By Winifred Bulus
Kaduna (Nigeria) – Nigeria has criticized media reports on increased import duties, explaining that the 2016 Fiscal Policy Measures (FPM) tariffs for those items remained at their 2015 levels, while duties for some other items were actually reduced.
Recent media reports suggested that Nigerian government had increased charges on luxury goods imported into the country, including automobiles and pharmaceutical drugs.
A statement by Director Information in the Ministry of Finance, Salisu Na’inna Dambatta regretted how the media misrepresented the information.
“The Federal Ministry of Finance wishes to categorically state that the correct position is that, the 2016 FPM did not involve any upward review of tariff on the affected food items and luxury goods. On the contrary, tariffs for those items remained at their 2015 levels, while duties for some other items were actually reduced,” it says
Read below the statement by the Nigerian Government.
Press Release
The attention of the Federal Ministry of Finance has been drawn to recent publications in the media, regarding the 2016 Fiscal Policy Measures (FPM), to the effect that the Federal Government has raised import duties on food items and luxury goods.
The Federal Ministry of Finance wishes to categorically state that the correct position is that, the 2016 FPM did not involve any upward review of tariff on the affected food items and luxury goods. On the contrary, tariffs for those items remained at their 2015 levels, while duties for some other items were actually reduced. A comparison of the 2015 Fiscal Policy Measures Circular dated 20th March, 2015 and the 2016 Fiscal Policy Measures dated 29th November, 2016 will affirm this position.
With regards to the 20 per cent duty on pharmaceutical products in the 2016 Fiscal Policy Measures, it should be noted that pharmaceutical products were already in the import prohibition list.
This is in support of Government’s intention give further encouragement and desirable protection to local manufacturers of Pharmaceutical products and ensure that those who, despite the prohibition, import such products under special permission, pay the required duties.
This clarification is aimed at providing the Nigerian media and other stakeholders with the correct information on such sensitive matters and to urge all interested parties to cross-check information with relevant authorities for accuracy. This is especially necessary at these challenging times when the Federal Government is putting extra efforts to encourage our local industries and manufacturers.
The accompanying documents, which could also be accessed on the website of the Federal Ministry of Finance, contain the details of the 2015 and 2016 Fiscal Policy Measures for the records.
Signed
SALISU NA’INNA DAMBATTA
Director (Information)