ANLCA commends FG’s suspension of import duties on food items, seeks removal of levy on used vehicles

The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has commended the Federal Government’s decision to suspend import duties and taxes on essential food items, stating that it will have a far-reaching impact on the country.

The government, through the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), had announced the suspension of import duties on essential food items in a bid to address the high costs of food items in Nigeria, where many citizens are struggling with hunger.

The decision comes after calls for nationwide protests against hardship and bad governance in the country.

Speaking in a chat with newsmen in Lagos on Wednesday, Vice President of ANLCA, Prince Segun Oduntan, said the duty suspension, although not permanent, will serve as a specific response to the current situation.

He said, “I believe the suspension of import duty on food items would have a far reaching impact. We are talking about staple food items, not all food items, it could be for specific period of time, just to cushion the effect of the hunger in the land.

“The window of importation of the specific food items we are talking about is not going to be permanent, it is for a specific period.

“We are talking about a situation akin to a force majure, people are hungry in the land, and you have to treat them of that hunger.”

While acknowledging the right to peaceful protest, Oduntan distanced the association and it’s members from any violent protests that could lead to anarchy in the country.

Instead, he appealed to the government to address ssues affecting their business and the economy at large.

Oduntan said in addition to the duty suspension on food items, the government should consider the removal of levies and import duties on used vehicles (Tokunbo).

He argued that this would enable people to transport farm produce and access food at cheaper rates, further boosting agriculture in the country.

Oduntan suggested that the government could adjust the age limit of vehicles and remove levies on certain years of vehicles, a recommendation, he said, has been done before for manufacturers.

“The levy collected on imported used vehicles should be removed so that people can at least move their farm products and buy food at cheaper rates. This would further boost agriculture in the country.

“The government can decide to adjust the age limit of the vehicles and decide to remove levy on certain years of vehicles, it has been done before for the manufacturers, ” he said.

Oduntan also urged the government to address the instability of foreign exchange rates for importation, which he said has severely impacted on their business.

“We have made noise about this issue of instability in the foreign exchange rates for cargo importation severally. We made several presentations to different hierarchy of government, we argued that government should create a window of certain period, let’s say three months, and benchmark the foreign exchange at a particular amount, so that importers can plan their importation while opening their Form M.

“The fluctuating exchange rate is the major cause of the inflation in the market which has led to the hardship Nigerians are going through today. Importers cannot plan their importation and the blame goes to the government.

” If this can be handled, the inflation in the country would be reduced, there is no economy of any country that will survive with instability of foreign exchange.” he said.

To address the economic challenges facing the country, the ANLCA Chieftain urged President Tinubu to convene a roundtable meeting with stakeholders from various sectors of the economy and set up a committee.

He expressed concern that many government appointees are not performing their duties effectively and are not providing the President with accurate information.

He described them as “round pegs in square holes” who are only interested in serving their own interests rather than the nation’s.

“It is high time Mr President look inwards and carryout a review, let there be interaction with the stakeholders in order to get firsthand information and be able to treat the situation.

“There is need for the government to look at what the maritime sector is generating into the nation economy.

“The Customs Service today is generating trillions from various port commands, but who are the people running around to generate these monies? It is we the foremost licensed agents, yet when the government is setting up any committee, they don’t include us there, and you think we are happy.

“Even the bankers do recognise their depositors and they sometimes give them awards, but we as licensed customs agents do not get any encouragement from the Customs Service,” he said.