Customs committed to maximum collection of excise duty

The Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) of Customs in charge of Zone A, Aminu Dahiru has reiterated the resolve of the service towards maximum collection of excise duty from manufacturers of products covered under excise within the South West area of the country.

The drive is fallout of discoveries made by the ACG during his recent tour of the commands under his control.

He discovered the shortcomings during his interactions with some alcoholic beverage manufacturers who claimed ignorance of the extant laws requiring them to pay excise duty to customs for their products manufactured for sale to the public.

Dahiru, who told them that ignorance is not an excuse before the law, enjoined that they keep themselves abreast with all laws guiding their business as customs will not compromise on its revenue collection drive in line with the vision of Controller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd).

”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 noncompliance.

”I am interested in raising awareness in this direction so that nobody will say he wasn’t aware of your corporate obligations to government, as it concerns excise duty payment. I will shoulder 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.

Dahiru 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.