Point-of-sale (PoS) operators in Nigeria have sounded an alarm, revealing that several state governments have initiated taxation measures amounting to a minimum of N30,000 annually per agent.
Obioha Oti, the National Vice President of the Association of Mobile Money and Bank Agents in Nigeria, unveiled this concern during an interview with Channels Television. He highlighted the emerging challenges posed by the shortage of the Naira currency and its repercussions on PoS operators.
Oti expressed that PoS vendors are grappling with currency shortages and encountering hefty taxation burdens across various regions within Nigeria. He alleged that states such as Anambra, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom, alongside others in the southwest and northern parts of the country, are imposing daily charges of N100 and a monthly fee of N2500 on PoS operators.
He stated, “There are myriad challenges currently facing PoS operators. A worrying trend emerges as certain state governments impose heavy taxation. We have reports from Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Anambra, southwest states, and those in the north. In Anambra, a government-designated agency collects N100 daily, N2500 monthly, and N1000 for registration. Calculations show that one agent would pay at least N30,000 to the government as taxes. Sometimes, multiple tax collectors are involved in this process.”
