By Oluwakemi Kindness
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) will begin nationwide implementation of the Green Tax Surcharge on July 1, 2026, as part of efforts to promote environmental sustainability and reform Nigeria’s vehicle import system.
The policy is aimed at reducing carbon emissions, encouraging the importation of cleaner vehicles and aligning Nigeria’s environmental practices with global standards, while supporting broader fiscal reforms for sustainable economic growth.
Ahead of the rollout, the Service has intensified stakeholder sensitisation across its commands to ensure importers, licensed customs agents, freight forwarders and other operators understand the policy and comply with its provisions.
Speaking during a sensitisation programme at the Apapa Area Command, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, represented by the Zonal Coordinator, Zone A, Mohammed Babadende, said the exercise was designed to eliminate uncertainty, encourage voluntary compliance and ensure uniform implementation of the Green Tax Surcharge across the country.
He said the Service remained committed to providing stakeholders with adequate information before the policy takes effect to guarantee a seamless rollout.
The Comptroller in charge of Tariff, System Audit and Coordination, Murtala Muazu, explained that the Green Tax differs from conventional fiscal measures and will be implemented through a simplified assessment process using the Harmonised System (HS) Code declaration platform.
Muazu also announced that the Federal Government has reduced import adjustment levies on vehicles to cushion the impact of the new environmental surcharge.
Under the revised rates, the levy on new vehicles has been cut from 20 per cent to 10 per cent, while that of used vehicles has been reduced from 15 per cent to five per cent.
Area Controllers urged importers and licensed customs agents to support the initiative, noting that the lower import levies would reduce the cost of doing business, facilitate legitimate trade and help lower transportation costs nationwide.
Stakeholders welcomed the policy and called for sustained public awareness campaigns to deepen understanding and ensure compliance ahead of the July 1 implementation.
