Reps worry over N34trn import duty waiver, demand details from Customs

The House of Representatives Committee on Finance, Wednesday, expressed concerns on the disclosure that import duty waivers alone amounted to about N34 trillion in 2024.

Chairman of the committee, James Faleke, at the ongoing 2026 revenue monitoring exercise for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and government-owned enterprises consequently asked the Nigeria Customs Service to provide all relevant details.

Deputy Comptroller of Customs (DCG) in charge of Finance, Administration and Technical Services, Kikelomo Adeola, who made the disclosure Wednesday also told the committee that the service generated a total revenue of N7.2 trillion in the same year.

She added that the power of issuing such import duty waivers rested squarely with the Federal Ministry of Finance.

In response, Faleke said: “We want all the details, sector-by-sector, the reasons behind them, and who benefited, so that we can ascertain if the waivers are benefiting Nigeria.”

Deputy chairman of the committee, Seidu Musa Abdullahi, also observed that the yearly revenue target for some agencies appeared not ambitious enough.

“It appears you can do more than you’re doing. Your potential is not fully exploited,” he said.

In response, the DCG stated that while there is always room for improvement, factors like government policies, exchange rate and others also matter.