FG to unban vehicle, furniture, textile importation

TIRED of annually losing billions of naira in revenue to a non-effective ban, the Federal Government, it has been reliably gathered, has fine-tuned an amendment to the import prohibition list, with the aim of unbanning the importation of furniture items, textiles and toothpicks.

In a move that may also result in a significant collapse of prices of cars, the government is also set to endorse the importation of cars not more than 15 years old.

The Minister of Finance, Mr Olusegun Aganga, according to impeccable sources, in a signed endorsement on November 19 to port service providers, has also removed cassava, among other items, from the much criticised long list of import ban.

In a dramatic shift from the hitherto age limit on imported vehicles which was pegged at 10 years, the Federal Government has approved that imports should be extended to 15 year-old automobiles, since the ban on vehicles above 10 years had not been effective, but had encouraged the smuggling of cars across the borders, resulting in severe loss of revenue.

The import trade policy reviews were contained in a memo from the Federal Ministry of Finance to the Comptroller-General of Customs and the three Destination Inspection Service providers - Cotecna Inspection limited, Global Scan System and Societe Generale de Surveillance.

Captioned “Revision of Schedule Three-Import Prohibition List (Trade) of the 2008-2012 Common External Tariff (CET),”, the memo which was signed by Aganga on November 19, 2010, however, failed to give any clue as to why government was finally bowing to importers and agents prayers at a time when everyone had seemingly given up hope on the issue.

By implication, this means that textile fabrics and other articles of similar characteristics that fall within the Lace and Embroideries under the various HS Codes, except the African prints, can now be imported with a duty charge of 20 per cent and a levy of 20 per cent.

Similarly, furniture which was under Harmonised System (HS) Code 9401.100.00-9401.9009.00 and 9403.100-9404.9000, would now attract 20 -per cent duty and 20 per cent levy, respectively, while cassava, under HS Code 0714.100, would now attract 20 per cent duty and 15 per cent levy, respectively.

Toothpick importation (HS Code 3926.9090.91) would similarly attract 20 per cent charges both as duty and levy.

The changes on the 2008-2012 Common External Tariff (CET), according to the minister’s memo, would take effect from the date of the memo.

When the Nigerian Tribune called the Customs high command’s deputy spokesman, Joseph Attah for confirmation, he said he was aware that the minister had indicated that the import prohibition list was due for amendment, but he was yet to be acquainted with items that were going or those that would stay.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government is set to phase out chloroquine for treatment of malaria at the end the year.

The Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, made the announcement on Monday.

Chukwu, at a programme in Abuja, said “the FG had phased out chloroquine since 2004, so there is the need to effect this policy.”

He called on Nigerians to stop taking the drug, adding that the ministry was working with the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control to stop its importation.

“The use of chloroquine as treatment against malaria is no longer effective, so Nigerians need to get used to using Artemisinin Combination Therapy (ACT).

“The launch is to communicate quality, accessible, affordable and available effective malaria treatment with ACT within 24 hours of onset of symptoms to the populace,” he said.

The minister said ACT was free and available in all government-owned hospitals and at primary health centres across the country.

“The Federal Government has made the provision of the drugs in government hospitals free. So l want to urge private hospitals to ensure that the dosage price should not be more than N75,” he said.

The minister said the intervention strategy was in partnership with the Global Fund, to reduce malaria mortality by expanding access to ACT.

Speaking at the event, the Coordinator of National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP), Dr Babajide Coker, said the organisation had intensified its efforts at eradicating malaria in the country