FG to remove seven per cent surcharge on imports

There may be succour for importers soon as the Federal Government contemplates the reduction of import duties by removing the seven per cent surcharge on imports.

Speaking at a town hall meeting with stakeholders on B’Odogwu clearance system, yesterday, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adeniyi, said the scrapping of the seven per cent surcharge was undergoing legislative process.
Adeniyi said the moment the surcharge is removed, duties paid on all cargoes would reduce and hopefully attract more businesses into the country.

Meanwhile, NCS and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to stakeholder-driven reforms, homegrown technological innovation and transparent communication to improve Nigeria’s position as a global leader in customs modernisation and trade facilitation.

The event, themed ‘Enhancing Trade Compliance and System Optimisation Through Stakeholder Engagement’, brought together a broad spectrum of players in the trade value chain, including importers, terminal operators, shipping lines, air freighters, regulators, financial institutions and members of the technical team behind the platform.

Adeniyi emphasised the critical importance of stakeholder feedback in the rollout of the new automated platform, citing its role in improving the user experience and promoting indigenous technology.

He said the service has, over the last two weeks, taken note of complaints around login issues, migration challenges from NICIS II to Oduduwa, and payment glitches, adding that consultations had been held with authorised banks to resolve these concerns.

Adeniyi also called for greater localisation of user materials, encouraging the use of local languages and Pidgin English to ensure deeper understanding at the grassroots.

Adeniyi appealed for stakeholder understanding of the platform, noting that technology is not cheap.

The Head, Import and Relations Trade, the CBN, Tiku Allu, called for greater inclusion in technical committees addressing trade and payment-related issues, emphasising the importance of strategic collaboration to resolve persistent challenges in Nigeria’s import and export ecosystem.

He said the apex bank maintains oversight over critical factors affecting international trade and is actively conducting research to pinpoint the exact locations and nature of trade challenges.

Allu said that where small technical committees are established to address issues — particularly those relating to payments and trade facilitation — the Central Bank should be actively represented.

According to him, CBN’s presence on such committees would ensure that emerging issues are swiftly escalated through official processes and aligned with national financial policies.

“If technical committees are working around issues involving payments, it would be beneficial for the CBN to be involved. That way, we can ensure that concerns are channelled into the proper process for peace and effective resolution,” Allu added.

Addressing challenges at a panel session, the Factory Logistics Manager, British American Tobacco, Olusina Ogunlesi, reflected on the operational difficulties encountered by the organisation during the migration process.

He stressed that beyond technical issues, a major hurdle remains: the lack of institutional trust in automated processes.

“Some agencies still insist on parallel verification, which undermines the efficiency we are trying to build. We need stronger trust in the system, not just from users but also from the regulatory authorities,” he noted.

Reflecting on the transitional experience, Ogunlesi called for more proactive and continuous dialogue with institutional partners, including Customs and international trade bodies.

He cited examples from BAT’s interactions across markets, from Nigeria to Mexico, highlighting varying protocols that require harmonisation.

Offering solutions, Ogunlesi encouraged the NCS and relevant stakeholders to streamline income tax reporting and compliance frameworks, which differ significantly across jurisdictions.

The Head of Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP), Lagos, Francis Onyeji, addressed the need for timely verification of trade certifications such as the SONCAP.

“We expect that all certifications should be verified before the goods even arrive up to two years in advance, if necessary, to avoid disruptions,” he stated.

He also emphasised the importance of upholding quality standards and ensuring imported goods align with Nigeria’s regulatory framework, noting that this would protect consumers and maintain the integrity of the market.

Onyeji further called for deeper collaboration between importers, exporters, and major clients to boost productivity and strengthen Nigeria’s trade ecosystem.

He emphasised that continued dialogue and stakeholder involvement are key to building a business environment that supports sustainable growth.

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