Maximizing Economic Opportunities through Effective Anti-Illicit Trade Enforcement
The Initiative for Public Policy Analysis (IPPA) holds a Policy Roundtable:
“Business Environment & Excise Duty: Maximizing Economic Opportunities through Effective Anti-Illicit Trade Enforcement.”
Illicit trade is a growing problem across the world. It has an extensive impact on national and global security architecture largely because illicit trade facilitates transnational organised crime and illegal flow of money. According to the United Nations’ estimates, more than $1 billion is illicitly traded in small arms alone in Africa, fuelling the increasing conflicts and criminal activities in the region.
In Nigeria, illicit trade is largely policy induced. Often it is one of unintended consequences of government policy response or market reactions to policy gaps. Illicit trade thrives mostly because of a hike in excise tax or multiplicity of taxes and poor policing of the borders and weak enforcement. A high excise tax creates a boom for illicit trading activities and weak enforcement of laws incentivise smugglers.
Illicit trade is a dis-incentive to local manufacturers. Smuggling and other aspects of illicit trade not only deprives government of revenues, it also lead to job losses because of unfair competition posed by smuggled brands. Illicit trade is a multi-faceted problem which requires some policy approaches and a joint effort by all stakeholders including the private sector.
Date: Wednesday 25 July, 2018
Venue: Protea Hotel, Isaac John Street Ikeja GRA, Lagos
Time: 9:00am-12:30pm
Speakers:
•Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali: Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service (TBC)
•Dr. Folarin Gbadebo-Smith: Director General, Nigeria Institute for Social and Economic Research (NISER) Ibadan & Abuja
•Dr. John Isemede: UNIDO & Former DG NACCIMA:
•Dr. Olajide Damilola, University of Aberdeen & Senior Fellow IPPA Nigeria
Moderator:
• Thompson Ayodele: Director, Initiative for Public Policy Analysis, Lagos
This event is free. Because of limited seats, interested persons are required to RSVP their participation.To confirm participation, please call Bola at 08023025079 or email info@ippanigeria.org