By Peter Omopo
The Nigeria Customs Service has intensified its nationwide sensitisation campaign ahead of the July 1, 2026 implementation of the Green Tax Surcharge, urging stakeholders to embrace the policy aimed at promoting environmental sustainability and encouraging the importation of cleaner, eco-friendly vehicles.
The latest sensitisation exercise, held at the Apapa Area Command, brought together customs officers, licensed customs agents, freight forwarders, importers and other stakeholders under the theme, “Implementation of the Green Tax Surcharge and Related Fiscal Adjustments.”
Speaking on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, the Zone A Coordinator, Mohammed Babadende, said the awareness campaign was designed to ensure stakeholders fully understand the new policy before its commencement.
According to him, the initiative seeks to eliminate uncertainty, encourage voluntary compliance and guarantee the uniform implementation of the Green Tax Surcharge across all Customs commands nationwide.
Babadende explained that the policy aligns with Nigeria’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions, promote environmentally friendly vehicle imports and support global environmental sustainability standards.
Delivering a technical presentation, the Comptroller in charge of Tariff, System Audit and Coordination, Murtala Muazu, noted that the Green Tax Surcharge differs from conventional fiscal measures and would require a separate assessment process.
He disclosed that the Service has introduced a simplified implementation mechanism through the Harmonised System (HS) Code declaration platform to facilitate compliance and ensure seamless administration of the policy.
Muazu further revealed that the Federal Government has reduced import levies on vehicles from 20 per cent to 10 per cent, while duties on used vehicles have been lowered from 15 per cent to five per cent to cushion the impact of the environmental surcharge on importers.
Area Controllers who participated in the programme urged importers, licensed customs agents and other stakeholders to support the initiative, noting that the reduction in import duties would lower the cost of doing business, facilitate legitimate trade and contribute to reducing transportation costs across the country.
Stakeholders at the sensitisation programme welcomed the proposed Green Tax Surcharge but called on the Nigeria Customs Service to sustain public awareness campaigns to ensure broader understanding and compliance before the policy takes effect on July 1, 2026.
