Customs Suspends Policy Implementation for Payment of Import Duties on Old Vehicles

Customs Suspends Policy Implementation for Payment of Import Duties on Old Vehicles

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has suspended the implementation of its policy for duty payments on old vehicles, in order to resolve issues with the Senate Committee on Customs.

The Acting Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Joseph Attah, said this on Wednesday in Abuja.

Attah said in a statement, that the Management of Customs had directed that the exercise be put on hold and expressed its readiness to engage the Senate Committee on further discussions.

He said that the essence was to bring the Senate on board to understand the importance of the exercise to national security and economy.

“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.

The comptroller-general approved one month grace (from March 13 to April 12) 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 public relations officer said that some owners of vehicles brought into the country through the land borders, obviously, did not pay duty.

Colonel Ali had earlier written to Senate through an Assistant Comptroller-General, that he’d not be able to honour its invitation scheduled for Wednesday.

According to ThisDay, the letter, read at plenary on Tuesday morning, drew the ire of the senators who stated that by asking a subordinate officer, Assistant CG, to respond to its formal invitation and sign on his behalf, Ali had disrespected the institution.

President Muhammadu Buhari reportedly mediated between the Customs boss and the Senate, leading to Ali’s second letter.

Ali wrote to the Upper Chamber asking for another appointment. He also reportedly met with the leadership of the National Assembly Tuesday evening to resolve the impasse.