Strong indications have emerged suggesting that serious breakdown of law and order at the nation’s seaports as the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) is set to introduce fresh port charges on imported goods without recourse to operating practitioners.
Already, the Council earlier this week, commenced collection of N1000 on 20 feet container, N2000 on 40 feet container, 350 kobo per ton on general cargo while it will cost N1 per ton on bulk cargo on arrival at the ports.
At a recent meeting held in Lagos to sensitize freight forwarders, though CRFFN claimed it has gotten approval from the Ministry of Finance to collect Practitioners Operating Fee (POF) from freight forwarders and customs brokers operating in the country, freight forwarders, who spoke to our correspondents across major ports in the country vowed to resist the move, saying that the fresh charges would bring about inflation.
According to them, the new charges would among other things, jerk up cost of doing business and discourage the growing use of Nigerian seaports.
Freight forwarders argue further that rather than introduce fresh port charges, government and MDAs should reduce the amount paid for registration for both company and individual so that more businesses can spring up.
In an interview, the Registrar of the Council, Mr Samuel Nwakohu claimed that the fresh POF charges would not bring about inflation or high cost of doing business at the ports.
