Customs Makes U-turn On Vehicle Duty Policy
Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd), Customs Comptroller-General[/caption]
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Wednesday suspended the implementation of its policy for duty payments on old vehicles, as they seek to resolve the issue with the Senate.
The NCS in a statement by its Acting Public Relations Officer, Mr Joseph Attah, said the Management of Customs gave the directive and expressed its readiness to engage the Senate Committee on Customs for further discussions.
He said that the essence was to bring the lawmakers up to speed with the importance of the exercise to national security and economy.
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The statement reads: “Following the tension generated as a result of misconception and misrepresentation of the NCS planned motor duty payment, the leadership of the National Assembly and the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) met with a view to resolving the impasse.
“They both agreed that the proposed motor duty payment, though in line with the provision of Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) Cap C.45, LFN 2004, should be put on hold.
“While the Senate Committee on Customs and Excise interfaces with the NCS for further discussions.
“Payment of duty on vehicles or any dutiable imported item remains a civic responsibility of every patriotic Nigerian,’’ Attah said.
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The News Agency of Nigeria reports that recently, the comptroller-general approved one month grace for all Nigerian vehicle owners who have not paid duties to do so or face outright seizure of the vehicles. And this applies even to new vehicles bought from car dealers.
The service gave a window of one month, from March 13 to April 12, for car owners to pay the appropriate duty on their vehicles.
The public relations officer said that some owners of vehicles brought into the country through the land borders, obviously, did not pay duty.
