Confusion trails embattled commencement of vehicles duty verification by Customs
The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Monday failed to commence its controversial verification of all vehicles in the country aimed as tracking those with fake duty paid documents.
The Service had in a circular released early this month, said the Comptroller-General of Customs, retired Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali, had approved a grace period of one month – 13th March to – 12th April – for owners of all vehicles in the country whose customs duty had not been paid to make the payment.
Whereas the Nigerian Senate has halted the exercise, the Service seemed to have continued the policy as it advised all motor dealers and private owners of such vehicles to visit the nearest customs office nationwide to verify and pay the appropriate duty on them.
The Senate has also summoned the Customs boss, Hameed Ibrahim Ali to appear before it before the end of this week for further explanation of the strange policy.
However, NCS is, however insisting on its stand but with 60 percent duty rebate on all vehicles that are of 2015 model and below. After the deadline, the NCS said it would mount an aggressive anti-smuggling operation, not only at the borders but all roads nationwide to impound any
Besides, a group, Vehicle Owners Association of Nigeria (VOAN) has issued a seven days’ ultimatum to the NCS to withdraw the directive that all vehicles whose customs duty have not been paid to have that done within one month.
in a letter to the CG though it solicitor, Tolu Babaleye, VOAN said the policy was ill-timed, ill-conceived and directed at the wrong set of people in the country, adding that it would unleash hardship on vehicle owners and also pit the government against the general public.
