The Federal Ministry of Finance, on Friday, clarified that import duties on luxury goods and food items have not been raised, as was earlier reported.

In a statement issued by the Director of Information, Salisu Dambatta, the ministry said that contrary to some media reports that tariffs on such items have been raised, the government had no such plans at this critical period.

Dambatta further said that instead of increasing import duties, what the government did was to reduce most of the items based on the fiscal measures for 2016.

“The attention of the Federal Ministry of Finance has been drawn to recent publications in the media regarding the 2016 Fiscal Policy Measures to the effect that the Federal Government has raised import duties on food items and luxury goods.

“The Federal Ministry of Finance wishes to categorically state that the correct position is that the 2016 FPM did not involve any upward review of tariff on the affected food items and luxury goods.

“On the contrary, tariffs for those items remain at their 2015 levels, while duties for some other items were actually reduced.

“A comparison of the 2015 Fiscal Policy Measures Circular dated 20th March, 2015 and the 2016 Fiscal Policy Measures dated 29th November, 2016 will affirm this position.

Import Prohibition list

The Finance ministry reaffirmed the import prohibition list to include cane or beet sugar and chemically pure sucrose in solid form containing added flavourings or colouring matter; fruit juice in retail packs; water, including mineral waters and aerated waters containing sugar or sweetening matter or flavoured; ice snow; other non-alcoholic beverages excluding energy or health drinks – liquid dietary supplements e.g. Power Horse, Red Ginseng, Beer and Stout (Bottled, Canned or otherwise packed).