The Lubricant Producers Association of Nigeria (LUPON) said the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is sabotaging the Federal Government by circumventing the law that reduced duties from 10 per cent to 5 per cent on imported materials.
Executive Secretary of the association, Emeka Obidike, accused the NCS of sabotage at a news conference in Lagos yesterdat to herald the 1st Nigeria Lubricant Summit.
Obidike said that the officers at the ports were disregarding the directives from the Minister of Finance and insisting on the payment of the old tariff of 10 per cent.
He said that several companies whose businesses relied on the imported materials had been grounded, adding that Customs’ approach had deterred the association’s members from fulfilling their business and financial commitments.
The secretary urged the Federal Government to intervene and save their business from total collapse.
Managing Director, Lubeservices Associates, Kayode Sote, said that the summit would aim at promoting better understanding and appreciation of the nation’s hydrocarbon reserves, potential and diverse investment opportunity among the stakeholders.
Sote said the association remained committed to sustainable job creation and contribution to the technical and economic growth of the nation.
Also speaking, Mr Mudei Alphonsus, Assistant Director, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), noted that the objective of the summit was part of their contributions in assisting DPR to regulator the industry.
Alphonsus commended the organisers of the programme and reassured them of DPR’s participation.
He urged stakeholders in the sector to support the initiative which was aimed at enhancing the growth of the lubricants market.
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