The National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN) has commended the Federal Government and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on the initiation of a 90-day window for the regularisation of import duties on specific categories of vehicles, effective from 4th March 2024 to 5th July 2024.
The commendation was made on behalf of the Civil Society Council by the Executive Director, Blessing Akinlosotu, in the wake of a Press Release issued by the Nigeria Customs Service signed by Abdullahi Maiwada, a Chief Superintendent of Customs and National Public Relations Officer for Comptroller General of Customs, dated 22 March 2024.
NCS under the directives of the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, took this step to ease economic hardship and encourage compliance, by approving the suspension of the 25% 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 regularise import duty payments within the designated 90-day timeframe.
“This is another highly commendable gesture by the Government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, through the Federal Ministry of Finance, and the Nigeria Customs Service to cushion the hardship on Nigerians as a result of the global economic down-turn.
The Nigeria Customs Service under the new Comptroller General, Mr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi has given unprecedented human face to the Service, of which the Civil Society Council deeply appreciates as the conscience of the citizenry and 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 out effect on families. With more of 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 thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, appreciate the Honourable Minister of Finance, Wale Edun and commend the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi for this development, while we call on the citizenry to exercise more patience, being rest assured that the current economic hardship shall drastically reduce, considering the numerous interventions being roled out by the Federal Government, especially by the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Nigeria Custom Service”. Akinlosotu concluded.
