Customs Seeks Broader Stakeholder Dialogue as Beer Industry Raises Concerns Over Proposed Tax Stamp Policy
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, has called for broader stakeholder consultations and stricter validation of industry data as debates intensify over the Federal Government’s proposed tax stamp policy for the beer sector.
Adeniyi made the call on Monday during a high-level engagement between the NCS and the Beer Sectoral Group held at the Service’s headquarters in Maitama, Abuja.
The meeting brought together senior executives from leading brewing companies across the country to deliberate on issues surrounding tax administration, trade transparency and regulatory reforms affecting the industry.
Addressing the delegation at the CGC’s Board Room, Adeniyi stressed that fiscal and regulatory policies affecting key sectors of the economy must be guided by reliable data and a comprehensive understanding of prevailing market realities.
According to him, policymakers must exercise caution in defining and addressing illicit trade, particularly in sectors where products are legitimately produced within Nigeria but may still find their way into unauthorised markets across borders.
“We need to have a clear understanding of what constitutes illicit trade. Some of these products are legitimately manufactured in Nigeria. In other jurisdictions, customs administrations are already engaging in discussions around how such products find their way across borders and into unauthorised markets,” the Customs boss stated.
He further emphasised that the credibility of statistics and estimates presented to government institutions remains critical to informed policy formulation.
“One thing we need to understand more clearly is where some of these estimates came from. When we are making policy decisions of this nature, the credibility and accuracy of data must never be in doubt,” he added.
The Customs chief also used the occasion to highlight ongoing reforms introduced by the Service to improve trade facilitation and ease bottlenecks within the supply chain ecosystem.
According to him, the NCS has proactively introduced several initiatives aimed at enhancing efficiency and strengthening compliance procedures without external pressure.
“We have consistently introduced initiatives aimed at facilitating trade. We introduced the Advance Ruling. We introduced the Authorised Economic Operator programme. We also rolled out several reforms on our own initiative, not because we were under pressure, but because we recognised the need to improve trade facilitation,” Adeniyi said.
On the contentious tax stamp proposal currently under government consideration, the CGC clarified that consultations with stakeholders were still ongoing and that no final decision had been taken regarding implementation.
“As far as I am concerned, consultations are still ongoing. If this initiative is legitimate and beneficial, then we all have a responsibility to ensure that we are heading in the right direction,” he stated.
He urged operators in the private sector to intensify engagement with government institutions in order to achieve a balanced policy outcome capable of protecting government revenue while sustaining industrial productivity and economic growth.
Earlier, the leader of the Beer Sectoral Group delegation and Chief Executive Officer of Guinness Nigeria Plc, Girish Sharma, said the visit was aimed at presenting the industry’s concerns regarding the proposed tax stamp framework, which has generated widespread debate among brewers and manufacturers.
Sharma noted that while the beer industry recognises the importance of tax stamps and regulatory controls in combating counterfeiting and illicit trade, the sector already operates within a highly regulated environment with minimal exposure to counterfeit risks.
“We fully understand the purpose and importance of tax stamps, particularly in industries where counterfeiting is a major concern. However, within the beer sector, counterfeiting is minimal,” he said.
He explained that existing compliance and monitoring systems within the brewing industry already provide substantial oversight across production and distribution channels.
“From an end-to-end compliance perspective, we believe there is already sufficient transparency and oversight,” Sharma added.
The Guinness Nigeria CEO further underscored the beer industry’s contribution to the Nigerian economy through employment generation, tax remittances and industrial output, warning that excessive regulatory obligations could negatively affect operations and investment within the sector if not carefully implemented.
The meeting is seen as part of broader consultations by the Nigeria Customs Service and other government agencies aimed at balancing revenue generation objectives with the need to maintain a conducive business environment for manufacturers and investors.
