CBN Increases Customs Dollar Exchange Rate To Clear Goods at Ports As Naira Depreciates Again

CBN Increases Customs Dollar Exchange Rate To Clear Goods at Ports As Naira Depreciates Again

  • The CBN has increased the exchange rate used for calculating customs duties for importers to clear goods at the nation's ports
  • The new exchange rate reflects the performance of the naira in the official foreign exchange markets
  • With the new rate, the cost of imported goods such as phones, cars, food items, among others, is expected to remain high

Legit.ng journalist Dave Ibemere has over a decade of business journalism experience with in-depth knowledge of the Nigerian economy, stocks, and general market trends.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has again adjusted the dollar exchange rate to clear goods at the nation's ports.

According to data from the federal government trading portal, Nigerian importers will be charged N1,601.84 per dollar for customs import duty.

Nigeria Customs get new exchange rate to clear goods at ports
Importers pay more to clear goods at Nigerian ports Photo credit: NCS, Bloomberg/contributor
Source: Twitter

The new rate represents a 0.15% increase from the previous rate of N1,599.39 per dollar on Friday, July 26, 2024

Read also

Naira settles at lowest in 4 months as CBN sells dollar at new price, becomes second-worst globally

PAY ATTENTION: Share your outstanding story with our editors! Please reach us through info@corp.legit.ng!

What is Customs duty?

Customs duties are taxes and levies paid on goods imported into the country.

The duties are paid through a commercial bank to the Nigeria Customs Service, which collects them on behalf of the federal government.

According to the apex bank's policy, Customs should use the rate when submitting Form M to calculate duties.

The latest adjustment indicates that importers who opened Form M on Monday, July 29, 2024, paid N1,601.84 as import duties, compared to those who opened Form M on Friday, July 26, 2024.

Form M is a mandatory online documentation process for importing physical goods into Nigeria.

Customs rate vs official exchange rate

The current Customs rate is almost at par with the Nigerian currency against the US dollar.

On Monday, July 29, 2024, data from FMDQ Securities showed that the naira exchanged at N1,611.40 to the dollar in the official market, also known as the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM).

Read also

GTB, Zenith, UBA, other banks announce changes in customers' loan rates after CBN’s decision

Nigeria Customs grounds bank's aircraft

In related news, Legit.ng reported that the NCS had grounded a private jet belonging to a prominent Nigerian bank.

The move signalled the commencement of a clampdown on private jet owners in Nigeria who may have imported them without paying import duties.

It was reported that the private jet owners owe about N1.9 billion in import duties.

Proofreading by James, Ojo Adakole, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Dave Ibemere avatar

Dave Ibemere (Senior Business Editor) Dave Ibemere is a senior business editor at Legit.ng. He is a financial journalist with over a decade of experience in print and online media. He also holds a Master's degree from the University of Lagos. He is a member of the African Academy for Open-Source Investigation (AAOSI), the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and other media think tank groups. He previously worked with The Guardian, BusinessDay, and headed the business desk at Ripples Nigeria. Email: dave.ibemere@corp.legit.ng.