192,870 vehicles imported in H1 as Customs waits on Green Tax impact

The Nigeria Customs Service says it is too soon to tell whether the newly introduced Green Tax will slow vehicle imports, even as fresh data shows 192,870 vehicles entered the country in the first half of 2026.

Figures obtained by The Nation break down the numbers by month: 35,166 in January, 26,354 in February, 31,893 in March, 30,808 in April, 33,259 in May, and 35,390 in June.

Customs spokesperson Abdullahi Aliyu Maiwada said any assessment of the policy’s effect would be premature. He noted that meaningful comparison would only be possible after the first three months of implementation—allowing officials to match post-Green Tax figures against the same period in 2026.

“It will be very difficult at the early stage to predict whether there will be a drop or increase in vehicle importation,” Maiwada said. “You need to first look at maybe the first three months and compare it with what happened in the first three months of 2026. If there is a drop, then that data will speak.”

He also clarified that the Green Tax does not automatically mean higher costs for all vehicles. In some cases, the duty payable has actually been reduced.

The surcharge only applies to vehicles with engine capacities of 2,000cc and above. Those below 2,000cc—including 1.5-litre models—are exempt. For vehicles between 2,000cc and 3,999cc, the levy is two per cent. For engines of 4,000cc and above, it rises to four per cent.

Maiwada added that several other vehicle categories are also exempt from the levy.

He reiterated that the policy’s true impact can only be measured after sufficient data is collected, and urged patience while the service monitors import trends in the coming months.