Customs begins implementation of 35% duty on vehicles

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said  that it had commenced the implementation of new duties on imported vehicles and accessories introduced by the  Federal Government with effect from May 1. The new policy, introduced by the government in November, 2013, requires importers of cars to pay 35 per cent duty on them, while tyres, buses and lorries attract 20 per cent duty in addition to five per cent Value Added Tax.

The Assistant Public Relations Officer of NCS, Mr Joseph Attah, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the service commenced the implementation of the policy based on a government directive issued in November 2013. The Director-General, National Automotive Council, Mr Aminu Jalal, had on Friday said that the implementation of the new policy would commence on July 1. Meanwhile, Association of Nigerian Licenced Customs Agents and National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders have been protesting the sudden implementation of the policy in the last few weeks. The two associations urged the Federal Government to re-examine its National Automotive Policy, which occasioned the increase in  duties, pending the establishment of car assembly plants in the country.