As part of its determination to encourage newly licensed automotive brands that aim to build assembly plants in Nigeria, the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has commenced the full implementation of the Federal Government automotive policy.
The automotive policy, allows for an importer to pay 35 percent duty and 35 percent levy on imported vehicles and Customs has started the collection of 35 percent levy on imported new vehicles, which was originally scheduled to commence in January 2015 after the implementation of 35 percent duty was flagged-off in July this year.
Also, the implementation of the new vehicle tariff is part of the Federal Government’s new national automotive policy which aims to discourage importation of vehicles in favour of local assembly plants.
BusinessDay investigation confirmed that the Customs’ management on Tuesday, September 16 directed the commands located at the Tin-Can Island port, which handles the nation’s roll-in and roll-out terminals, to commence the full implementation of the automotive policy.
Confirming this development, Chris Osunkwo, public relation officer of Tin-Can Island port command, told our correspondent that the Federal Government deemed it fit to direct that the 35 percent levy be implemented strictly on only imported new vehicles.
This, he said, was geared towards encouraging the automakers to come and invest in Nigeria, thereby creating an enabling environment for their finished products not to face stiff competition with the imported new cars.
According to Osunkwo, the 35 percent levy does not apply to imported used vehicles usually referred to as ‘tokunbo’ cars, which, according to the Federal Government may commence in January 2015.
Steve Okonma, public relations officer of the PTML Customs command, who confirmed that the command has also begun the implementation, said that it only applies on brand new vehicles and not used vehicles.
Reacting to the development, the chapter chairman of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Bola Adeniran, said the agents were taken aback when they got to work to see that the 35 percent level had been inputed into the Customs system.
Adeniran said the implementation of the 35 percent levy was scheduled to take off in January 2015 but was hurriedly implemented by the Customs high command without consulting or informing them.
He said, “Agents are not satisfied with the 35 percent levy that was hurriedly implemented because the government said it will start by January but it was a surprise when we all came to work this morning to see that the Customs has already started implementing it. We were not informed and we believe that stakeholders should be duly informed before the commencement of such.”
AMAKA ANAGOR

businessdayonline.com/2014/09/nigeria-begins-implementation-of-35-levy-on-imported-new-vehicles/

As long as it doesn't affect tokunbos then no problems...

A good one there from GEJ, our economy mUst grow by fire by force

i know dis policy will b implimented earlier dan d stipulated time cos of d money involve. Nija.

linnyx: As long as it doesn't affect tokunbos then no problems...

In fact, tokunbo cars are the main target of the policy.

I pity nigerians under GEJ rule.

Why kwanu?

Why now of all times.

Now they want to take car ownership beyond the masses most especially the non-existent middle class.

Make dem make brand at home affordable then wahala nor go dey.

eliment: A good one there from GEJ, our economy mUst grow by fire by force

Ok, I see. The fire is what he went to purchase with the 9.3million dollars.

.
MODIFIED:
No idea about the subject matter

linnyx: As long as it doesn't affect tokunbos then no problems...

Na turn by turn. Others coming soon. Watch out!!!!!

Chai! I pity pple bringng in Tokunbo cars. The duties at the border is already outrageous as it is.

Kudos to the government tho, this is a very, very good one. This will create massive jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.

Bad news for car dealers

LIKE SERIUOSLY

Ahh, that's serious. Just when I tot I was gonna beat it!

Cotonou boyz be smiling #moneydoncome

alaladakosta: I'm happy for nigerians under GEJ rule.

CORRECTED

alaladakosta: I pity nigerians under GEJ rule.

Pity for yourself too. As you are Nigerian as the people under GEJ, ruled by GEJ.

alaladakosta: I pity nigerians under GEJ rule.

Pity yourself, not Nigerians. Some of you have lost all sanity in the process of criticism, not minding how dumb you sometimes sound when trying too hard to be of relevance.

Do you even have any idea how many jobs this will create? Do you? Just check how many jobs the auto industry in South Africa creates. Car manufacturing plants, asSembly plants, spare parts and so on.

It is better to keep quiet and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubtsm

linnyx: As long as it doesn't affect tokunbos then no problems...

#word# .. #gbam#

What are they going to do with the levies collected? Embezzle it?

hmm... na wa o

linnyx: As long as it doesn't affect tokunbos then no problems...

Read the post wel. It says the policy may be implemented on used cars(tokumbo) come january 2015.
Poor man no go dey see good car to drive again. Nah only inocent arbi nah inoson sef dem dey cal'am. We dnt even knw if d inocent is gonna be affordable to the lower class by then.
God we dey ur hand!!!

zicoraads: Pity yourself, not Nigerians. Some of you have lost all sanity in the process of criticism, not minding how dumb you sometimes sound when trying too hard to be of relevance.

Do you even have any idea how many jobs this will create? Do you? Just check how many jobs the auto industry in South Africa creates. Car manufacturing plants, asSembly plants, spare parts and so on.

It is better to keep quiet and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubtsm

So he needs to implements the 35% levy to create jobs for Nigerians, see how smart u are, the licensed coy, let them start assembling, if the quality n price is ok, trust me Nigerians will gladly do away with the imported ones. But for now why hike the price of the accepted one. I wouldn't even mind if their Will be proper accountability with increase tariff.