Customs Defying Minister’s Order, Continuing 4% Free-on-board Levy, Says LCCI

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has expressed beardown concerns implicit the Nigeria Customs Service’s (NCS) continued enforcement of the 4 per cent Free-on-Board (FOB) levy, contempt a ceremonial suspension directive from the Minister of Finance.

The director-general of LCCI, Dr Chinyere Almona, stated that “the Customs has cited Section 18(1)(a) of the NCS Act 2023 arsenic the ground for the levy. While we respect the legislative process, the Minister of Finance is the constitutionally empowered authorization for fiscal policy. A duly issued ministerial suspension should instrumentality contiguous effect unless overturned by the National Assembly oregon a competent court.”

According to her, the continued postulation of this levy raises import costs, erodes competitiveness, and undermines capitalist confidence. LCCI truthful calls connected the Nigeria Customs Service to recalibrate its systems without hold to bespeak the ministerial directive and to contented a nationalist announcement confirming compliance.

“We besides impulse the Ministry of Finance and the National Assembly to region ineligible ambiguity promptly. Nigeria’s concern assemblage needs argumentation clarity and organization coordination to prolong trade, jobs, and economical growth.”

Recall that the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has directed the Nigeria Customs Service to suspend the implementation of the 4 per cent Free on-Board levy connected imported goods.

The directive was contained successful a circular titled ‘Suspension of the Implementation of 4 per cent FOB Charge by the Nigeria Customs Service’, dated September 15, 2025, and signed by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary for Special Duties, Raymond Omachi.

The FOB levy was introduced earlier successful 2025, and manufacturers, importers, and customs agents raised concerns that it would worsen the country’s inflation.

Edun said the levy, introduced by Customs, posed risks to commercialized facilitation, economical stability, and Nigeria’s concern climate.

“Pursuant to the powers vested successful the Minister of Finance nether Part III, Section 12 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, arsenic president of the Board of Customs, I hereby nonstop the contiguous suspension of the postulation of the 4 per cent FOB precocious levied connected each imports,” the circular stated.

The curate explained that the suspension followed wide concerns from manufacturers, importers, and clearing agents, who argued that the levy would worsen inflation, erode commercialized competitiveness, and dampen the concern climate.

He said the determination would let for broader stakeholder consultations and a broad reappraisal of the levy’s model and economical implications.