The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced its readiness to implement the federal government’s suspension of import duties and taxes on essential food items in a bid to address widespread hunger in the country.
Comptroller-General Bashir Adeniyi made this announcement in a video shared on the Customs’ official X handle on Monday.
This news comes just days before the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest, set to commence on August 1.
Mr. Adeniyi emphasized that the suspension of these duties and taxes aims to make food items more affordable for Nigerians, acknowledging the significant economic challenges the country is currently facing.
He said, “Global inflation is impacting nations worldwide, including Nigeria. To address this, the federal government through the Nigeria Customs Service is suspending import duties and taxes on essential food items to make them more affordable.
“We’re committed to implementing this measure seamlessly to address the problem of hunger in our nation. We have streamlined export processes to ensure Nigerian goods reach international markets efficiently.
The customs chief warned that disruptions in the supply chain will affect foreign investments, distort trades, promote instability, increase scarcity and hinder revenue collection.