Published January 27, 2021
Okechukwu Nnodim, Abuja
The reduction in the duties on vehicles and tractors from 35 to about 10 per cent may take off next week , the Nigeria Customs Service said on Tuesday .
Comptroller – General of Customs , Hameed Ali , who disclosed this to journalists in Abuja , said the management of the service was expecting an official communication from the finance ministry on the matter any moment from now .
He said the vehicle tariff reduction, as contained in the 2020 Finance Act , was initiated by the NCS to ease the cost of transportation in Nigeria .
He said, “ We are the proponents of the new tariff . I’ ve been torn apart by many people criticising it , saying I used my connection to get it done. But it is in the overall interest of Nigeria .
“ Now , it has become a law . We are now waiting for the finance minister to give us a formal conveyance of that Act . Once we receive it , we commence implementation immediately and inform our commands .
“ We are hoping that latest by next week , it will become operational . ”
On the African Continental Free Trade Agreement , Ali said all aspects that concerned the NCS had been adhered to.
He , however, noted that the service would need certain inputs from the AfCFTA secretariat , such rules of origin , as this should not be left to chambers of commerce alone, adding that the NCS should part of the team