Hammed Shittu in Ilorin
The Chairman of Gas Nigerian Initiative (GNI), Opeyemi Olabanji, at the weekend urged the federal government to expedite action on prompt implementation of its recent directive slamming zero duties on some imported LPG and other specified gas accessories.
The federal government had last year approved a 100 per cent tax waiver for the LPG importation amid the rising cost of the product in the domestic market based in a letter issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance on November 28, 2023.
Other items exempted from VAT and duty payment are LPG cylinders, cascades, gas leak detectors, steel pipes, valves and fittings, dispensers, gas generators and trucks.
Olabanji, who spoke with journalists in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, on the issue, said the relevant agencies responsible for the implementation of the policies are allegedly lethargic with it.
The GNI leader recounted on how he had late last year in another press conference at the same venue urged the Nigerian Custom Services (NCS) to fast-track the implementation of the directive.
He added that the National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Abdullahi Maiwada, in his reaction had said it was not a case of the agency refusing to carry out the president’s directive, but noting that certain preconditions had to be met before the implementation.
Lamenting the daily demiurge cost of keeping the imported cylinders at the sea port, the GNI boss said all efforts aimed at extracting the implementation of the directive by his association had been futile.
According to him, “We painstakingly took our letter to the Special Adviser on Energy to the President a few days ago without any corresponding response, thus prompting this media chat.“As business oriented people, we could not but rely on the presidential directive on the tax waiver. This prompted us into great and massive investments in the importation of the LPGs and other accessories.
“As we address you right now, we incur daily demiurge on them at the port. This is not good for business and economic growth.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should kindly call to order anyone causing a delay in the implementation of his order.”
