2026: FG collects N2.42trn VAT in first quarter
2026: FG collects N2.42trn VAT in first quarter 
The National Bureau of Statistic (NBS) said total Value Added Tax (VAT) collected in the first quarter of 2026 increased to N2.42 trillion.
The amount represents a surge of 9.98 per cent on a quarter-on-quarter basis from N2.20 trillion in the fourth quarter of 2025 and 17.06 per cent increase from the N2.07 trillion generated in the corresponding period of 2025.
The recent data released by NBS over the weekend showed that of the total VAT collected, local payments stood at N1.11 trillion, foreign VAT payments were N830.47 billion, while import VAT contributed N477.55 billion during the quarter.
According to the NBS, several sectors recorded significant growth in their Value Added Tax (VAT) contributions during the first quarter of 2026, reflecting varying levels of economic activity across the country.
On a quarter-on-quarter basis, the strongest growth was recorded in activities of households as employers and undifferentiated goods-and-services-producing activities for own use, which surged by 74.36 per cent.
It was followed by Arts, entertainment and recreation with 20.91 per cent while Manufacturing reported 12.82 per cent growth.
On the other hand, Education had the lowest growth rate with negative 31.96 per cent, followed by Public administration and defence, compulsory social security with a drop of 31.38 per cent; and Activities of extraterritorial organizations and bodies fell by 29.89 per cent.
In terms of sectoral shares, the activities with the largest shares in the first quarter of 2026 were Manufacturing with 29.75 per cent followed by Information and communication with 20.61 per cent and Mining and quarrying rising by 12.32 per cent.
Conversely, Activities of households as employers, undifferentiated goods-and-services-producing activities of households for own use recorded the lowest share with 0.01 per cent; followed by Activities of extraterritorial organizations and bodies; and Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities with 0.02 per cent and 0.06 per cent, respectively.
The strong VAT performance recorded in the first quarter of 2026 reflects sustained economic activity across key sectors such as manufacturing, telecommunications, and mining.
