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Customs Agents Seeks Regulation Of Shipping Charges

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14 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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Business

Association Woos Govt, Coys On  Boat Operators  Employments

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2 weeks ago

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June 12, 2026

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The leadership of Bonny Maritime Boat Association has called on Rivers state Government and oil companies operating in the state to provide sustainable employment to unemployed boat Operators.
The Association also want the government, companies and other relevant employers of labour to provide trainings for boat Operators to enhance their skills
Safety Officer of the Association, Comrade Kingdom Kingsley made this known in  a  telephone interview with  The Tide.
He noted that most of the boat Operators and owners plying Bonny route lacks jobs due to the fleets of boats introduced by Bonny Road Transport that had taken over the passengers to the Island
He noted that passengers are no longer patronizing boats owned by the Association, thereby rendering the operators redundant
“Most of our operators can not afford to feed their families due to no jobs, we don’t want to indulge in crime, government should fix our members with  sustainable jobs to take care of their immediate needs”
He called on oil companies operating in the state to engage their skilled boat Operators in their companies to reduce the sufferings faced by the Association.
The Safety Officer called on the state government  to made funds available to unemployed youths in the state to start up business than roam the streets.
He noted that provision of funds to youths would reduce crime rates and reposition their mindsets for a better life
“The  youths of Rivers state are suffering, have no job to feed their families, thereby indulging in criminality daily”
“The youths need empowerment,  jobs,  recreational facilities and better things of life as citizens of this Nation”, Kingsley said.
CHINEDU WOSU
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FG Approves $1 Bn AFCFTA Credit Facility For Nigerian Exporters

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2 weeks ago

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June 12, 2026

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The Federal Government has approved a whooping $1bn credit facility to support Nigerian exporters and small scale businesses to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in order to boost production, competitiveness and intra-African trade.
The $1bn AfCFTA Adjustment Fund Credit Facility is also expected to address some of the financing gap being faced by Nigerian exporters and enhance the competitiveness of African businesses within the continental market.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, disclosed this  during the second quarter 2026 meeting of the AfCFTA Central Coordination Committee held in Abuja.
According to a statement issued by the ministry’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Obilor-Duru Okechi, Oduwole said the financing facility represented a major opportunity for Nigerian businesses seeking to expand operations, modernise production processes and increase exports to African markets.
The statement partly read, “?The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating Nigeria’s export-led growth agenda under the African Continental Free Trade Area, unveiling opportunities for businesses to access a US$1 billion AfCFTA Adjustment Fund Credit Facility aimed at boosting production, competitiveness, and intra-African trade.”
She noted that despite the progress Nigeria had made in implementing the continental trade agreement, many local businesses continued to face obstacles that limited their ability to take advantage of the single African market.
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“Many businesses still face challenges relating to export documentation, certification, standards compliance and market access,” the minister said.
She explained that the Federal Government was addressing these bottlenecks through enhanced trade facilitation measures, simplified AfCFTA guidance tools, stakeholder engagement programmes and stronger collaboration with institutions such as the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council.
Oduwole stressed the need to strengthen Nigeria’s legal and regulatory framework by domesticating key AfCFTA protocols, particularly the Digital Trade Protocol, to position the country as a major player in Africa’s growing digital economy.
The minister also highlighted some of the gains recorded in Nigeria’s AfCFTA implementation efforts.
According to her, the expansion of Nigeria’s Air Cargo Corridor Initiative to Rwanda, increased collaboration with development partners and private sector players, as well as sustained engagement with state governments, were helping to deepen awareness and participation in the continental market.
In her welcome address and first-quarter update, the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, Mrs Patience Okala, provided details of the financing initiative.
Okala said the $1bn AfCFTA Adjustment Fund Credit Facility was targeted at large African businesses with a minimum financing capacity of $10m.
She revealed that the National AfCFTA Coordination Office was working closely with fund managers to facilitate access for eligible Nigerian companies and had begun assembling a pilot group of businesses to ensure that Nigeria maximised the opportunities provided by the facility.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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NIWA Harps On  Avoidance Of Leaking Boats

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2 weeks ago

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June 12, 2026

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The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has advised Nigerians against boarding boats that require constant bailing of water in the interest of their safety.
 NIWA Area Manager for Cross River and Ebonyi, Mr Stanley Onuoha gave this warning in an interview with Newsmen in Calabar.
Onuoha who spoke on waterway
safety, said that passengers should take responsibility for their safety by inspecting boats before embarking on any journey.
According to him, repeated scooping of water from a boat is a clear indication that the vessel may be leaking.
“If you are entering a boat and see people using a bailer to remove water, it is the first signal that the boat is leaking,” he said.
He urged passengers to check the integrity of boats, including seating arrangements and other visible safety features.
The Manager restated the importance of using safety jackets, saying that damaged jackets may fail during emergencies.
He further said that passengers should ensure that safety jackets were appropriate for their body sizes in order to guarantee effective flotation.
 Onuoha reiterated the need for passengers to fill manifests before departure to aid accountability during emergencies.
The NIWA official further advised travellers to monitor weather conditions and avoid boarding boats when the weather is unfavourable.
According to him, poor weather conditions can trigger strong tidal waves capable of affecting small boats commonly used on inland waterways.
He said that waterway journeys should be embarked upon between 6.00a.m and 6.00p.m for clearer visibility.
Onuoha said  the Authority had continued to sensitise riverine communities to the need for safety precautions during waterway journeys.
He stated that sustained awareness campaigns and enforcement measures had contributed to safety waterway safety in Cross River.
CHINEDU WOSU
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