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Maritime lawyers advocate legal option to tackle 15 percent NAC levy on Vehicles

Eyewitness reporter
Maritime lawyers in the country have described the 15 percent introduction of the National Automobile Council levy on imported vehicles as illegal and advised freight forwarders to seek legal redress of the matter.
The lawyers, under the umbrella of Nigeria Maritime Law Association (NMLA), however, said that if approached by the agitating freight forwarders, they will challenge the levy at the law court.
It could be recalled that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) had recently introduced a 15 percent NAC levy on used imported vehicles, a decision that has sparked outrage among customs brokers in the country.
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.

The Customs authority, through its spokesman, Timi Bomodi, has 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 percent levy on imported vehicles was wrong.

Anishere, who is also an ex-officer member of the Nigerian Maritime Law Association, said the imposition of the levy 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.”

On whether there are plans by the group to file a court case against the service, she said, “No plans because the NMLA needs to be approached formally.”

Also speaking, another maritime lawyer, Alban Igwe, said although the move was geared towards supporting local vehicle manufacturers, the government was not even giving enough support to local vehicle manufacturers.

He also said that Nigerians patronised more fairly used vehicles than new ones.

“The government would want to promote the local car manufacturing.

“I guess they have started by stopping the rival which is the newly manufactured vehicles, but I think it looks like Nigerians are acquiring more fairly used vehicles than the new ones.
” So, they knew that the competitor is not the newly manufactured vehicles, but now the fairly used vehicles, which is why they want to extend the jurisdiction to fairly used vehicles.

“Well, the implication is that if the government really wants to protect the local industry first, the government will have to support those local manufacturers so that they can manufacture at very good costs.

“It is the market forces that determine where you buy. If I can buy new vehicles in Nigeria from Innoson at N5m and I can buy a fairly used one at the same N5m, then I rather buy a new vehicle with a guarantee.”

He called for more support for local vehicle manufacturers from the government, adding that by so doing, the manufacturers of new vehicles would survive.

“The government will have to support the local manufacturing industry so that they will manufacture at good costs. It should be a business model and the manufacturers will now have the means to market their products very well so that people will know what they have.

” And, of course, the quality of the products should meet international standards because people are not just buying to drive, they also want products that will meet the international standards.”

Igwe said that by slamming the 15 percent NAC levy, the government was simply forcing people to tilt towards patronising local manufacturers.

“The moment you call something a levy, it has an implication. A market model, which is the best, means that the government should promote their local manufacturing industry so that they can manufacture at very competitive rates, and there won’t be any need for the levy.

“When you begin to slam a levy, it means you have removed the issue of options. So they are forcing people to tilt towards patronising local manufacturers.

“The propensity to buy vehicles in Nigeria is increasing. Those who are importing are lamenting that the government is not subsidising their import, which means the cost of importation is very high.

” If it is like that, it is going to affect the end-users. It will affect even public transport, but that market must be open. The government has not supported the transport sector.
” Globally, when the transport is inefficient, it affects other sectors,” he concluded.

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Customs

Again, Apapa Customs intercepts, seizes two containers laden with Codeine syrup worth N3.4 billion

Funso OLOJO, Editor 
In what has now become a routine exercise, the Apapa customs command of the Nigeria Customs Service has once again intercepted harmful substance suspected to be Codeine syrup.
The latest seizure was made barely five days after the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi,  declared that Apapa Port is no longer a playground for smugglers or criminal syndicates hiding behind legitimate trade documentation
In a swift follow-up operation on Sunday, March 15th,  2026, the Command, in a joint collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), intercepted and seized two containers laden with a total number of 3,398 cartons (339,800 bottles) of Codeine-containing Syrup (CSP Codeine) carefully concealed in household utensils at the Apapa Port.
Cumulatively, the seizures have a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of Three Billion, Three Hundred and Ninety Eight Million, Naira (₦3,398,000,000.00) only.
The details of the seizures arevas follows:  a Container No. MRKU 3816476 found to contain 1,700 cartons (170,000 bottles) of CSP Codeine concealed with 38 cartons of pearl plating insulated casserole/5′ Bullet Insulated Hotspot and  Container No. TGBU 5399178 was found to contain 1,698 cartons (169,800 bottles) of CSP Codeine concealed with 36 cartons of pearl plating casserole.
 Both containers have been converted to seizure in accordance with the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 as amended.
Speaking on the latest interception, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) Apapa Area Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, said the seizure serves as a clear demonstration of the Command’s unwavering commitment to the directives and vision of the CGC.
“This fresh seizure, coming just five days after the CGC’s visit and strong warning to criminal elements, is a direct response to his charge on us.
“We are fully aligned with the Service’s intelligence-led enforcement strategy and will continue to make Apapa Port extremely hostile to smugglers and drug traffickers,” he stated.
He commended the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for its seamless collaboration and unwavering support in the successful operation.
Comptroller Oshoba maintained that the Apapa Area Command remains steadfast in its resolve to protect public health, safeguard national security and facilitate only legitimate trade, in line with the CGC’s renewed emphasis on technology-driven operations and zero tolerance for smuggling activities.
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Aviation

