ABSTRACT

This study focuses on the effect of tax incentives on foreign direct investment in the petroleum upstream sector in Nigeria. The study made used of an ex-post facto research design. The data collected were then tabulated and analyzed using the simple regression analysis. The results revealed the estimated coefficient of the regression parameter have a positive sign and thus conform to our a-priori expectation. The implication of this sign is that the dependent variables foreign direct investment is positively affected by tax incentives proxy by (investment tax allowance, non-productive rent, capital allowance). The study also revealed that there is a very high relationship between by tax incentives proxy by (investment tax allowance, non-productive rent, capital allowance) and the dependent variable that is foreign direct investment. Conclusively, firms’ enjoying tax incentives will generate more employment opportunities than firms in highly taxed regions. Conducive investment climate is a strong requirement for the flow of sustainable physical investment in an economy. Tax incentives positively influences the living standards and per capital income, and expand variety of goods available to consumers. It is recommended that tax incentives should be effectively implemented and efforts should be made by relevant tax authorities to ensure that firms to benefit from these incentives are adequately granted these incentives.