Capital gains tax revenue surged by about 429 per cent in December 2025 to N12.18bn, up from N2.30bn in November, as fresh tax reforms stoke expectations of a higher 30 per cent rate.
Data from a Federation Accounts Allocation Committee document from the January 2026 meeting obtained by The PUNCH on Thursday showed that capital gains tax collections rose by N9.88bn month on month, showing a sharp acceleration in receipts from asset disposals at the end of the year.
In Nigeria, capital gains tax applies when assets such as land, buildings, shares, business interests, digital assets, or other investment property are disposed of through sale, transfer, or assignment.
The purpose of the capital gains tax is to ensure that profits made from asset appreciation contribute to public revenue, just like income earned from business operations or salaries.
The increase marked one of the strongest month-on-month growth rates among non-oil revenue lines, placing capital gains tax firmly on the radar as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to widen its tax base amid volatile oil earnings.