FAAN resumes toll collection at Airports, adopts hybrid payment method 

Gloria Odion, Reporter
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria(FAAN) have resumed collection of toll at all its toll plazas located at the airports in the country, including Murtalar Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.
The toll suspension arose from the chaos which the new cashless payment method introduced by FAAN recently generated which resulted in long queues of motorists at these facilities.
This development has raised public outcry which necessitated the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who directed the suspension of the cashless payment system.
However, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has directed the resumption of toll collection at all these plazas.
In a press statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, the Minister declared that a hybrid access gate payment should be adopted by FAAN at the toll gates located at the Airports in the country.
“Following the earlier suspension of the full cashless Access Gate payment system as directed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu due to the traffic gridlock it created, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development met with officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and senior officials of the Ministry.
“After reviewing the initial implementation and the operational challenges observed, the following decisions were reached:
” The Ministry has resolved to engage concessionaires in order to introduce a fully automated or electronic system at all access gates at our airports in order to fully and eventually eliminate cash payments.
” In the meantime, a hybrid payment system that accommodates both cash and card payments will resume at all airport access gates with effect from Friday, March 13, 2026.
” Motorists who already possess FAAN Go Cashless Cards may continue to use them until further notice.
“Other electronic payment options, including POS terminals and other approved digital channels, will also remain available.
“Members of the public and road users are encouraged to obtain and use the FAAN Go Cashless Card as the Authority continues to enhance and fully optimise the cashless payment system.
“This directive restores the previous access  gate payment arrangement whilst the Ministry continues to work on the fully automated or electronic system” the statement concluded.
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Headlines

NPA shines as Outstanding Agency of the Year 2025 at Champions newspaper Awards ceremony 

Funso OLOJO,  Editor 
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has won another award as the Outstanding Agency of the Year 2025 conferred on the agency by Champions Newspaper at its 2025 Awards ceremony held in Lagos.
Receiving the award on behalf of the Managing Director of the Authority, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, described the award as recognition of Danthoso  vigorous leadership in implementing smart initiatives that align with the NPA’s vision to become the Maritime Logistics Hub for Sustainable Port Services in Africa.
The NPA MD highlighted the invaluable support of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, which he said has been instrumental in achieving these remarkable successes.
According Dantsoho, some of the key remarkable performances of NPA include sustained port efficiencies, which contributed  to Nigeria’s year-on-year trade surplus of ₦7.5 trillion and ₦6.7 trillion in Q2 and Q3 2025 (per NBS and NESG reports), driven mainly by exports via NPA platforms.
He also mentioned the successful execution of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policy for crude and petroleum product sales in Naira, saving billions in FOREX, enhancing energy security, improving trade balance, and creating jobs.
Others include completion of Nigeria’s membership in the International Port Community System Association (IPCSA), paving the way for the National Single Window (NSW) project, technical guidance enabling a significant rise in transhipment cargo at Lekki Deep Seaport, serving landlocked neighbours and recovering cargo lost to competing ports.
Another achievement made under the leadership of Danthoso was his electorial victory as the President of the Port Management Association of West & Central Africa (PMAWCA), with Dr. Dantsoho also leading PAPC, boosting Nigeria’s diplomatic standing and securing re-admission to IMO Category C.
Champions Newspaper conferred the award in appreciation of NPA’s pivotal role as a leading trade facilitation platform driving national economic prosperity through Nigeria’s maritime endowments.
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