The Federal Government has been told that multiple taxation is hurting businesses, especially those in the private sector, and placing a huge burden on final consumers.

The government has therefore been asked to take urgent steps towards tax harmonisation, particularly as it affects private sector players.

It was also pointed out that federal, state, and local governments often tax the same products and services, thereby escalating the final costs and pushing the burden onto consumers.

A statement yesterday noted that the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Pomogranate Nigeria Limited (PNL), a third-party logistics company, Mr Wole Elusakin, made the observations in Abeokuta on Friday at the end of the company’s management budget session and retreat.

According to the statement, Elusakin warned that many businesses may fold if the government fails to act urgently.
“We have to contend with multiple billings. This is because each local government or state we drive through with our trucks, we have to pay. So, there is the need for the Federal Government to come in and unify the taxes. This is because all of the costs incurred are invariably passed to our clients, who in turn pass them to the consumers, thereby increasing the financial burden on them,” he said.

He expressed the hope that the new tax laws would address the issue and urged the Federal Government to do more in communicating the policy for better public understanding.
“We expect the Federal Government to communicate the policy effectively, so we can understand how it will impact our business,” he stated.

Speaking on the retreat and the company’s theme for 2026, Impossible is Nothing, Elusakin said: “At the beginning of every year, we have what we call a budget session, which is usually characterised by a retreat and a bonding session. We concluded the budget session and we are now on the retreat, which is all about team bonding.
“This team bonding, of course, brought us to Abeokuta, where we visited the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, the Wildlife Park, and the Olumo Rock for the mountain climbing experience.”

On the theme for the year, he said that it meant whatever targets were set to achieve as a team were achievable. He said he was happy that the entire team was already imbibing the spirit.

The Head of Finance of Pomogranate Nigeria Ltd, Mrs Dorothy Okunoye, who received the Manager of the Year award, said: “The award to me came as a surprise because it was the least expected. I thanked the management and the team for helping me to achieve this milestone and also pledged my continued dedication and loyalty towards achieving and surpassing the set target this year.”

The evening also provided a platform for engaging discussions between Odunlade Adekola and the PNL leadership, where Elusakin announced that Pomegranate Nigeria Ltd would soon be launching PNLHub, a cargo-hailing ride platform.