REPS DEMAND BENEFICIARIES OF N34TN CUSTOMS DUTY WAIVERS

The House of Representatives has demanded a comprehensive list of beneficiaries of the N34 trillion customs duty waivers granted by the Federal Government over the past decade.

The demand was made on Friday by the House Committee on Customs and Excise during an investigative hearing in Abuja. The committee chairman, Hon. Leke Abejide, said the lawmakers want to know who benefited from the waivers and whether the policy achieved its intended objectives.

“We need to see the full list of companies and individuals who received these waivers. Nigerians have a right to know how public resources are being utilised,” Abejide stated.

The committee expressed concern over the huge amount of revenue lost through the waivers and questioned their impact on local industries and government revenue generation. Members demanded detailed records, including the justification for each waiver and the economic benefits derived.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Comptroller-General, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, assured the committee of the service’s cooperation and promised to provide the necessary documents. He explained that duty waivers are granted in line with government policy to promote certain sectors and attract investment.

The investigation is part of the House’s oversight function to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of public resources. The committee has given the NCS a two-week deadline to submit the required information.

The development has sparked public interest, with many Nigerians calling for greater scrutiny of government incentives and waivers. Civil society groups have urged the National Assembly to ensure that the waivers were not used to favour cronies or undermine local industries.

The outcome of the investigation is expected to influence future government policy on duty waivers and promote more transparent governance in the customs service.