The Nigerian government has ordered a number of non-Nigerian oil and gas companies to pay nearly $20 billion in taxes. Reuters news agency reported Thursday that the move could deter investment in Africa’s largest economy. Quoting industry and government sources, the news medium said the taxes are allegedly owed to local states. Details of the demand are contained in a letter sent to the companies earlier this year via a debt-collection arm of the government, wherein the Nigerian National Petroleum Corp (NNPC) cited what it called outstanding royalties and taxes for oil and gas production. The affected oil companies include Royal Dutch Shell, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Eni, Total and Equinor. The firms were each asked to pay the Nigerian government between $2.5 billion and $5 billion, sources who saw or were briefed on the letters told Reuters. PREMIUM TIMES’ efforts to confirm the details from the NNPC proved futile […]