At Last, Customs Officially Begins Collection of 4% FOB Levy At Ports, 7% Surcharge Remains

By DAPO OLAWUNI

The Nigeria Customs Service has finally inputed the 4% FOB tariff into its system on Monday 4th August 2025, even as it has removed the 1% Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme (CISS).

However, DAILY TREND findings at the ports on Monday through cargo assessments revealed that the 7% port surcharge still remains in the system. Stakeholders who spoke with our correspondent say it could be difficult to expunge the 7% port surcharge because the fund is used to service other government agencies including the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Nigerian Shippers Council.

Our investigations showed that clearing agents have already started paying the 4% FOB Levy as part of their cargo clearance costs, even as they argued that it would increase cargo clearance cost by millions of Naira through additional 3%.

Recall that the Customs had first introduced the 4% FOB collection earlier in the year, but it was abruptly suspended due to public outcry by the operators.
Meanwhile the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi has educated the stakeholders that the tariff is already passed by the National Assembly and signed into law is the main artery that will fund the full transformation of Nigeria’s Customs operations, from the deployment of high-grade scanners to the seamless rollout of the e-Customs platform known as B’Odogwu.

Speaking with our correspondent on Monday, Alhaji Ayo Sulaiman, a Senior Special Adviser on Media to President of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) confirmed that the 4% FOB collection has officially started.

“The 4% FOB is not something that is unexpected, the Customs have sensitized us severally that they would reintroduce it. After the first agitation that led to its suspension, the CGC of Customs has said that it would be returned because it was only suspended

“Remember that the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Customs, Hon Leke Abejide last month directed Customs to return the 4% and remove 1% CISS and 7% Surcharge.

“However the 7% Surcharge is not the making of the customs only, we can only discuss the 1% because it is for the customs, but the purpose is now defeated.

While speaking on the effect of the additional 4 % FOB on cargo clearance, Ayokunle said that it would increase the total Duty payable on cargoes by three percent, which translates into millions of Naira.

“Total Duty of cargoes will now increase by 3percent, so the cost of clearance would no doubt increase in Millions and it would no doubt be in Billions within a month or two. So, all of us should brace up” he said

Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi at a recent stakeholders’ town hall meeting in Ikeja, Lagos, which brought together importers, freight forwarders, terminal operators, shipping lines, banks, and other players in the trade and logistics sector explained that the 4 per cent FOB levy is calculated based on the value of imported goods up to the port of loading, and it will serve as a replacement for 1 per cent CISS fee.

“At the heart of our transformation is the B’Odogwu platform. We need sustainable funding to elevate it to global standards. That is why the 4 per cent FOB levy is being introduced — not to burden importers but to enable innovation and efficiency.”

”We have no choice in the payment of the 4 per cent FOB because it is needed by the Customs to fund the huge technology and modernisation programme it has embarked upon.
“The 4 per cent is not a new thing. God bless the soul of the late President Muhammadu Buhari, who saw the need for extra funding before the provision was included in the Customs Act of 2023″

“When we introduced this levy some months ago, we were asked to hold on and consult with our stakeholders.

“I am now telling you that we have no choice but to introduce the levy because technology does not come cheap, and in Yoruba parlance ‘the soup that is sweet is as a result of money,” he said.