CUSTOMS, MAN HOLD PARLEY ON SUSPENDED 4% FOB LEVY
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By Sunmisola Shodayo
The Nigeria Customs Service engaged with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria to deliberate on the postponed 4 percent Free on Board levy concerning imported products.
During a press briefing at the MAN Secretariat in Ikeja, Lagos, on Friday, Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, articulated that while the charge is sanctioned by the NCS Act of 2023, its implementation should be guided by extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders.
Adeniyi emphasized that such dialogues are essential to reconcile the government’s financial responsibilities with the imperative of fostering industrial development.
Reports indicate that the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has instructed the service to halt the enactment of the 4 percent FOB charge on imported products.
The instruction was outlined in a circular entitled “Suspension of the Implementation of Four Percent FOB Charge by the Nigeria Customs Service,” dated September 15, 2025, and endorsed by the Permanent Secretary for Special Duties in the ministry, Raymond Omachi.
Elaborating further, Adeniyi remarked, “Your voices matter, all our manufacturers, and your experience help to shape our understanding of how customs procedure can either enable or constrain manufacturing excellence.”
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He noted that the service has persistently championed manufacturing through tangible initiatives acknowledging the strategic significance of industrial competitiveness to national economic goals.
Adeniyi reiterated that the NCS’s support extends to enhancements in structural trade facilitation. He mentioned that the service has completed the development of a comprehensive framework for establishing one-stop shops that will transform how manufacturers engage with customs and other regulatory bodies.
“This initiative aims to eliminate bureaucratic processes that frustrate legitimate business operations as we continue to maintain robust security and compliance standards. We have also carried out systematic streamlining of checkpoints along our major highways, reducing unnecessary delays that had costs without adding value to revenue generation or our security outcomes,” Adeniyi further stated.
He underscored that digital innovations are central to the service’s trade facilitation strategies. “We have investments in systems like the B’Odogwu platform that provide real-time clearance capabilities, automated risk assessments, and seamless integration with the supply chain system. Technology should eliminate friction in the supply chain,” he asserted.
Earlier, the President of MAN, Francis Meshioye, expressed gratitude to the NCS for the visit and remarked that issues of trade facilitation, industrial advancement, and economic growth for the well-being of Nigerian citizens are of paramount importance. He emphasized that these concerns are fundamental to all who are invested in Nigeria’s future.
“What we are having today is the enactment of that historic bond. We are hopeful that going forward, we shall be able to institutionalise this arrangement. This will enable us to resolve operational issues and engender an inclusive policy formulation and implementation atmosphere between our two very important organizations,” Meshioye stated.
He emphasized that since Adeniyi took office in 2013 as the Customs Comptroller-General, he has introduced a revitalizing combination of professionalism, innovation, and international acknowledgment to the agency. He asserted that there is no more opportune moment to rejuvenate this partnership than the present.
“This session will discuss important issues affecting our industry, so we must maintain an open dialogue and work together to address challenges and find solutions that will benefit the manufacturing sector, the NCS, and Nigerians at large,” he stated.
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