By Uzor Odigbo
The Importers Association of Nigeria (IMAN) has commenced the collection levies from its members across the country.
The secretary of board of Trustees of the association, Mr. Kingsley Chikezie made the disclosure at a parley with members of the Association of Maritime Journalists (AMJON) in Lagos.
He disclosed that the Managing Director of Pintels Nigeria Limited, Prosper Okolo and Mr. Igwe John Eze have been appointed as collectors in the south-west zone.
Chikezie added that all arrangements had been concluded with the stakeholders to begin the collection of the tariff henceforth.
According to the board’s scribe, the body was ready to introduce series of reforms to facilitate clearing of goods at the ports.
The classified levies to be collected were listed as thus: On 20 fit container and its equivalent, the body now charges N2,000, 40-ft containers and equivalent go for N5,000, trailers from boarders are to pay N10,000 while half body trailers pay N5,000.
Charges on imported cars attract N10, 000, other imported vehicles other than cars and bulk cargoes of cement attract N2, 000, fish, fertilizer, rice, iron ore, petroleum product are to pay N10, 000 per ton.
While bulk cargoes of the above motioned vessels of 10,000 to 20,000 ton capacity are to pay N5, 000 and on Airport cargoes, N3, 000 is to be charged.
All charges are to be paid per trip.
The secretary said all the necessaries approvals backing the toll have been received from relevant government agencies.
He charged members of the association to continue to practice their trade in line with the provisions of the laws of the land.
“Our members have nothing to fear provided they are on the side of the law because we are doing legitimate business. We can confidently report to you that most of the allegations against us that we were the ones importing arms and ammunitions into the nation were not true.
“Severally, we had offered to work with the Nigeria Customs Service to fish out the bad heads but because some persons were afraid of their jobs, they didn’t allow the partnership to work. Here we are with the woes of illegal importation but it is not too late to correct the anomalies” Chikizie said.
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