{
  "id": 178596,
  "title": "Customs seek review of import waivers, 2023 Act",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/05/customs-seek-review-of-import-waivers-2023-act",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-05T15:04:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/customs-seek-review-of-import-waivers-2023-act/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Nigeria Customs Service is calling for a thorough legislative review of the country's import waiver and concession system, urging lawmakers to question whether the incentives still make fiscal sense and support economic goals. Comptroller-General Bashir Adeniyi made the plea during a customs service reform retreat, arguing that three years of implementing the recently enacted 2023 Customs Service Act has revealed provisions needing refinement to keep up with Nigeria's fast-changing trade landscape. Rather than focusing on the service's revenue growth, Adeniyi urged lawmakers to shift their oversight from individual cargo clearances to the design of digital systems managing customs operations. He emphasized the need to scrutinize automated risk management, valuation databases, cargo release timelines, and tax exemptions, rather than just isolated operational decisions. Adeniyi also highlighted that a large amount of trade enters Nigeria under government-approved waivers whose purpose deserves further legislative scrutiny. The latest call comes after Adeniyi previously raised concerns over the increasing volume of import duty waivers, revealing that exemptions granted by the federal government reached a record N34tn in 2025, with 60% granted for military hardware due to security reasons. The customs boss also urged lawmakers to conduct a post-implementation review of the 2023 Customs Service Act, describing it as the legal foundation for the agency's ongoing reforms.",
  "summary": "Nigeria Customs Service urges National Assembly to review import waivers and the 2023 Act, citing fiscal costs and evolving trade environments. Learn more. Read More: https://punchng.com/customs-seek-review-of-import-waivers-2023-act/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}