Customs Service Faces Criticism For Alleged Delay On Gas Import Duties

The National President of the Nigeria Association of LPG Marketers, Oladapo Olatunbosun, has expressed strong criticism against the Nigeria Customs Service, accusing it of sluggishness in executing the presidential directive on zero import duties for gas items and imported Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). Olatunbosun commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for issuing the directive approximately three weeks ago as a measure to curb the escalating prices of LPG.

Despite the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, sending out circulars instructing relevant agencies to act on the directive, Olatunbosun claims that the Nigeria Customs Service has shown reluctance in complying with the timely intervention.

In an interview with our correspondent on Thursday, Olatunbosun lamented the consequences of the alleged inaction. He highlighted that many members of the association are incurring demurrage on imported items at the ports due to the Customs Service's purported refusal to implement the presidential directive. This, he warns, will lead to increased costs for end-users, directly contradicting the intended goal of reducing LPG prices.

Olatunbosun expressed his disappointment, stating, "It is unfortunate that some people and agencies, particularly Nigeria Customs Service, have refused to implement the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the waiver of import duty on gas items as well as imported gas, among others."

He continued, "The President has given out this directive, and the Minister of Finance, who is also the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, has sent out a circular demanding the implementation of this directive yet Customs will still want to do things their own way."

The national president called on President Tinubu to intervene and ensure the Customs Service adheres to the directive, emphasizing the positive impact such a measure would have on driving down gas prices. In response, the National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, Abdullahi Maiwada, clarified that the agency had received the directive on December 12 and had promptly sent out circulars to state commands for implementation by December 15. Maiwada denied any deliberate delay in carrying out the presidential directive.