If you’ve been scrolling through WhatsApp or X (formerly Twitter) lately, you might have seen a flyer that probably made your heart jump. It’s got the official Federal Government of Nigeria look, a picture of President Tinubu, and a big headline: “FG INTRODUCES FRESH VEHICLE TAX.”
The flyer claims this new tax will start on July 1, 2026.
But before you start ranting about Tinubu choking you with taxes here and there, and not allowing you to breathe, as he promised, take a deep, calm breath because that news itself is not true.
The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) has officially stepped in to clear the air. They’ve flagged the flyer below as a total fraud.
Here is the breakdown of the facts:
No New Tax: The Federal Government has not announced a new vehicle tax starting in July.
The Source is Invalid: The NRS confirmed they did not issue the notice.
The Goal: These types of flyers are usually designed to cause panic or spread misinformation for clicks and engagement.
Why Do People Fall for This?
Honestly? Because it looks real. They use the right logos, the right fonts, and a date that’s just far enough away to be believable but close enough to be scary.
Also, the mirage of new taxes started by the Tinubu’s administration in line with his mantra to widen the tax bracket and towards increasing Government revenue made many people fall for it without even trying to verify.
What You Should Do Now
Since we’re all trying to stay sane in this digital age, here’s how to handle this one:
Don’t Share It: If it lands in your family group chat, or you come across it while viewing someone’s WhatsApp status, don’t forward or reshare it.
Correct the sharer: Gently let the person sharing this false news know that it has been debunked by the NRS. You can even send them the official disclaimer screenshot.
With the ease in which AI can generate anything, which then goes viral with the help of social media, it is worth double-checking news like this for authenticity.
So, for now, even if the authorities were trying to test the waters but backed out following the people’s reaction (as some speculate), we are not yet mandated to pay vehicle tax as most Western countries do.
