The Federal Government is considering scrapping the 7 per cent import surcharge, a move aimed at reducing import costs and boosting trade activity across Nigeria.
This proposal, currently undergoing legislative review, is expected to ease the financial burden on importers and enhance the competitiveness of Nigerian ports.
The development was disclosed at a stakeholder town hall meeting on the newly introduced B’Odogwu clearance system, held on Monday. The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi, explained that eliminating the surcharge would lead to lower import duties across all cargo categories, potentially attracting more investment and trade into the country.
The meeting, themed “Enhancing Trade Compliance and System Optimisation Through Stakeholder Engagement,” brought together key players in Nigeria’s trade ecosystem — including importers, freight forwarders, terminal operators, regulators, financial institutions, and technical experts.
Adeniyi underscored the government’s commitment to trade reform, including the adoption of stakeholder-led policies, homegrown technological solutions, and transparent communication strategies. These efforts, he said, are geared towards improving Nigeria’s global standing in customs operations and trade facilitation.
He also acknowledged the difficulties some users have experienced while transitioning from the NICIS II platform to the new Oduduwa system, particularly issues related to login access and delayed payments. According to him, the Customs Service is already engaging with designated banks to resolve these challenges.
In a bid to promote inclusive access, Adeniyi advocated for training materials and user guides to be produced in local languages and Nigerian Pidgin. He also appealed for stakeholder patience, citing the high cost and complexity of deploying modern customs infrastructure.
Representing the Central Bank of Nigeria, Tiku Allu, Head of Import and Relations Trade, stressed the importance of including the apex bank in technical committees addressing trade and payment concerns. He argued that CBN’s involvement would help streamline decision-making and ensure smoother resolution of persistent bottlenecks.
“The CBN continues to analyse trade trends to ensure our policies align with Nigeria’s broader economic goals,” Allu added.
During a panel session, Olusina Ogunlesi, Factory Logistics Manager at British American Tobacco, shared the company’s experience with the platform transition. He noted that inefficiencies remain due to some regulatory agencies still demanding parallel verification, thereby undermining the system’s goals.
Ogunlesi called for greater institutional trust in automated processes and urged for harmonisation of compliance standards across countries, citing discrepancies between Nigeria and markets such as Mexico.
Francis Onyeji, Head of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme in Lagos, emphasized the importance of early certification and pre-shipment verification to prevent delays.
“Certifications should be concluded before goods are shipped — even up to two years in advance if needed,” Onyeji stated, adding that strict adherence to regulatory standards is crucial for consumer safety and trade credibility.
He concluded by stressing the importance of sustained stakeholder engagement and cooperation to strengthen Nigeria’s trade infrastructure and create a more business-friendly environment.
