Notwithstanding the euphoria which greeted last week’ unfolding of the Customs tariff profile for 2008 to 2012, Shipping Position Weekly investigations revealed that many items still retained their presence on the import prohibition list.
Government had last week released the next phase of the usual five- year tariff structure indicating a friendlier disposition towards importation of used vehicles. The nation’s entry points will now be opened for more second hand vehicles to come into the country.
Speaking through the director general of the budget office, Dr Bright Okogu, the federal government disclosed that baring any unforeseen development, cars that are 10 years old can be shipped into Nigeria, unlike the previous tariff regime which shut the borders against vehicles that are more than eight years.
Shipping Position Weekly investigations revealed that under the old tariff regime, 49 items were placed on import prohibition list and almost all of them are still on that contentious list.
One of the most shocking revelations was the continued retention of mportation of furniture items on the import prohibition list against recommendations of the Nigeria Customs Service.
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The Customs had recommended that items such as computers, furniture should be allowed into then country and that the eight years age barrier on importation of second hand vehicles should be reviewed.
Customs had reportedly hinged its argument for the removal of some of these items from the import prohibition list on extant regulations of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to the effect that member nations of the organisation should lift prohibition order on items that have been banned for five years.
Most of the items which were announced last week as prohibited had been on the list for at least five years. These include: textiles of different sorts, waters, beer, mutton which shared the same fate with pork and pork products, beef and beef products, lamb and goat meat. Others are foot wears, used and retreated tyres, furniture item, among others.
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