The Kwara area command of the Nigeria Customs Service says it will begin collecting the new excise duties on beverages and cigarettes from factories in the state.

A statement by the command on Thursday in Ilorin said the excise duties were under the 2022 fiscal policy measures approved by the federal government.

The fiscal policy includes Supplementary Protection Measures for implementing the ECOWAS Common External Tariff 2022-2026. It also included excise duties of N10 per litre on non-alcoholic beverages, cigarettes and Tobacco products effective from April 1, 2022.

The policy provided a grace of 90 days to enable the excise factories producing non-alcoholic beverages and cigarettes to key into the new directive, which commenced on June 1, 2022.

The command comptroller, Aliyu Bello, who visited the excise factories in Kwara, said it was to ascertain their production level and compliance with the Customs extant laws.

The companies visited were the International Tobacco Company, Peace Standard Pharmaceutical Industries, Seven UP Bottling Company, Remitola International Multi Biz and Orion Agro Industries Ltd. Others visited were Donswep Industries Ltd, Njoku Global Ventures, Ascodin Nigeria Enterprises and Neolman Food and Beverages Nigeria Ltd.

”The familiarisation tour is aimed at bringing all the excise factories under control and to equally block all leakages. We will continue to take deliberate steps to work with excise factories and other critical stakeholders to reposition the command,” Mr Bello stated. “We will not relent on any effort to ensure total conformity to prompt payment of excise duties.”

The comptroller demanded transparency and openness by the companies, warning them against short-changing the government.

He advised the companies to ensure strict compliance with the new tax regime.

(NAN)