating as Intafact Beverages in Onitsha, was the state’s top taxpayer during his administration.
In a statement released Thursday, the Executive Chairman of the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AiRS), Dr. Greg U. Ezeilo, described Obi’s comments as “misleading and not supported by factual data.”
According to Ezeilo, a detailed review of tax records from 2023 and 2024 places SABMiller in sixth position among the state’s top corporate taxpayers, well behind Fidelity Bank Plc, which ranked highest with a gross tax contribution of ₦656.5 million over the two-year period.
“SABMiller paid an average of ₦28 million per month in 2023 and ₦26.62 million monthly in 2024,” Ezeilo stated. “It is important to correct the narrative with verified data and inform the public accurately.”
The revenue chief further noted that Anambra’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) has significantly increased from previous monthly earnings of ₦1.5 to ₦2 billion, to a consistent ₦4 billion monthly intake, peaking at ₦10.5 billion in May 2025.
Ezeilo said the clarification became necessary following public inquiries sparked by Obi’s interview on Arise News in June. In that interview, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate had asserted that the brewery remained “the biggest revenue earner in Anambra” and a major driver of employment in the state.
“If I tell you what I suffered to get that brewery established in Anambra State, you won’t believe it,” Obi had said. “It remains the state’s single largest source of revenue.”
However, AiRS insists that the company’s actual tax contribution does not reflect such a position, especially when compared to other corporate entities operating in the state.
“It is our duty to respond with verified figures when public figures make bold claims,” Ezeilo emphasized. “Transparency is crucial for public trust.”
The rebuttal has sparked mixed reactions, with some calling for a full public release of the top taxpayer list to clear any doubts.
