The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the waiver of the 4 per cent Free On Board (FOB) charges for scheduled airline operators and importers of raw materials, a move aimed at easing operational costs and stimulating growth in key sectors of the economy.
Under the new waiver regime, exemptions will apply to spare parts for commercial airlines, raw materials for manufacturing, and items for government projects. The decision is expected to provide significant relief to airline operators, who have long complained of the financial burden imposed by the levy, as well as manufacturers struggling with high input costs.
NCS Comptroller General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed the development in a statement jointly signed with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) after consultations on the suspension of the charges.
According to the Service, the policy will take effect immediately, ensuring that airlines and manufacturers no longer pay the 4 per cent FOB charges on their imports. The NCS noted that the exemption is part of broader efforts to support the development of the aviation and manufacturing industries, which are seen as vital to Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda.
