By Godfrey Bivbere

Tin-can island command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said that it has not made any changes to its tariff levy for vehicles imported into the country through the command.

The command said that the tariff remain as issued from the customs high command, stressing that no customs Area Comptroller (C.A.C.) has authority to un-animously reduce tariffs.

In an interactive session with the media yesterday in Lagos, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the command, Chris Osunkwo, denounced reports on reduction of “arbitrary vehicle tariff” by the command referring to such reports as products of speculation.

According to Osunkwo, “there is no change in the tariff prescribed by the management of the service for used vehicle. It is the sole prerogative of the customs high command to produce the valuation database. The customs area Comptroller has no authority to tinker with it.”

It was revealed that Common external tariff of the World Customs Organization, is the basis on which the rates are prepared, though its application varies depending on the needs of individual countries.

Speaking further, the customs image-maker argued that only clearing agents see the prevailing rates as arbitrary given that rates are uniform across all customs commands.

Increase in revenue generated by the command for many to about N20billion, was attributed to “the administrative acumen of the new CAC and the dedication of officers of the command”