Author: Saint Augustine

…Demands explanation for humongous revenue collection amidst import dip The Association of Registered Freight Forwarders Nigeria, AREFFN has again faulted the practice by the federal government where it sets revenue target for the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS on a yearly basis even as it seeks to know what is giving rise to the humongous revenue collection as declared by different Customs commands despite dip in importation. The National Secretary of the association, Ichie Frank Obiekezie who made these observations in a chat with our correspondent in Lagos recently, reiterated that customs was not established to generate revenue for the government…

The National Compliance Joint Taskforce of Licensed Clearing Agents in Nigeria, NCJTFCLA has warned the shipping line agencies in Nigeria who are just agents to vessels to end the criminal extortion of importers and their agents of their hard earned resources. The National President of the group, High Chief Dr. Basil Nwolisa who gave this warning in a statement in Lagos on Monday, wondered how shipping companies could be collecting demurrage on consignments domiciled in the terminals and the terminal operators’ warehouses. Nwolisa who described this as the worst form of extortion in the history of cargo business in the…

The last may not have been heard about the ongoing rush by the port operators in the Nigerian maritime industry to increase their service charge as the terminal operators and the shipping lines agencies have joined the fray. Recall that the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, last week, indicted its intention to increase its charges by 15 percent across board in order to ensure competitiveness and infrastructure upgrade at the nation’s seaports. That same last week, the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS introduced a new levy known as 4 percent Free On Board, FOB levy to finance its operations citing Section 18…

… Promises to make Apapa chapter envy of other associations The Chairmanship aspirant for Apapa chapter in the forthcoming Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA chapter elections, Mr. Emeka Chukwumalu, his deputy, Alhaji Kayode Jejeloye and indeed, all members of the Integrity Team, on Friday, held the grand finale of their campaign in Apapa, Lagos. The event which witnessed the presence of who is who in the freight forwarding subsector of the maritime Industry, also witnessed all the actors and regulators in the industry in attendance. The massive turnout and attendance is a testament to the person of Mr.…

The Nigerian Ports Consultative Council, NPCC has appointed a veteran journalist and publisher of MMS Plus newspaper, Mr. Kingsley Anaroke as Vice Chairman of its Media/ Publicity Committee. NPCC Chairman, Mr. Bolaji Sunmola, disclosed in a letter of appointment addressed to the MMS boss on Thursday. Anaroke, who is also a former President of the League of Maritime Editors and Publishers, joins a vibrant team of NPCC Media Committee team with Dr. Hope Orivri as Chairman and Mr. Kenneth Jukpor as Secretary. Part of the letter read: “The Board of Nigerian Ports Consultative Council, wish to congratulate you on your…

As the controversy surrounding the 4% Free On Board, FOB levy recently introduced by the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS rages on, the immediate past Acting National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA, Dr. Kayode Farinto has called on the federal government to abrogate the 1% Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme, CISS since allowing it to co-exist with the 4% FOB amounts to double taxation and would further impoverish Nigerians. Farinto who made this call in a chat with journalists in Lagos on Thursday, also called in the federal government to remove the 15% surcharge on used vehicles…

Compelled by the exigency of bringing Nigerian Ports up to speed with those of its peers in terms of infrastructure and equipment, the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA has secured necessary approvals for an upward review in its tariffs which was last reviewed in the year 1993. The 15% upward increase which is to cut across all NPA Rates and Dues is premised on the urgent need to address the undesirable reality of aged and weak Infrastructure, obsolete equipment and slow Port capacity expansion which has continued to diminish the performance and indeed, competitiveness of Nigerian Ports. Globally, Port Authorities depend…

Rite Foods Limited, a leading indigenous manufacturer in the Food & Beverages sector, has partnered the Noble Association of Social and Resourceful Editors, NASRE Foundation to provide support for ailing journalists and widows of deceased media practitioners in the country . This collaboration comes as part of NASRE’s ongoing efforts to assist journalists facing health challenges across the country, having embarked on three outreach programmes last year. The NASRE team was warmly received on Wednesday, February 5th, 2025 by the management of Rite Foods at its Head Office in Ikeja, Lagos State. Receiving NASRE team on behalf of the Managing…

The much awaited award dinner being organised by Nigerian Maritime Journalists to honour the excellent performance of the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS , Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, comes up on Thursday, February 13, 2025. The epoch-making event which is the first of its kind in the Nigerian maritime industry, will hold at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Awolowo Road, Ikeja, Lagos State by 6pm. Recall that Nigerian Maritime Journalists, comprising all the associations covering the maritime beat, came together to honour the Customs CG as the “ICONIC MARITIME PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR 2024. The event which was earlier scheduled…

The Head of Research, Sea Empowerment Research Centre, SEREC, Dr. Eugene Nweke has alleged that the authorities of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS has imposed a 4% charge on the Cost, Insurance, and Freight, CIF value of imports instead of the Free On Board,FOB value which according to him is not ideal. Nweke who stated this in a statement in Lagos on Wednesday lamented that the imposition of a 4% charge on CIF value instead of FOB value by the Service was not ideal and professional since customs duties and charges were typically calculated based on the FOB value which…