Nigeria’s Customs Service has hit the pause button on a new fee that would have made importing goods more expensive. The decision came after talks with Finance Minister Olawale Edun and business leaders who would have been affected by the change.
The fee in question – a 4% charge on imported goods – was meant to replace an older system where companies like Webb Fontaine handled import inspections for a 1% fee. Instead of rushing ahead with the new charge, Customs wants to take time to hear from everyone who would be affected by it.
“The suspension period will allow the Service to further engage with stakeholders while ensuring proper alignment with the Act’s provisions for sustainable funding of these modernization initiatives,” explained Abdullahi Maiwada, who speaks for the Customs Service via a press release.
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Maiwada said the delay gives Customs time to show off some new improvements they’ve made to speed up import processing. For instance, they’ve recently launched a new computer system called B’Odogwu to make it faster and easier for businesses to get their goods through customs.
The money from the new 4% fee was supposed to help pay for more modern equipment and systems. This includes better ways to scan containers without opening them, computer systems that talk to other government agencies, and smarter ways to spot risky shipments.
Customs says they’ll announce when they plan to start charging the new fee after they’ve finished talking with business leaders and other interested parties. For now, importers can continue using the old system while these discussions take place.
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