The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has explained that the suspension of duties on imported food items will begin once it receives the list of approved beneficiaries from the Ministry of Finance.
Abdullahi Maiwada, the NCS spokesperson, provided this update during a joint press conference held by security agencies under the Strategic Communications Inter-Agency Policy Committee (SCIPC) in Abuja.
This comes nearly two months after the federal government announced the suspension of duties, tariffs, and taxes on imported food staples to help reduce inflation. The policy, aimed at allowing the duty-free import of maize, rice, beans, millet, and wheat, took effect on July 15 and will last until December 31.
However, Maiwada clarified that the policy hasn’t been fully implemented yet because the Ministry of Finance has not provided the list of businesses eligible for the tax exemptions.
Maiwada emphasized that not just anyone can import food items under this policy. "The policy is targeted at specific businesses like millers and established taxpayers who have been in operation for several years," he said. The Ministry of Finance is responsible for determining which businesses qualify, and once the Customs Service receives the list, they will quickly enforce the policy.
NCS Collects Over N277 Billion in August
On revenue collection, Maiwada reported that the NCS collected N277.5 billion in import duties and N15.8 billion in excise duties in August, demonstrating the agency’s commitment to maximizing revenue.
He also noted that 83 seizures were made as part of efforts to curb smuggling. Through "Operation Whirlwind," the NCS intercepted seven trucks carrying petroleum products, sealed 12 retail outlets, and seized 466,000 liters of PMS and 23 vehicles.
Investigations have led to the prosecution of seven suspects, while three marketers were fined by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
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