By Amina Ojelabi
Licensed customs agents have kicked against the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) proposal to increase license fees by more than 2,000 percent, warning that they may be forced to withdraw their services from the nation’s ports if the policy is implemented.
At a stakeholders’ forum in Lagos on Thursday, organized by the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), agents insisted that the existing rates should remain in place, while license renewals should be extended to three or five years instead of the current annual regime.
The new fee structure proposed by Customs would raise the cost of obtaining a fresh license from ₦515,000 to ₦10 million, while annual renewal charges would leap from ₦215,000 to ₦4 million.
ANLCA President, Mr. Emenike Nwokeoji, warned that such drastic increases would ultimately be borne by importers and consumers, resulting in higher commodity prices and worsening hardship across the country.
Participants at the meeting including representatives of other licensed customs associations and the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) rejected the plan outright.
Dr. Ikenna Nwosu, Deputy Chairman of LCCI’s Clearing and Forwarding Trade Group, noted that Customs appeared more interested in generating revenue than regulating the sector.
“Globally, license fees are not used as a revenue base. What Customs is proposing is clearly a revenue drive, not about trade facilitation,” he said.
Stakeholders pointed out that Nigeria’s licensing regime is already among the costliest in the world. In many advanced economies, such as the United States, Canada, and Singapore, licenses are valid for three to ten years, with some granted on a permanent basis.
Retired Customs Comptroller, Mr. Lewis Ogunojemite, condemned the plan, calling it a deliberate attempt to edge out practitioners and hand control to “money bags.”
Chairman of ANLCA’s Board of Trustees, Mr. Taiwo Mustapha, said the development has united customs agents under a single cause. He expressed doubt that the proposal was truly open for discussion, given Customs’ past record of imposing policies without consultation.
“We believe certain decisions may already have been taken. But if Customs insists on going ahead, agents will have no option but to down tools,” he said.
Other speakers, including members of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, also rejected any negotiation that would validate the increase.
The meeting concluded with a firm resolution: unless Customs drops the proposal and retains the current regime, agents will stage a nationwide service withdrawal that could paralyze operations at the ports.
Leave a Reply