The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has debunked claims that it has reduced duty on vehicles from the current 35 per cent to 20 per cent.
 
Deputy Comptroller of Customs and the National Public Relations Officer of the service, Timi Bomodi, yesterday, confirmed to The Guardian that the alleged 20 per cent duty rate was “just a mix-up,” stressing that the 35 per cent duty subsists.
 
Some clearing agents had earlier raised concerns that the duty rate applicable on Common External Tariff (CET) trade portal on vehicles under HS Code 8703 was last Friday reduced to 20 per cent, a development, which created confusion among their colleagues and other stakeholders.
 
But Bomodi, yesterday, discarded the speculations, saying: “There is no reduction in the duty of vehicles, it was just a mix-up. All of that will be sorted out by Monday.” He added that anyone that made any payment based on the error on the portal would be made to pay the difference.
  
“Is it not an irony that the agents find it convenient to quickly pay when the duties are reduced but will carry placards when the same duties are increased? We shall deal with the situation and the management will soon come up with its position on the matter,” he said.
  
Meanwhile, the situation brought about confusion among importers and licensed customs agents at the various RoRo Terminals in Lagos.

The National Vice President of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Kayode Farinto, on Saturday said the proper HS Code for used vehicles before now was 8733320 at 35 per cent.
  
Farinto, however, said that this negates the CET tariffs where it was agreed that all member states should allow vehicles to be cleared at 20 per cent until Nigerians reported the rip-off by the Nigeria Customs Service to the ECOWAS.
  
“I have noticed that some agents have been capturing vehicles under HS code 87033319 (which is reserved for other Fully Built Units for assemblers).
 
“The NCS must make a categorical statement between now and Monday to inform people to continue to capture on 87033320, which has been reduced to 20 per cent rate of duty.
 
“Given this development, we urge our members not to force themselves to capture on 35 per cent rate of duty for vehicles. Get it at the back of your mind that henceforth, vehicles will be on 20 per cent,” he said.