The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has issued a 21-day ultimatum to 223 companies to rectify breaches of their Temporary Admission Permits (TAP), involving unpaid bonds totaling ₦379.5 billion, as announced on July 25, 2025, by NCS National Public Relations Officer Abdullahi Maiwada. The directive, effective from Monday, July 28, 2025, targets importers who failed to re-export goods or pay duties within the stipulated 12-month period, extendable by up to two years with grace periods. The move aims to recover significant revenue and enforce compliance under the Revised Kyoto Convention and the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
The NCS highlighted that these companies have shortchanged the Federal Government over the past three years, with the TAP regime allowing duty-free importation contingent on re-exportation or duty payment if goods are retained locally. As the deadline approaches, the NCS is poised to escalate enforcement actions, aligning with its mandate to safeguard Nigeria’s economic interests.
