The Southeast received far more from the Value Added Tax (VAT) pool in September 2026 than it contributed, according to figures from the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) reported by TheCableIndex. It was the biggest net beneficiary of the six geopolitical zones and the FCT.
Smallest Contributor, Highest Return
The Southeast contributed ₦14.63 billion, the lowest of any zone, and received ₦40.86 billion, or 279.37% of its contribution. That is a gain of about ₦26.2 billion, and no other zone came close to this ratio. In absolute terms, however, the Southeast’s allocation was the second smallest, ahead only of the FCT.
North-Central, North-West and North-East Also Gained
The other zones that received more than they contributed were all in the North. The North-Central took the second-highest ratio at 167.31%, receiving ₦51.25 billion against ₦30.63 billion. The North-West received ₦70.36 billion on a ₦47.30 billion contribution (148.75%), while the North-East received ₦53.24 billion on ₦40.11 billion (132.74%).
Southwest, South-South and FCT Received Less
The Southwest contributed ₦322.48 billion, by far the largest amount, and received ₦116.38 billion (36.09%). The South-South contributed ₦117.72 billion and received ₦70.41 billion (59.82%). The FCT contributed ₦34.88 billion and received ₦13.62 billion (39.05%).
What the Figures Show
Four of the seven areas received more than they paid in, and three received less. The Southeast’s position reflects the way VAT is shared out, since distribution does not follow where the tax is collected
