The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Lagos Industrial Area Command, has stepped up efforts to enhance excise duty compliance and revenue generation through targeted familiarisation and sensitisation engagements with key industry stakeholders.
The engagement exercise, followed the assumption of office by the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Adebola Salawu.
In a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Customs Juliana Tomo, the initiative was described as part of deliberate measures to deepen collaboration with excise-paying companies and strengthen the Command’s overall revenue performance.
During the sensitisation meetings, Comptroller Salawu reviewed stakeholders’ excise payment processes and underscored the importance of timely and accurate remittance of duties in strict compliance with existing regulations.
She reaffirmed her commitment to supporting Nigeria’s economic growth, describing effective excise administration as a patriotic duty that requires the cooperation of both Customs officers and industry players.
Comptroller Salawu urged stakeholders to uphold transparency in their operations, stressing that sustained revenue growth can only be achieved through mutual trust and compliance.
She also encouraged companies to fully leverage the Unified Customs Management System, known as the “B’Odogwu” platform, for real-time excise duty payments, noting that the system promotes efficiency, transparency and accountability.
Warning against delays, the Area Controller noted that late excise duty payments attract penalties under the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, including a 10 per cent surcharge, in addition to other sanctions for trade violations.
Furthermore, Comptroller Salawu highlighted key trade facilitation initiatives of the Service aimed at improving ease of doing business and strengthening public-private sector partnerships.
These include export facilitation measures, the one-stop-shop initiative, the Authorised Economic Operators programme, Advance Ruling, and opportunities available under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).