Customs engages importers, agents ahead of July 1 green tax rollout

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified engagement with importers, licensed customs agents and other stakeholders ahead of the July 1, 2026, implementation of the Green Tax Surcharge, a new environmental levy aimed at promoting cleaner vehicle imports and reducing carbon emissions.

The Service said the sensitisation campaign is designed to improve understanding of the policy, minimise uncertainty and ensure uniform implementation across the country’s ports and border stations.

The Green Tax Surcharge is a newly implemented fiscal policy aimed at reducing carbon emissions and promoting cleaner transportation choices. Managed by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the policy adds a 2% to 4% levy on high-emission imported vehicles based on their engine capacity.

According to a statement issued on Monday, the latest stakeholder engagement was held at the Apapa Area Command on Friday under the theme, “Implementation of the Green Tax Surcharge and Related Fiscal Adjustments.”

Participants at the meeting included Customs officers, freight forwarders, importers and licensed customs agents, who were briefed on the implementation framework and the fiscal adjustments accompanying the new policy.

Representing Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller-General of Customs, Mohammed Babadende, the Zonal Coordinator for Zone A, said the exercise was intended to ensure stakeholders clearly understand the policy before it comes into effect.

He said adequate sensitisation would eliminate uncertainty, encourage voluntary compliance and support seamless implementation of the Green Tax Surcharge across all Customs commands.

“This sensitisation is designed to ensure that every stakeholder clearly understands the policy before implementation. Our objective is to eliminate uncertainty, promote voluntary compliance and guarantee uniform application of the Green Tax Surcharge across all commands,” Babadende said.

Speaking during a technical session, Murtala Muazu, Comptroller in charge of Tariff, System Audit and Coordination, explained that the Green Tax Surcharge would be assessed separately from existing import charges because of its distinct nature.

He said the Service has introduced a simplified assessment process through the Harmonised System (HS) Code declaration platform to facilitate accurate computation of the surcharge and ease compliance by importers and clearing agents.

Muazu also disclosed that the Federal Government has reviewed existing vehicle import charges to cushion the impact of the new environmental levy.

According to him, import levies on vehicles have been reduced from 20 per cent to 10 per cent, while duties on used vehicles have been lowered from 15 per cent to five per cent.

The Customs Service said the reductions are intended to offset the effect of the Green Tax Surcharge, support legitimate trade and prevent the policy from placing an undue burden on businesses.

Area Controllers who attended the programme urged importers and licensed customs agents to support the initiative, noting that the lower import levies could reduce the cost of doing business, facilitate legitimate trade and help moderate transportation costs.

Stakeholders at the engagement welcomed the initiative but called for sustained public awareness campaigns to broaden understanding of the policy, reduce confusion and encourage voluntary compliance before the rollout date.

The Green Tax Surcharge is scheduled to take effect on July 1 as part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to promote environmentally friendly transportation and align Nigeria’s import policies with global climate and sustainability objectives.