Vehicle Dealers in Sokoto State have commended the Federal Government over the 90-day grace period for duty payment of improperly imported vehicles.
The dealers also appealed for import permit through land borders.
The association Chairman, Alhaji Mansur Sarkin-Fadan-Jarma, made the appeal on Tuesday during a sensitisation meeting on 90-day grace period and criteria attached to the policy.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was organised by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Sokoto.
Sarkin-Fadan-Jarma assured that his members would utilise the payment windows to regularise thier vehicle duties and urged other vehicle owners to take advantage of the opportunity.
He explained that permit for vehicles import through land boarders would broaden business opportunities and reactivate activities that were crippled due the policy, depriving people of their means of livelihoods.
He said vehicle import business has been a source of employment to many Nigerians comprising labourers, drivers among others, stressing that collapse of the business had subjected people to hardship and poverty.
The chairman added that poverty had been fuelling the current security challenges bedeviling the region, assuring that providing more business opportunities would surely enhance peoples wellbeing and address banditry alongside other challenges.
Earlier, the Comptroller of Customs in charge of Sokoto and Zamfara Area Command, Mr Kamal Muhammad, said the 90-day grace period from March 5 to July 6, this year aimed at enhancing compliance and streamlining import processes.
Muhammad said that the initiative applied solely to vehicles imported into Nigeria, where the requisite customs duty had not been paid or those detained due to under-valuation
“While we strive for inclusivity, it is important to clarify that vehicles seized and condemned will not be released under this arrangement and shall be forfeited to the Federal Government, in accordance with the extant regulations.
“Valuation and assessment of the vehicles will be carried out, using the VIN valuation method, while vehicle owners and importers/agents seeking to regularise import duties on their vehicles are required to apply to the Zonal Coordinators A, B, C, D zones, CAC and FCT Command,” Muhammad said.
He noted that vehicle owners must submit necessary available documents and vehicle registration numbers, in line with the Federal Ministry of Finance directives for registration of imported motor vehicles.
The event featured questions and answers on vehicles duty payment points and other issues.
