Customs Uncovers 25 Duty-evading Firms

The Lagos Industrial Command of the Nigeria Customs Service says it has uncovered over 25 firms producing dutiable goods in Lagos State which are not on the list of excise-paying factories.

The Customs Area Controller in charge of the command, Queen Ogbudu, said this on Tuesday in Lagos, during a sensitisation meeting with excise duty companies on the implementation of the 2023 fiscal policy on plastics and new duty payable on alcoholic beverages.

Ogbudu said that a surveillance team set up under her watches had through monitoring discovered the factories that produce dutiable items but were not on the list of excise-paying companies.

She sought the cooperation of all excise duty-paying companies by volunteering information about others who were into production but evading payment.

According to her, duty-evading companies will make more profit, sell their products cheaper and outrun those paying duty from the market while shortchanging the government.

“Letters have been distributed to the affected companies and I am happy that many of them have been coming for clarification.

“We are aware that those of them coming under this regime for the first time will find it difficult to adapt, but as the saying goes, nothing good comes easily. This is a price we all have to pay for the common good of our country. Our doors are open for more clarifications where necessary, for a smooth and friendly relationship,” she said.

Ogbudu added that those who failed to do duty would have to pay double the value as a penalty.

According to her, the payment for excise duty on plastic would commence in June, promising companies of safer environmental practices for single-use plastics in line with global standards.

Ogbudu noted that before the plastic regime, there were duties on carbonated drinks, which had a specific rate of N10 per litre.

She explained that the purpose of the meeting was to further clarify the Federal Government’s approval for the implementation of the 2023 fiscal policy.

She noted that to ensure that more companies key into the new regime, the public relations units of the headquarters had been sensitising the public and would continue doing so to get its desired goal.

On the mechanisms put in place to ensure that all excise duty companies were brought on board, she said that her operations teams were on top of the situation.