Goods imported by President are free of duties, taxes– customs

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says only items imported by the President, Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is exempted from the payment of duties or taxes.
Mr Timi Bomodi, Deputy National Public Relations Officer of customs said this in a statement in Abuja on Friday.
Bomodi explained that any government ministries, agencies and departments were expected to pay duties on vehicles or other items imported except where waivers and concessions were sought and granted.
He said all outstanding duties and taxes relating to such imports from government’s agencies were expected to be paid in full.
“The attention of the Nigeria Customs Service has been drawn to a trend noticed in the activities of certain Ministries, Departments and Agencies with regards to their import of vehicles and other equipment.
“The NCS wishes to state that except where waivers or concessions were sought and granted, all outstanding duties and taxes relating to such imports are expected to be paid in full.
“This applies even in situations where these imports were executed by agents or proxies on their behalf.
“We wish to reiterate that by law, only items imported by the President, Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is exempted from the payment of duties or taxes.
“The NCS is therefore by this notice sensitising MDAs, and advising them on the need to adhere strictly with import guidelines in this regard” he said.
Bomodi noted that contractors who import and supply such equipment or vehicles without payment of duties should also be aware that they would be considered liable as fraudulent importers in such circumstance.
“We urge them to avail themselves of our trade facilitation tools available on and offline. This is necessary to avoid embarrassments in future”.