ABUJA — In a major relief for importers and manufacturers, the Federal Government has suspended the collection of the 4 per cent Free on Board (FOB) import levy earlier imposed by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
The suspension was conveyed in a letter dated September 15, 2025, signed by O. Omachi, Permanent Secretary (Special Duties) at the Ministry of Finance, on behalf of Minister Wale Edun, and addressed to the Comptroller-General of Customs.
According to the ministry, the decision followed extensive consultations with stakeholders, trade experts, and relevant government agencies, which revealed that the levy threatened trade facilitation, worsened the business environment, and risked destabilizing the economy.
“I write to direct the immediate suspension of the implementation of the collection of 4 per cent Free on Board (FOB) recently levied by the Nigeria Customs Service on all imported goods,” the letter stated.
It added that the levy had placed an “increased financial burden” on importers and businesses, with adverse effects on inflation, trade competitiveness, and Nigeria’s overall economic climate.
The Finance Ministry said the suspension would allow for a thorough review of the levy’s framework and wider economic implications, while promising a more balanced approach to revenue generation that would not stifle growth.
This marks the second suspension of the FOB charge, which was first halted in February before being quietly reintroduced months later — sparking outrage from manufacturers and importers, who described it as punitive and harmful to trade.
With this latest move, business operators are hopeful that government will fully scrap the levy after the review.
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