As the controversy surrounding the introduction of 15% NAC levy on imported vehicles lingers, some maritime lawyers have demanded court intervention as a way of resolving the matter.
The NCS recently introduced a 15% NAC levy on used imported vehicles, a decision that 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.
National P.R.O, Timi Bomodi, said the move was in compliance with the ECOWAS Common External Tariff.
But a SAN, Jean-Chiazor Anishere, said that the imposition of the 15% levy on imported vehicles was wrong. Anishere, who is an ex-officer member of the NMLA, said the levy’s imposition should be restrained by a court order.
Alban Igwe, another maritime lawyer said, “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. 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.
