By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Owners of vehicles in Nigeria have been given a grace period of 30 days to proceed to the nearest Customs Zonal Office to pay the appropriate customs duty on their vehicle.
This information was contained in a statement signed on behalf of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Mr Hameed Ibrahim Ali, by spokesman of Customs, Mr Joseph Attah.
The statement said defaulters have from Monday, March 13, to Wednesday, April 12, 2017 to do make the payment.
“Consequently, all motor dealers and private owners of such vehicles are advised to visit the nearest Customs Zonal Office to pay the appropriate Customs Duty on them,” the statement said.
The agency gave the four Zonal offices of the NCS as “Zone A Headquarters, No. 1 Harvey Road, Yaba, Lagos; Zone B Headquarters, Kabala Doki, Kaduna; Zone C Headquarters, Nigeria Ports Authority, Port Harcourt and Zone D Headquarters, Yelwa Tudu Road, Bauchi State.”
The Customs boss urged all persons in possession of such vehicles to take advantage of the grace period to pay appropriate duties on them, as there will be an aggressive anti-smuggling operation to seize as well as prosecute owners of such smuggled vehicles after the deadline of Wednesday, April 12, 2017.
“For the avoidance of doubt, all private car owners who are not sure of the authenticity of their vehicles customs documents can also approach the Zonal Offices to verify with a view to complying with the provision of the law,” the statement advised.
Aduragbemi Omiyale 
Adedapo Adesanya