The National President of the Nigeria Association of LPG Marketers, Oladapo Olatunbosun, has expressed dissatisfaction with the Nigeria Customs Service for what he alleges as a reluctance to carry out the presidential directive regarding zero import duties on gas items and imported Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).

Olatunbosun credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for issuing the directive approximately three weeks ago as a measure to curb the escalating price of LPG.

ALSO READ: Dangote refinery receives inaugural crude supply

Despite efforts by the Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun, who also serves as the Coordinating Minister of Economy, to instruct relevant agencies through a circular, Olatunbosun contends that the Nigeria Customs Service remains unresponsive to the directive.

In an interview on Thursday, he lamented that this reluctance could result in additional costs for their members with items currently in ports incurring demurrage.

Ultimately, these additional expenses may be passed on to end users, contradicting the intended purpose of lowering gas prices.

Olatunbosun stated, “It is unfortunate that some people and agencies, particularly the Nigeria Customs Service, have refused to implement the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the waiver of import duty on gas items and imported gas, among others.”

Expressing concern about the financial burden on their members, he urged President Tinubu to intervene and address the issue with the Customs Service.

Olatunbosun emphasized that the primary objective of the policy was to drive down gas prices, and the Customs Service should align with the presidential directive.

In response, Abdullahi Maiwada, the National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, clarified that the delay was not a result of the agency refusing to comply with the President’s directive.

Maiwada explained that the Customs received the letter from the Federal Minister of Finance on December 12 and promptly issued circulars to state commands on December 15 for implementation.

ALSO READ: Fuel marketers predict petrol price to reach N700 per litre in Nigeria

However, he noted that the directive comes with a condition, requiring items to be supported by an approval letter from the Special Adviser to the President on Energy.

Maiwada assured that once this supporting document is provided, the Customs will execute the directive accordingly.