By News Editor
Lagos State Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA) and stakeholders in the maritime sector have nipped the tension generated by the introduction of the Temporary Vehicle Tag (TVT) fee on imported vehicles by Lagos State Government.
Meeting at the National headquarters of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANCLA), on Wednesday, the stakeholders; including the Nigerian Ports Authority, ANCLA, Wharf Landing Fees Collection Authority (WLFCA), and the MVAA, said the introduction of the TVT is not and did not amount to double taxation but would further reduce the prevalence of those who use unregistered vehicles for criminal activities.
According to them, the meeting was to dispel the heat generated by reports by a national newspaper which equally went viral on social media, customs agents are up in arms against the Lagos State government for slamming a new charge on imported vehicles.
According to the report, this development is generating tension as port users and vehicle importers have vowed to resist the introduction of the new charge.
But the stakeholders, who jointly briefed select journalists after their closed-door meeting, said they have mutually agreed that the TVT should henceforth be enforced on all vehicles on the Roll On Roll Off category outside cargo, which would continue to pay the wharf landing fees on all cargo, whether wet or dry.
They said that the demarcation has removed the tendency to see the new fee as double taxation to be paid by licensed customs agents who clears these vehicles on behalf of their clients.
ANCLA’s National General Secretary Alhaji Babatunde Abdullateef who first briefed the press, said the demarcation was the most significant achievement of the meeting, adding that the resolution would signal greater compliance by its members.
Babatunde who said the association has been part of the dialogue on the introduction of the TVT since 2020, however, said dialogue would continue between all the stakeholders on the best way to make the collection of the levy seamless.
MVAA’s Official in charge of the TVT enforcement, Mr Lateef Ramos, lauded the ANCLA leadership for their understanding on the issue. He said with the engagement of the leadership of the association and other stakeholders, he is sure of a seamless implementation of the policy.
“We have been meeting with ANCLA leadership since 2020 and consultation would continue between the MVAA and all the parties to ensure that the tariff is paid on every vehicle that landed in the ports. It is not a new law, but an extension of the Road Traffic Law. Moving to the port is in line with the advice from our stakeholders to move closer to the port and we are achieving their significant cooperation with the leadership of the licensed agents because they have realized that the fine for not having the TVT Tag is heavy,” Ramos said.
WLFCA’s Head of Administration Mr Musiliu Ogunlenu said the controversy over double taxation has now been laid to rest. While customs agents and importers pay wharf landing fees for wet or dry cargoes, they pay TVT for all other categories of vehicles landing at the port before they would be cleared for onward movement into the state or elsewhere in the country.
He commended the Nigerian Ports Authority for linking the TVT payment to the Terminal Delivery Order (TDO), with a directive to Terminal Operators not to release any vehicle without evidence of payment of the TVT.
He said all stakeholders must continue to support the government in the task of making the state more secured and to curb the activities of criminals who uses unidentified vehicles to carry out their nefarious acts. “Infact this fee is even going to be hugely beneficial to customs licenced agents whose stamp and names are on these vehicles during clearing and which these people continue to use as they deliberately avoid putting the vehicles forward for registration.”
Sunrise News gathered that payment of the TVT, grants vehicle owners the opportunity to use the TVT Tag for only one month after which it expires.