Vincent Toritseju
Lagos — The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS and the National Automotive Council, NAC are currently in talks over a possible downward review of the NAC’s levy paid by importers.
The NAC levy is a two percent of Cost of Insurance and Freight, CIF, fee of the vehicle (both old and new) imported into Nigeria.
Disclosing this weekend, Comptroller General of NCS, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi said that the Customs has written to the NAC seeking to engaging them in reviewing the NAC levy only on new vehicles.
Adeniyi also said that Customs has initiated the process of reviewing the policy adding that NAC is beyond Customs.
He said: “NAC goes beyond Customs, we are engaging the National Automotive Council, and we have written to the government to address it.
“If the Comptroller General can take action on it today, I will but I cannot because the Comptroller General did not introduce it. The levy was introduced by the Federal Government, we have to engage them explaining to them the need, the reason to review it and that is an ongoing process.
“We have a listening government and I believe they will review some of these policies.”
Meanwhile, the immediate past Vice President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents ANLCA, Mr. Kayode Farinto has faulted the continued existence of the NAC saying that the Council has failed to achieve the purpose for which it was established.
According to Farinto, some vehicle assemblers have taken advantage of the NAC waivers by the government to enrich themselves.