Customs denies 10% used vehicle tariff hike

The Nigeria Customs Service has denied the alleged 10 per cent hike in tariff on imported used vehicles, saying it does not make policies but only implements fiscal policies of the Federal Government.

This is coming against the backdrop of allegations by the Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria that the service has effected a 10 per cent increment of import duty on imported used vehicles into the country, especially in the last few weeks.

Speaking on an Arise Tv news interview, National Public Relations Officer of the service, Deputy Comptroller Timi Bomodi, noted that there was no iota of truth in the claims by the motor dealers, insisting that the service does not have the powers to impose or arbitrarily increase duty payable on any item imported into the country.

He also noted that the service in agreement with relevant stakeholders comprising vehicle importers, freight forwarders and clearing agents introduced an automated system called the Vehicle Identification Number VIN Valuation System, which determines the value and import duty payable on any vehicle based on the make and year of manufacture of the said vehicle without any human interference or intervention.

He further disclosed that the introduction of the new automated system, which came on stream about two years ago, was in response to protests by clearing agents over the manual determination of the value of imported vehicles and duty paid on them by the valuation officers of the service, which was calculated then based on the tariff books and year of manufacture of the vehicle in question.