February 15, (THEWILL) – Nigeria has established a duty-free village in Abuja, where diplomats and other members of the Diplomatic Corps can buy items and enjoy tax-free services.
The village was established in compliance with the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations, which exempts diplomats from all duties and taxes, whether national, regional, or municipal.
Addressing the audience at the unveiling of the structure, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Zubairu Dada, said the facility would help in reducing the level of shipment by individual diplomats. He described the facility as a one-stop shopping village that will take care of all the needs of the diplomats in Abuja.
This is as he assured the Diplomatic Corps of their safety, noting that the Government will provide adequate security at the village.
“No doubt the services provided by the duty-free facility will drastically reduce the volume of diplomatic shipments into the country.
“It is my hope that the services of the duty-free facility will further provide an additional platform and opportunity for members of the diplomatic community to enjoy this dividend stay in our country.
“I understand that the facility has different interesting and top-notch sections ranging from shopping centre recreational services, spa, eye centre, restaurants, clinic, etc.
“This affirms that the Federal Government of Nigeria has so far demonstrated its commitment towards ensuring the success of the duty-free facility by giving the needed support for each operation.
“Which will by no small measure contribute immensely to the economic growth of Nigeria,” Dada said.
On her part, the Special Guest at the event and Minister of Finance and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, disclosed that the Federal Government took the establishment of the facility important to ensure coordination of imports for the diplomats.
Ahmed said that the diplomatic immunities and privileges Act of 1962, empowers the Ministry of Finance to exempt Diplomats from all taxes.
The village, she said, will ensure strict control or cessation of individual requests for waivers on imported items by diplomas, which presently, is largely uncoordinated and originated.
She added that the duty-free facility will enable the government to maintain a database of products.
On his part, Managing Director of the Diplomatic Village, Uche Odozor, said the village would improve diplomatic relations between Nigeria and representatives of other countries and multilateral institutions in the country, adding that it was fulfilling to see the unveiling of an edifice that started in 2010.
