- The Organised Private Sector of Nigeria (OPS) has issued a formal plea to President Bola Tinubu to stop the Customs, Excise and Tariff Amendment Bill, warning it could cripple the non-alcoholic beverage industry.
- Industry leaders claim the proposed per-litre levy will force production costs upward, leading to potential factory closures and the loss of thousands of jobs across the retail and distribution sectors.
- The group is requesting the Federal Government to withdraw the bill from the National Assembly to allow for a collaborative review that aligns with existing fiscal reforms and protects business stability.
The collective voice of Nigeria’s business community has risen in opposition to a new legislative move that threatens to disrupt the manufacturing sector.
Eko Hot Blog reports that on Thursday, April 9, 2026, the Organised Private Sector (OPS) through an official declaration urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the passage of the Customs, Excise and Tariff Amendment Bill.
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This group represents a powerful coalition of industrial bodies, including the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), and the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA).
Their primary concern is that the proposed percentage levy on non-alcoholic beverages arrives at a time when the industry is already fighting for survival against severe economic headwinds.
The OPS highlighted that the sector is currently struggling with a volatile exchange rate, soaring energy prices, and the increasing cost of essential raw materials.
Introducing an additional excise burden under these conditions would, according to the group, result in a sharp decline in capacity utilization.
Many companies may be forced to cancel planned investments, while smaller players in the value chain, such as petty traders and local distributors who survive on slim margins, could see their businesses vanish.
The coalition argued that these pressures will eventually hit the pockets of ordinary Nigerians through higher shelf prices, further reducing the purchasing power of an already strained population.
While the government has suggested the levy could serve public health goals, the private sector leaders remain unconvinced.
They stated that the bill in its current form ignores deep-seated social and administrative issues that could actually work against the President’s broader goals of fiscal stability.
By increasing the cost of production, the government risks shrinking the very tax base it seeks to expand.
The OPS made it clear that while they support evidence-based health interventions and well-designed fiscal policies, this specific bill is a blunt instrument that could do more harm than good to the industrial fabric of the nation.
In their communication, the business leaders did acknowledge the positive steps the administration has taken to restore macroeconomic confidence. However, they stressed that the success of these reforms depends on the survival of the manufacturing core.
They are calling for an immediate pause in the legislative process to allow for a strategic engagement between the National Assembly and industry stakeholders.
The goal is to develop a more balanced approach that ensures government revenue needs are met without sacrificing the jobs and investments that keep the economy moving.
As the debate continues, the manufacturing community remains hopeful for a presidential intervention that prioritizes the health of the private sector.
