By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The new Customs Area Controller, Nigeria Customs Service, Kwara Command, Comptroller Aliyu Gaya Bello, has read the riot act to all excise factories in Kwara State to strictly comply with the 2022 fiscal policy measures of the Federal Government or be severely sanctioned.

A statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Chado Zakari, said the fiscal policy measures comprise supplementary protection measures (SPM) for the implementation of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET) 2022-2026 and excise duties of N10 per litre on non-alcoholic beverages, cigarettes and Tobacco products, with effect from 1st April, 2022, adding that a grace period of 90 days was granted to enable the excise factories producing non-alcoholic and beverages brace up with the new directive.

The new price regime, the statement added, would commence on 1st July, 2022.

The riot act was read during the visits of the Area Controller to all the excise factories across the state to ascertain the level of their production and compliance with the Customs extant laws.

The Excise Factories visited by the Area Controller included the International Tobacco Company (ITC), Peace Standard Pharmaceutical Industries, Seven UP Bottling Company, Remitola International Multi Biz, Orion Agro Industries Ltd, Donswep Industries Ltd, Njoku Global Ventures Idofian, Ascodin Nigeria Enterprises in Oro town, and Neolman Food and Beverages Nigeria Ltd.

The statement added: “The familiarisation tour is aimed at bringing all the excise factories under control and to equally block all the leakages. During the visit, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) said the Command under his watch will continue to take deliberate steps to work with excise factories and other critical stakeholders to reposition the Command.

“The CAC reiterated that he will not relent efforts in ensuring total conformity to prompt payment of excise duties and promised to collaborate with all compliant stakeholders for efficiency and effectiveness. He demanded for transparency and openness, as the other way round, will not be tolerated.

“He urged them to be compliant at all times as this will guarantee them the full benefits of trade facilitation, but warned that any act of cutting corners or distortion will be met with severe sanctions.”

The factories’ managers, in their separate responses, promised total compliance with the Federal Government’s new directives, saying they have enjoyed “good mutual and beneficial relationship with the Command all through the years and will also give the needed support to the new Customs Area Controller to succeed.”

End