The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has renewed efforts towards maximum collection of excise duty from manufacturers of products covered under excise; within the South West.
NSC Zonal Coordinator in charge of Zone A, Assistant Comptroller General Aminu Dahiru, disclosed this during an interraction with some alcoholic beverage manufacturers who claimed they were not aware they were required to pay excise duty on their products.
The customs boss, who noted that ignorance is not an excuse before the law, enjoined them to keep abreast with all laws guiding their business as Customs would not compromise on its revenue collection drive, in line with the vision of Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd).
He said: ‘’Your excuse that most of you were not aware that you owe government obligation to pay excise duty on various alcoholic drinks is noted, but, not a strong defence. We will not, on account of that, relax in our revenue collection duty to government. We will not hesitate to close down factories of deviant manufacturers and visit the full weight of the law on them if they continually operate in non-compliance.
‘’I am interested in raising awareness in this direction so that nobody will say he wasn’t aware of his corporate obligations to government, as it concerns excise duty payment. I will shoulder the responsibility for print and electronic media awareness to everyone within the zone.
‘’Your enterprising activities of being in production, creating employment and adding value to our overall national economy are commendable, but, it should not be seen as an excuse for lawlessness under any guise,’’ Dahiru said
He also told the manufacturers that his office is open for further inquiries on various duties to be paid for products covered under excise, while assuring that the Area Commands of Customs and Lagos Industrial Command are also ready to assist them with information on how best to comply.
