Maritime lawyers oppose 15% imported vehicle levy, demand court intervention

The NCS had recently introduced a 15 per cent NAC levy on used imported vehicles, a decision which didn’t go down well with clearing agents in the country’s maritime sector.

The agents have argued that the NAC levy is mostly meant for new vehicles, questioning the rationale behind the introduction of the duty on used vehicles.

In a quick response, the service, in a statement by the National Public Relations Officer, Timi Bomodi, said the move was in compliance with the Economic Community of West Africa Common External Tariff.

But a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Jean-Chiazor Anishere, said that the imposition of the 15 per cent levy on imported vehicles was wrong.

Anishere, who is also an ex-officer member of the Nigerian Maritime Law Association, said the levy’s imposition should be restrained by a court order.

“To me, the act of the Nigerian Customs Service is inimical to ‘having a second bite of an apple.’ It is wrong and irregular and such act should be restrained by a court order.”