The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) have announced strategic exemptions from the recently suspended four per cent Free-On-Board (FOB) charge on imports, underscoring the government’s commitment to supporting key economic sectors while maintaining efficient revenue collection.
Under the agreement, manufacturers importing raw materials, machinery, spare parts, commercial airlines’ spare parts, healthcare goods, humanitarian and life-saving items, as well as government projects with Import Duty Exemption Certificates (IDECs), are exempt from the 4% FOB levy.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed the exemptions after a consultative meeting with MAN officials, organized in accordance with the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and following the Federal Ministry of Finance’s directive suspending the charge. Adeniyi advised manufacturers under chapters 98 and 99 of the Customs Tariff to apply for pre-release of consignments to avoid demurrage, while others will be onboarded to benefit from the exemptions. Payments already made will be credited for future customs transactions.
He highlighted additional trade facilitation measures, including one-stop-shop frameworks, reduced checkpoints, digital processing solutions, real-time clearance capabilities, and automated risk assessments to lower compliance costs. Both NCS and MAN agreed to institutionalize regular consultations to address policy changes and support manufacturing growth.
MAN President, Otunba Francis Meshioye, described the dialogue as a milestone for reducing production costs and improving industrial competitiveness. He acknowledged operational challenges such as multiple checkpoints and system glitches but praised the collaboration as a model for constructive engagement.
Adeniyi emphasized that the partnership reinforces Nigeria’s industrial development, economic diversification, and revenue objectives while promoting job creation, import substitution, and the development of industrial clusters.
