15% NAC Levy: Car Dealers Threaten To Close Stores

Importation Of Tokunbo Vehicles Into Nigeria Declines, Here's Why

Car dealers have threatened to shut down their stores nationwide, as controversy continues to surround the introduction of the 15% National Automobile Commission (NAC) levy imposed on imported used vehicles by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

BizWatch Nigeria had reported that the Customs introduced a 15% NAC levy on used imported vehicles, a decision which didn’t go down well with the clearing agents.

In a statement by the National Public Relations Officer of Customs, Timi Bomodi, it was disclosed there-in that the move is in compliance with the Economic Community of West Africa Common External Tariff.

“On Friday the 1st of April 2022, the Nigeria Customs Service migrated from the old version of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (2017- 2021) to the new version (2022- 2026). This is in line with World Customs Organization five years review of the nomenclature. The contracting parties are expected to adopt the review based on regional considerations and national economic policy,” the statement read partly.

But reacting to the development, the Lagos chapter Chairman of the Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria (AMDON), Metche Nnadiekwe, disclosed that the group would be meeting this week.

According to him, the outcome of the meeting would determine if the group was going to close their stores or not.

“How can we continue to run a system like this? This is really bad and until we get things right in this country, we are not going to move forward. We will have a meeting, come up with a strategy and take a position on that. We may stop selling and do some checks and balances because if we are going to sell the ones we have, we are definitely going to buy new ones.

“The issue is that no one knows the policy they may introduce next week, so, hopefully, before the end of this week, we may stop selling and know what next to do.”

The AMDON Lagos chair complained that the government was in the habit of not carrying stakeholders along when making certain policies.

“You know that the Nigeria Customs Service wakes up any time they want and try to introduce something extraordinarily without informing stakeholders.

“Some people are stakeholders in certain businesses and when you want to introduce certain policies, why don’t you consider them? Can’t you even discuss with them to know how these people are going to be affected?

“So, it looks as if it is a calculated attempt to deal with certain people. We don’t really know what is going on here and, remember, wherever there is this type of thing, Nigerians will be the ones that suffer it.”

He said by the time the dealers paid the levy imposed by the NCS, vehicle prices would go so high that many Nigerians would not be able to afford them.

“So, I don’t know whether it is an attempt to take us out of business or what. We keep wondering what is actually going on. Sometime ago, it was Vehicles Identification Number and now it is this one,” he concluded.