Customs Demands Credible Data In Tax Stamp Policy Debate

BY FRONTLINE REPORTERS

The Nigeria Customs Service has called for stricter data validation and broader stakeholder engagement in ongoing fiscal and regulatory reforms as discussions continue over the proposed tax stamp policy for the brewing industry.Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, made the call during an engagement with leaders of the Beer Sectoral Group at the Customs headquarters in Abuja.The meeting brought together senior executives of major brewing companies to deliberate on tax administration, trade transparency and the implications of the proposed tax stamp framework currently under consideration by the Federal Government.Adeniyi stressed that policy decisions affecting strategic sectors of the economy must be driven by verifiable data and a proper understanding of market realities, warning that questionable figures could weaken effective policymaking and distort regulatory outcomes.“We need to have a clear understanding of what constitutes illicit trade. Some of these products are legitimately manufactured in Nigeria,” he stated, noting that customs administrations globally are also evolving in the way products are tracked across borders.The Customs boss further questioned the reliability of certain industry estimates being deployed in the debate, insisting that “the credibility and accuracy of data must never be in doubt” when taking decisions with wide economic implications.He also highlighted ongoing reforms within the Service aimed at improving trade facilitation and supply chain efficiency, including the introduction of the Advance Ruling system and the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme.On the proposed tax stamp policy, Adeniyi clarified that consultations were still ongoing and that no final decision had been reached by the government.“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 said.He urged sustained engagement between the private sector and relevant government institutions to ensure that any eventual policy framework balances revenue generation with industrial growth and trade facilitation.Earlier, Chief Executive Officer of guinness-nigeria.com⁠�, Girish Sharma, who led the delegation, said the beer industry had engaged Customs to express concerns over the proposed framework, which has generated debate across the sector.Sharma acknowledged the importance of regulatory oversight but argued that the beer industry already operates within a highly structured compliance environment with minimal exposure to counterfeiting risks.According to him, existing monitoring systems already provide end-to-end visibility across production and distribution channels, suggesting that additional layers of regulation could impose unnecessary pressure