Business
Customs Agents To Begin Payment Of Transaction Fees

Consultant on ICT, Ladapo Olakunle (left) addressing broadcast journalists during a one-day workshop organised by the Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation at Meridian Hotel Rumuobiakani, Port Harcourt. Photo: Egberi .A. Sampson
The council for the Regu
lation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) is to commence the collection of transaction fees at the nation’s ports on behalf of the Federal government.
Speaking to The Tide in Port Harcourt on Monday the Registrar of CAFFN Sir Mike Jukwe, said the transaction fees would b e paid by only agents who have goods to clear at the nation’s ports.
Jukwe said the fee is different from the registration fee and annual fee paid by the agents to CRFFN.
He explained that the fees will be collected from every container leaving the nation’s port vehicles and other goods on behalf of the Federal government.
The CRFFN Chief Executive further explained that the government approved rates include N1.50 per kilo for air cargoes, N1000 per 20ft container, N2,000 per 40ft container N500 per car/Jeep N1,000 per truck or 20ft equivalent, N2,000 per truck or 40ft equivalent, N3.50 per ton for general Cargo and N1 per ton for dry bulk Cargo.
He said the Freight Forwarding Council has been in financial conundrum as a result of the crisis with the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) over 60-40 per cent arrangement stressing that the regulatory council insisted that sharing such fees with associations that were under the regulatory council would have sent negative signal to other associations in the country.
The CRFFN’s Registrar said that the collection of the transaction fees by the council would boost the council’s commitment to Professionalism and best practices in freight forwarding.
He said that the council had remained on the right track of delivering in its core mandate despite all the challenges faced over the years, stressing that the council is more committed to supporting the freight forwarding gub sector of the nation’s economy.
He promised championing the cause of repositioning the freight forwarding sub sector to a greater heights in the country for the benefits of the customs agents and effective service delivery to the public and stakeholders.
He urged stakeholders in the business of clearing and forwarding to support the regulatory body achieve its objectives.