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Customs Agents Seeks Regulation Of Shipping Charges

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13 years ago

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Worried by the apparent neglect of the Nigeria Shippers’
Council (NSC) the National President of the Association of Nigeria Licensed
Customs Agents (ANCLA), Alhaji Olayiwola Shittu, called for the crating of a
department under the Ministry of Transport to regulate shipping charges in the
nation’s maritime sector instead of delegating the power to NSC.

Shittu made the call recently at a one-day clinic on
arbitrary shipping charges in the port organised by the Nigeria Shippers
Council in conjunction with Akabogu and Associates.

According to him, “highly placed persons at the federal
ministry of transport were colluding with some industry operators to scuttle
the actualisation of a commercial regulator for the maritime industry.

He stated that NSC has done well to raise importers’
confidence at the gateways, adding that the council qualified as a commercial
regulator but some powerful forces at the ministry of transport were rendering
the NSC irrelevant in the discharge of its duties as the substantive commercial
regulator despite arbitrary shipping charges Nigerians were being made to pay
in the process of importing and shipping goods.

The NSC at the one-day clinic had revealed that it had
finished benchmarking of all charges in the maritime sector and compiled all in
a report but lacked the political will to implement the report because it
lacked the power of a commercial regulator.

Representative of the Executive Secretary NSC Barrister
Hassan Bello, however explained that the clinic would address all contentious
issues in the maritime sector development in the country.

He said the council needed the support and prayers of
stakeholders for it to receive the desired attention as economic regular.

Barrister Emeka Akabogu, while presenting his paper, stated
that the shipping charges at the gateways were not acceptable as they were not
in line with charges at neighboring port and in other countries.

He lamented the role of the Federal Government which , he
said has not done enough to assist the importers and exporters.

A cursory look at terminal/shipping charge for a 20ft import
reveals that most of the terminal operators in the nation maritime sector
charge between N45,500 to N65,000 for Terminal Handling Charges (THC) while
import delivery charge varies between N2,250 to N40,000 with Lillypond
Container Terminal charging the highest at N40,000 for import delivery charges.

APM terminal charges N9,750 for scanning of charges while it
collected N2,500 for logistics for scanning charge. At the various customs
examination desk across the terminal, APM terminal charges N11,667 which is the
highest form any terminal operator in the national seaports.

Earlier the chairman of the clinic, Otunba Kunle Folarin, a
maritime expert tasked maritime stakeholders to look into such questions as
what really constitutes the numerous charges slammed on importers and shippers
of goods to Nigeria, like Terminal Handling Charges (THC), containers
demurrage, who should be charging and how much is the international charge? Why
pay Value Added Tax on CIF when it is also charged on Custom Duty?

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NPA Assures On Staff Welfare 

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1 week ago

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June 27, 2025

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The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said the management will continue to accompany its port infrastructure  and equipment  modernization drive  with the development of the welfare of its personnel.
Dantsoho made the disclosure recently while responding to the commendation by the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) and the senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASGOC) on the  clearing  of the age-long problem of employee stagnation, when the union paid him a courtesy visit at the Authority’s headquarters in Lagos.
A Statement by NPA’s General Manager Corporate & Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, quoted Dantsoho as saying,  “our Port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive will go hand-in-hand with continuous staff welfare improvement”.
The NPA MD disclosed that human capital development constitutes the key strategy for creating and sustaining superior performance under his watch, adding that “talent development constitutes a critical success factor for the actualization of the big hairy audacious goals we have set for ourselves especially in the area of Port competitiveness.
“The only way we can meet and indeed exceed stakeholders’ expectations is to deepen the competencies of our human resources assets and boosting their morale.”
Speaking further, Dantsoho commended the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for approving the strategic proposal of the Dantsoho-led Management team that solved the over a decade-long problem of lack of promotion that had fuelled industrial disharmony.
“I must specially appreciate our amiable Minister for graciously approving the multi-pronged stratagem we deployed that cleared all outstanding cases of employee stagnation by conducting examinations in one fell swoop and instituted timelines to forestall a recurrence of such anomaly”, he sad.
Speaking on behalf of the joint maritime labour unions, the President  of Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations & Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Comrade Bodunde stated, “In addition to clearance of the backlog of stagnated promotions, we also wish to express our appreciation for the increase in productivity bonuses, provision of end-of-year welfare packages for staff, and the revision of the Financial Guide to the Condition of Service, which now addresses our members’ concerns about inflationary pressures.”
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

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1 week ago

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June 27, 2025

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National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Elder Olumide Fakanlu, has been elected Vice President of the Federation of ECOWAS Licensed Customs Brokers Association (FELCBA).
The election took place during the FELCBA Congress, held from Tuesday, June 17th to Thursday, June 19th, 2025, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Fakanlu’s emergence as Vice President marks a significant achievement for Nigeria within the regional customs brokerage community.
Apart from Fakanlu, Secretary of the Seme Chapter of ANLCA, Austin Nwosu, was also elected, securing the role of Secretary of Relations with Institutions.
The Nigerian delegation played an active role in the congress, with Michael Ebeatu nominated as a member of the electoral officer team, ensuring a fair and transparent election process.
The three-day congress concluded with delegates undertaking a visit to the Sierra Leone Port, offering insights into the host nation’s maritime operations, followed by a recreational trip to the Tokeh Beach.
The newly elected executives are expected to lead FELCBA in its efforts to harmonize customs brokerage practices, promote trade facilitation, and advocate for the interests of licensed customs brokers across the ECOWAS sub-region.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement 

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1 week ago

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June 27, 2025

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In a bid to enhance more enforcement in the nation’s Port, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to stronger inter-agency collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The Council said the collaboration is aimed at enhancing stronger enforcement, compliance and improve operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.
Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of  NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, made this known during a visit to the  Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The visit, which he said, focused on strengthening institutional synergy, comes in the wake of growing responsibilities for the NSC under the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
Akutah emphasized the critical role of security agencies in supporting port operations and ensuring regulatory compliance.
He called for the posting of police officers to assist the Council’s monitoring and enforcement teams at key port locations including Lagos, Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.
“The posting will complement the activities of our revived task teams and enhance our ability to enforce standards across the maritime logistics chain”, he said.
Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Egbetokun, assured the Council of the Force’s readiness to continue supporting the growth of the maritime sector.
The IGP acknowledged that compliance enforcement is essential to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s Blue Economy objectives.
“The NSC and NPF are expected to deepen collaboration in the months ahead, with a shared focus on building a secure, efficient, and competitive port environment”, to the IGP emphasized.
Chinedu Wosu
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