Mercy Gadia
The House of Representatives Committee on Finance has demanded a detailed account of the approximately ₦34 trillion import duty waivers granted in 2025, directing the Nigeria Customs Service to provide the identities of beneficiaries, legal backing, and objectives of the concessions.
The directive was issued on Tuesday during an interactive session with the management of the NCS as part of the National Assembly’s ongoing oversight of revenue-generating agencies.
Chairman of the Committee, James Faleke, said while the House was not opposed to the policy of granting waivers, the magnitude of the concessions required full transparency to determine whether they aligned with national economic priorities.
Faleke noted that the committee was particularly interested in identifying beneficiaries and assessing whether the waivers delivered the intended economic impact.
“Waiver is good. It is not a bad thing to grant a waiver. But we want to know those who benefited from the waiver and the purpose for such waiver,” he said.
He added, “If you grant waiver, it is aimed at helping the economy to grow. For example, if you grant a waiver on agricultural products, it is aimed at reducing the cost of food. But we want to know the beneficiaries of this ₦34 trillion waiver.”
Import duty waivers are fiscal incentives used by the Federal Government to support key sectors such as agriculture and healthcare, reduce production costs, and stimulate economic growth. However, concerns have persisted over transparency and revenue implications.
The committee also raised concerns over discrepancies in the Customs Service’s revenue records despite the agency consistently exceeding its annual targets.
Faleke said the financial documents presented lacked sufficient explanation for fluctuations in monthly revenue and the sources of excess collections.
“We are not going to applaud your efforts now because your account books are not balanced. You have not told us how the excess money you are reporting came about,” he said.
He further noted inconsistencies in revenue declarations, stating, “In some months, you under-declare your revenue collection and in other months, you overshoot the collection. We want to know what is responsible for this.”
Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Saidu Abdullahi, suggested that the Federal Government should raise revenue targets for Customs, citing its consistent overperformance.
“In 2024, you were given a target of ₦5 trillion, and you generated ₦6.1 trillion. In 2025, you were given a target of about ₦6 trillion, and you generated ₦7.2 trillion. I believe that if we push you enough, you can do better,” he said.
Responding, Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Finance, Administration and Technical Services, Kikelomo Adeola, said the agency does not approve waivers but only implements decisions made by the Federal Ministry of Finance.
She also called on state governments to invest in inland dry ports to ease congestion at seaports and improve trade facilitation.
“Any cargo that is marked for such inland port will not be delayed at the main port. The container will be transported directly to the inland port where it will be examined,” she said.
Adeola added that most cargo scanners were operational, with only a few undergoing repairs.
However, a committee member, Ifeanyi Uzokwe, urged the Service to hold officers accountable for negligence leading to equipment failures.
The committee also queried the Corporate Affairs Commission, directing it to submit records of all registered businesses and fees collected, as well as explain its failure to remit operating surplus to the Federal Government.
Lawmakers were told that the CAC owed ₦13.9 billion in unremitted surplus. The Registrar-General of the commission said reconciliation with the Fiscal Responsibility Commission had begun, with an agreement to repay the debt through quarterly instalments of ₦500 million.
The hearing forms part of ongoing efforts by the House Committee to strengthen fiscal discipline, enhance transparency, and ensure accountability in the management of public revenues.