Licensed customs agents have called on the government to streamline the country’s port system to tackle the issue of multiple taxation, especially regarding payment for the electronic call-up system.
The National President of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, Mr Lucky Amiwero, disclosed this recently in a letter to President Bola Tinubu, titled ‘Re: imposition of the payment of Eto-call up system on licensed customs agents/importers, which has already been paid for as vehicle entry permit and tenure entry permit under maximum tariff for cargo due’, obtained by The PUNCH.
According to the agents, the Nigerian port system is expected to serve the economy by establishing an appropriate operational process, effective port procedure and effective legislative framework.
“The payment of vehicle entry permit and holding bay fees have already been included and paid by the licensed customs agents/importers to terminal operators,” he said.
Amiwero blamed unavailability of holding bays by some terminal operators as part of the things fuelling the use of Eto.
“The holding bay for trucks that existed before 2005, within and around the ports, was ceded out to terminal operators as well as land space, without providing an alternative. All such spaces were ceded to terminal operators, forcing the owners of the truck to use the available port access roads to hold empty containers and wait as holding bay, awaiting access to the port to load client consignment,” Amiwero stated.
He said that the implementation of the electronic call-up system was double taxation to agents/importers after the payment of vehicle entry permit and tenure packing fees to the terminal operators, “which legally authorised vehicles to enter the port and load their consignment without any payment”.
According to Amiwero, it is illegal to double charge on the same service vehicle entry into the port, which has been paid for by agents to terminal operators.
The NCMDLCA boss added that the fees paid for the call-up system were illegal as it had no direct bearing to cargo.
“It is illegal and double charge to the importer/licensed customs agents, which is not part of the service rendered on cargo. A copy of the lease agreement that contains maximum tariff cargo dues. Nigerian Port Authority/terminal operators are to be responsible for the payment of the call-up system in line with the agreement.
For Amiwero, the Eto is part of the development of the port, which is under the purview of NPA and is part of infrastructure development for the movement of vehicles into the port.
“Seven per cent surcharge is paid by Nigerian importers through the licensed customs agents on every import collected since 1978 till date. The NPA should utilise part of its seven per cent to provide for truck access to the port, which is covered statutorily under section 32-(a). It is the responsibility of NPA to regulate traffic and provide free access to the port and not the responsibility of agents,” he argued.
Also, the National Deputy President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, Nnadi Ugochukwu, maintained that terminal operators should bear the cost of the call-up system.
“Terminal operators should be the ones bearing the payment of that call-up system. Because when an agent finishes clearing his consignment, it is the duty of the terminal operators to tell you when to come and pick up your consignments.
“The ports have been given concessionaires (the terminal operators), so they should make provision for the time in which the consignee can come and pick up his consignments. Is the prices they pay for Eto commemorate with the services they render,” Nnadi said.
