Group Lauds Customs For 25% Imported Vehicles Penalty Cancellation

The National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN) has commended the Federal Government and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for initiating a 90-day window for the regularisation of import duties on specific categories of vehicles, effective from March 4, 2024, to July 5, 2024.

The commendation was issued by the executive director, Blessing Akinlosotu, on behalf of the Civil Society Council, following a statement issued by the Nigeria Customs Service signed by Abdullahi Maiwada, a chief superintendent of Customs and National Public Relations Officer for the Comptroller General of Customs, dated March 22, 2024.

Under the directives of the  minister of Finance and coordinating minister of the Economy, the NCS took this step to ease economic hardship and encourage compliance by suspending the 25 per cent penalty previously imposed in addition to import duty on improperly imported vehicles.

Stakeholders, including vehicle owners, importers, and agents, are encouraged to seize this opportunity to regularize import duty payments within the designated 90-day timeframe.

“This is another highly commendable gesture by the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, through the Federal Ministry of Finance, and the Nigeria Customs Service to cushion the hardship on Nigerians as a result of the global economic downturn.

The Nigeria Customs Service under the new comptroller general, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has given an unprecedented human face to the Service, for which the Civil Society Council deeply appreciates as the conscience of the citizenry and the voice of the masses,” Akinlosotu posited.

“This waiver and removal of penalty charges will go a very long way in boosting individual and organisational business economies while having a positive ripple effect on families. With more such strategic interventions coming from the minister of Finance and the NCS, our Council believes the present nationwide hardship would be remarkably ameliorated in no distant time,” the executive director continued.

“The Civil Society Council hereby specially thanks President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, appreciates the Honourable Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and commends the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for this development.