By Steve Agbota
The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has called on the Federal Government to come to the aid of freight forwarders and Customs brokers over the incessant changes in government fiscal and monetary policies that affecting the international trade chain.
The foremost Customs brokers association, through its Acting National President, Dr Farinto Collins make this known during the association’s National Executive Council meeting held in Lagos.
He lamented that due to the removal of fuel subsidy and subsequent the liberalisation of the exchange to be determined by market forces, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has fixed the official exchange rate for imports at N589 per Dollar and it has led to increase of about 45 per cent on import duty of vehicles as well as other consignments.
He further stated that the PTML terminal in Lagos has also signify their intentions to increase storage charges by 45 per cent, saying all these policies are affecting the Customs Brokers who are the ones generating the revenue.
However, the ANLCA acting National President appealed to the Federal Government to grant a 1 per cent out of their annual revenue collection to the FG’s coffers as a mitigant incentives to mitigate and lessen the sufferings of Customs Brokers in the country.
“Due to the happenings by the new government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which has removed fuel subsidy , the foreign exchange official rate which is now to be determined by the market forces (that is willing buyer and willing seller ), and that on Friday the CBN has changed our rate to N589 to a Dollar and by this , the import duty on vehicles has increased by about 45 per cenr. While that of other consignments has also increased.
“Just this morning, PTML terminal has shown intention to increase her storage charges by about 45 per cent. I want to officially request for mitigants from the Federal Government for Customs Brokers . This becomes imperatives to ameliorate the sufferings of Customs brokers in Nigeria.
“This mitigants should be in form of incentives like giving us 1 per cent of money generated annually and other things to cushion the effect of this policies. I shall unvailed other mitigants that I think will be useful to us next week,” Farinto said.
He further explained that the 1 per cent revenue generated to be given to licensed Customs agents, adding that the Federal Government needs to look at the factors of calculating the Value Added Tax ( VAT) of 7.5 per cent in a way that value should only be calculated on Imports duty.
He added that if possible the 7 per cent Ports Development Levy should be abrogated because it has long overdue, as it has over stayed its usefulness.