The Nigeria Customs Service, led by acting Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi, has temporarily disabled several banks for not remitting collected duties. The announcement was made by the service’s Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada.
Adeniyi indicated that certain authorized banks hadn’t fulfilled their service agreements related to customs duty and charge remittances, prompting this action. He emphasized that this move was taken after a comprehensive audit, reflecting the NCS’ dedication to transparency, responsibility, and effective revenue collection. He remarked, “The core aim is to ensure timely and correct remittance of customs duties crucial for national growth.”
While these banks are disabled, measures are in place to reduce disturbance to traders and the broader trading environment. Importers who previously depended on these banks for duty payments are encouraged to use other compliant banks. If faced with issues with one bank, stakeholders are advised to seek alternatives that operate correctly.
Although Adeniyi didn’t specify which banks were affected, he mentioned they would be reinstated once they met all regulations and cleared any pending remittances. He concluded by emphasizing NCS’s commitment to facilitating trade and prioritizing stakeholders and Nigerian citizens, even when some banks don’t comply.
