The Deputy National President, Headquarters, of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, NAGAFF, Mr. Simeon Nwonu has likened the scramble for increment in charges by various government agencies and service providers at the nation’s seaports to the scramble for Africa.
Nwonu who made this known in a chat with our correspondent in Lagos recently, stated that the current scramble started with the declaration by the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA that it intended to increase its service charge across board by 15% citing it’s inability to do so in the last 32 years and the reality of today’s Nigerian economy as part of its reasons for the increment.
“For me, I look at the whole thing as conspiracy of the elites. Now, NPA is saying for 32 years, so they have woken up from their slumber? Now they have seen what the customs is doing and then, Shippers’ Council has also woken up from its own slumber.
“You see, it’s like a scramble. I remember in those years, when in history, we learnt about 1884/85, the scramble for Africa by Germany, France, Italy, Britain. That is what is happening now. The port system has become a place for scavenging for survival.
“I am not surprised if NPA says that it is increasing charges or Shippers’ Council or any other agency. Even NIMASA may come in now. It is an elitist conspiracy theory, they come together, they conspire and when they hold their Board meeting, they will say if customs is increasing charges and nothing is happening, let us also do the same.
“But I must tell you, it is not even customs that is increasing all this money, customs is being directed to implement. And the Board of Customs cannot take a unilateral decision, they consult the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Ministries of Finance and Budget and Planning”, he submitted.
He, however, regretted that Nigerians were so complacent this time around that they easily succumb to pressures of these unprovoked upward review by both government agencies and service providers alike which he said surprised him a lot.
“The government like to use carrots and stick, they beat you, you want to cry, they give you carrot. So, that’s why institutions like the NLC will tell you that they will go on strike on a chosen date before you know it, they backtrack. That’s the use of carrot.
“Right from the time of Buhari, the scavenging for our economy was so much that perhaps, nothing was left out. But even at that, the current administration of Tinubu knew what happened then and witnessed how everything was being destroyed, and the President assured us that if voted into power, that he will ensure that he will reverse the whole situation, that he has the capacity to do it, which I believe he has. But having the capacity is one thing and having the will power to do it is another thing.
“Those at the National Assembly, what do they do? What is their job? I listened to one of them being interviewed the other time about the Nigerian economy and the man did not even know what to say. He was dumbstruck, he couldn’t answer any question because he doesn’t have what it takes to be there.
“So, the situation now in Nigeria is he who has the money dictates the tune but at the end of the day, even those that are gathering this money are not safe. Just like in a family where only one person is the rich person. He should be suffering.
“The port system is now more endangered that you make wake up one day and come to the port, you may not see anybody. If you go to Ikorodu and other government warehouses, you will see overtime cargo being auctioned. These are people’s goods and because the money was not there for them to clear, the thing goes for auction. It’s a sad one. So, if government can just understand that they are dealing with human beings.
“Like I said before, until government deemphasized setting revenue target for Customs, this thing started during the time of Dikko, it’s not done anywhere in the world. Modern customs service is geared towards trade facilitation and then, of course, collecting not generating duty. But here in Nigeria, we don’t talk about collecting, we talk about generating. Customs are not meant to generate revenue, they are not FIRS that goes about generating revenue.
“And when they push people into the job market, the threat that the economy and the society is facing will continue to increase”, he concluded.
It will be recalled that after NPA had announced it plan to effect an upward review of its service charges, the Nigeria Customs Service introduced the 4% FOB levy which was later in suspended for wider consultation, the the terminal operators and shipping companies also in a meeting with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council had indicated their intentions to review their charges upwards to meet up with the demands of their operations.
Just recently, the West Africa Container Terminal, WACT and the CMA CGM announced their intentions to increase their charges, a development which had received a wide condemnation from the port users.
Photo: Mr. Simeon Nwonu, Deputy National President, Headquarters, NAGAFF.
Send your press invite, news, press releases/articles to augustinenwadinamuo@yahoo.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @PrimetimeRepor1 and on Facebook on facebook.com/primetimereporters or call the editor on 07030661526.
