Customs drives green tax as Nigeria cuts vehicle import duties nationwide

By Adebayo Obajemu

The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has intensified nationwide sensitisation on the Federal Government’s Green Tax Surcharge ahead of its July 1, 2026 implementation, as authorities seek to curb carbon emissions while reducing vehicle import duties to ease the cost of legitimate trade.

The awareness campaign, 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 at the event on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, the Zonal Coordinator for Zone A, Mohammed Babadende, said the sensitisation exercise was designed to ensure seamless implementation of the new environmental tax regime.

“This sensitisation is designed to ensure that every stakeholder clearly understands the policy before implementation. Our objective is to eliminate uncertainty, promote voluntary compliance and guarantee uniform application of the Green Tax Surcharge across all commands,” Babadende said.

He noted that the policy forms part of Nigeria’s broader commitment to environmental sustainability by encouraging the importation of cleaner vehicles and reducing carbon emissions in line with global environmental standards.

Delivering a technical presentation, the Comptroller in charge of Tariff, System Audit and Coordination, Murtala Muazu, explained that the Green Tax Surcharge differs from conventional fiscal measures and would require a separate assessment process.

According to him, the Nigeria Customs Service has introduced a simplified implementation framework through the Harmonised System, HS, Code declaration platform to facilitate compliance by importers.

Muazu further disclosed that the Federal Government had reduced import levies on vehicles from 20 per cent to 10 per cent, while duties on used vehicles had been cut from 15 per cent to five per cent to cushion the impact of the environmental surcharge.

Area Controllers at the programme urged importers, licensed customs agents and other stakeholders to support the initiative, noting that the reduction in import levies would lower the cost of doing business, facilitate legitimate trade and ultimately reduce transportation costs across the country.

Stakeholders welcomed the planned implementation of the Green Tax Surcharge but called for sustained public enlightenment campaigns to ensure wider understanding of the policy and encourage compliance before the July 1 commencement date.