Importers threaten Nigeria Ports over Shippers Council fees

By Uzor Odigbo
Despite the 50% reduction on the proposed registration fees introduced by the Nigeria Shipper’s Council, importers have threatened to abandon Nigerian seaports.
The Council had announced a downward review of the fees, following with stakeholders.
The shippers under the auspices of Importers Association of Nigeria (IMAN) in a chat with newsmen last week, insisted that the port economic regulator should suspend any form of additional fee in the cargo clearance procedures from the ports ; or else they will be forced to stop importation of cargoes into the country.
IMAN further called on the economic port regulator to address issues confronting stakeholders in the ports thus avoid any form of additional cost of doing business in the industry.
The Chief Operations Officer (COO),of the group, Prosper Okolo told journalists that importers may be forced to stop cargo importation through Nigerian ports.
He said “If every agencies of government are collecting levy from the port,the shippers will no longer import cargoes into the country.
Okolo noted that top officials of the association have engaged the Central Bank of Nigeria over the arbitrary charges on importers by government agencies and the shipping lines operating in the country.
The COO called for an urgent meeting between the council and shippers for further clarification, even as he lamented that the introduction of the fee will further add to the cost of cargo clearance from the ports.
According to the proposed fee breakdown of the fee released by NSC showed that shipping line agencies and terminal operators would now be paying N50,000 per annum down from the initial N100,000 ; while inland container depot/dry port operators will now be paying N25,000 instead of N50,000.
Others are off dock terminal operators, cargo consolidators and shipping agency (non-vessel operating agency) will pay N10,000 down from N20,000 while freight forwarders and clearing agents, haulage firms, stevedoring companies, cargo surveyors and shippers will now pay N5,000 instead of the N10,000 initially imposed by the NSC at the beginning of this year.
However,IMAN in a statement signed by National Secretary, Kingsley Chikezie ,called on the council for clarification of the fee in order for shippers to be guided appropriately.
” In pursuance of the said objective, IMAN has the approved of federal ministry of finance and office of the inspector General of police to assist the Government Regulatory Agencies such as Nigerian shippers council (NSC) in curtailing illegal activities of port users in Nigeria.
“In view of the Registration fees being proposed by you for port users in Nigeria, IMAN the pillar of importers and exporter who are mostly affected will want to support Government oriented economic policies and projects.
“We therefore expect your invitation for an urgent meeting for further clarifications, which