Vehicle Dealers in Sokoto state have commended Federal Government on 90-day grace period for duty payment of improperly imported vehicles and appealed for import permit through land borders.
The Association Chairman, Alhaji Mansur Sarkin Fadan Jarma, made the appeal during a sensitization meeting on 90-day grace period and criteria attached to the policy organized by Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Tuesday in Sokoto.
Sarkin Fadan Jarma assures that his members would utilize the payment windows and regularize thier vehicles duties and urged other vehicles owners to utilize the opportunity.
He explained that permit for vehicles import through land boarders would broaden business opportunities as activities were crippled due the policy, deriving people from their means of livelihoods.
He said vehicle import business has been attracting employments to many Nigerians from labourers, drivers and others, stressing that collapsed of the business have subjected people to poverty.
The Chairman added that poverty have fuel present security challenges bedeviling the region and providing more business opportunities would surely enhance peoples wellbeing and address banditry along with 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 was 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 fulfilled 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 process registration, in line with the Federal Ministry of Finance directives for registration of imported motor vehicles.
Newsmenreports that the event featured questions and answers on vehicles duty payment points and other issues.
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