In a step towards implementing the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Common External Tariff (CET), the federal government recently delisted textile materials and other items from its import prohibition.

Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko, the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), made this known in Lagos, last month. He said that the textile materials, furniture and other delisted items could now be imported. However, this was subject to the payment of a 35 per cent duty as agreed to by all 16-member countries of the sub-regional body. He added that there was also a provision for an import Adjustment Tax. Dikko was speaking at the launch of the implementation of the CET.

Some adjustments for member countries had to be made with the CET though, said Dikko. There were 97 chapters with the 5,899 tariff headings, but every member country was entitled to three per cent adjustment. This would later translate into 177 tariff headings, which would in turn enable member countries to protect their local industries. The new policy comes into effect in June, as directed by the Federal Ministry of Finance.

A committee has already been set up by the ECOWAS Commission, to monitor the implementation. This would allow it to ensure that there’s adequate compliance so that the provisions are not abused.