… Calls on NPA, TTP to emulate customs, suspend all anti-people charges
The Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria, APFFLON has commended the Comptroller General of Customs and indeed, the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS for the bold step they have taken to suspend the controversial 4% Free On Board, FOB levy on all imported goods into the country.
It will be recalled that the Nigeria Customs Service, last week, introduced the 4% FOB levy on all imports coming into the country citing Section 18(1)(a) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCSA) 2023 as the reason for its action, a development which did not go down well with the business community and the stakeholders, sparking anger and resentment against the Service.
However, after a weeklong debate and argument for and against the implementation of the 4% FOB levy, the NCS bowed to pressure and announced the suspension of the controversial levy to enable comprehensive stakeholder engagement and consultations regarding the Act’s implementation framework.
Reacting, the National President of APFFLON, Otunba Frank Ogunojemite appreciated the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi for being a listening leader, an attribute he said was lacking in many leaders in Nigeria today.
Describing the CG as an epitome of humility, Ogunojemite said, “It takes humility for man to listen to constructive criticism and to admit error in his action and takes a step further to reverse and correct himself. By this suspension, the CG has proved himself a true leader.”
He posited that now that the levy had been suspended, it was time for the NCS to embark on aggressive stakeholder engagement to get them on the same page with it and to arrive on a common ground on this issue so that it would be win-win for both the Service and the stakeholders alike.
He pointed out that during this period, the customs should come up with palliative measures to help cushion the effect of the levy on the business community before reintroducing the levy by which time the people would been adequately prepared for it and anticipate it.
The APFFLON boss further appealed to the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA to equally rescind its planned decision to increase its charges by 15% across board citing harsh economic weather and the difficulties faced by Nigerians as his reasons for the appeal.
He argued that any increment in charges at this time will further aggravate the hardship faced by Nigerians and add to the skyrocketing cost of living.
Arguing that the planned increase, if allowed to succeed, was capable of increasing the cost of production for the local manufacturers, he equally pointed to the fact that the increase would further aggravate the inflation rate in the country.
His words, “Increment in charges of any kind at this period is ill-timed and ill-advised considering that Nigerians are grappling with so many challenges including the removal of fuel subsidy, floating exchange rate, inflation, high cost of living, 50% increment by telecom industry, increase in electricity tariff, the new tax bill among others. It’s the same people that are being targeted with all these increment even though their earnings remain the same.
“So, we appeal to the Nigerian Ports Authority to factor in all these into the picture and see the need to halt its planned increment in charges to grow the economy and alleviate the suffering of the masses who are at the receiving end.”
He equally called on the management of NPA and that of the Truck Transit Parks Limited, TTP to revisit the cost of procuring Eto Call up which he said had skyrocketed and was now out of reach of many truck drivers.
“We can’t be talking about a robust economy with policies and actions which seek to impoverish Nigerians. Such development cannot take us anywhere rather it would drive away investors and kill businesses in this country. Eto is now causing an impediment to the Ease of Doing Business at the port and you can’t be talking about Ease of Doing Business when the cost of getting Eto is now up to two hundred thousand naira (N200,000). This development can only lead to congestion at the port and further make our ports inefficient and costly.
“I therefore, appeal to the both NPA and TTP to take a holistic look at this development and emulate the Nigeria Customs Service in suspending some of these anti-people policies and actions for a virile and robust port system in Nigeria”, he pleaded.
Photo: Otunba Frank Ogunojemite, National President, APFFLON.
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