Senator Adams Oshiomhole Rejects Local Tax Plan — “You Don’t Punish Nigerians for Producing at Home”

Senator Adams Oshiomhole has voiced strong opposition to any plan to impose taxes on locally manufactured goods, arguing that such a move would “punish people for producing at home.” Speaking to journalists at the National Assembly, Oshiomhole emphasized that Nigeria’s struggling industrial sector needs incentives, not penalties, if it is to thrive and compete globally.

The former Governor of Edo State explained that manufacturing remains the backbone of national development and that overburdening producers with taxes would undermine the government’s goal of achieving self-sufficiency. “If we tax what we produce here, we are indirectly telling manufacturers to stop producing and start importing,” he said. “That would destroy jobs, kill innovation, and deepen our dependence on foreign goods.”

Oshiomhole urged policymakers to adopt a balanced approach by incentivizing local industries through tax reliefs, subsidies, and infrastructure support. According to him, encouraging domestic production should be viewed as a patriotic duty, not a taxable offense.

Adams Oshiomhole: Support Local Producers, Don’t Strangle Them

In his continued remarks, Senator Oshiomhole stated that Nigeria’s industrial development cannot progress if the government continues to burden small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) with excessive taxes and levies. He noted that many manufacturers are already operating under tough economic conditions, including high energy costs, inflation, and an unstable exchange rate.

The senator argued that local producers contribute significantly to national employment and deserve protection from policies that discourage productivity. “We should be rewarding those who create jobs at home,” Oshiomhole said. “Every bag of cement, every textile, every automobile assembled here represents a step toward national independence. Why then should we tax progress?”

He also appealed to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Ministry of Finance to review their policies to reflect the realities faced by businesses, stressing that “economic patriotism must begin with protecting Nigerian manufacturers.”

Adams Oshiomhole: A Call for Industrial Patriotism and Policy Reform

Reinforcing his stance, Senator Oshiomhole declared that true economic reform begins with empowering domestic industries to compete with global brands. He warned that if local manufacturers continue to face punitive taxation, Nigeria risks becoming a dumping ground for foreign goods while losing valuable jobs and investments.

According to Oshiomhole, the National Assembly must take deliberate steps to shield homegrown industries from harmful fiscal policies. “Our future depends on what we build here,” he emphasized. “Taxation should serve as a tool for national growth, not as an obstacle to innovation.”

He concluded by calling for a national consensus that prioritizes “Made-in-Nigeria” products through targeted support, favorable trade policies, and an enabling business environment. “If we truly believe in Nigeria,” Oshiomhole said, “then we must show it by backing those who make Nigeria work.”