The Federal Government has announced the cancellation of all import declarations made during the brief implementation period of the now-suspended 4 per cent Free-on-Board (FOB) charge on imports.
This was contained in a press release posted on the official X (formerly Twitter) handle of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) on Monday.
“Sequel to the earlier press release announcing the suspension of the 4% Free-on-Board (FOB) charge on imports, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) wishes to inform stakeholders that all import declarations made during the initial implementation period have been cancelled,” the statement read in part.
The 4% FOB charge was introduced as part of fiscal measures intended to enhance government revenue from import transactions.
However, following widespread concerns from stakeholders in the import sector, the Federal Government, through the NCS, announced its suspension.
Following the suspension, the customs service has now cancelled all declarations made during the brief implementation period to prevent procedural inconsistencies and ensure seamless customs clearance.
The NCS said the measure is necessary to ensure clarity, maintain consistency in customs operations, and prevent any disruptions in clearance processes.
It further said affected importers, customs agents, and stakeholders are, therefore, required to recapture their declarations to proceed with the clearance of their goods.
The statement said the decision aligns with the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and reflects the Service’s commitment to engaging stakeholders through robust consultation and dialogue.
The service announced the suspension of the implementation of the 4 per cent FOB value charge on imports, as stipulated in Section 18(1)(a) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCSA) 2023.
The NCSA 2023 empowers the Nigeria Customs Service to drive modernisation through various technological innovations. Section 28 of the Act mandates the development and maintenance of electronic systems to facilitate seamless information exchange between the NCS, other government agencies, and traders.
