Import Business in Nigeria, a major source of acquiring items not available in the country with the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, as the supervisory agency of the government deploying stringent measures to keep the industry in check.
NCS recently reiterated that nobody in Nigeria is tax-free unless the Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari.
Mr Timi Bomodi, Deputy National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, said recently in a statement in Abuja.
He stressed that only items imported by the President are exempted from the payment of duties or taxes.
“We wish to reiterate that by law, only items imported by the President, Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, are exempted from the payment of duties or taxes”, the statement said.
Bomodi explained that government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, were expected to pay duties on vehicles or other items they imported, except where waivers and concessions were sought and granted.
He noted that a trend in the activities of specific Ministries, Departments, and Agencies regarding their import of vehicles and other equipment had drawn the attention of the Nigeria Customs Service.
Customs Strict on Operators of Importation Business
According to the statement, it read that NCS wishes to state that except where waivers or concessions were sought and granted, all outstanding duties and taxes relating to such imports are expected to be paid in full.
“This applies even in situations where agents or proxies executed these imports on their behalf. THEREFORE, the NCS is by this notice sensitizing MDAs and advising them on the need to adhere strictly with import guidelines in this regard”, he said.
Bomodi further explained that contractors, who import and supply such equipment or vehicles without payment of duties, would be considered liable as fraudulent importers.