By Godfrey Bivbere
National Presaident of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Prince Olayiwola Shittu, has decried  multiple charges at the nation’s port, noting that it has led to the increase of prices of goods   and services purchased by Nigerians from various markets in the country.

Speaking at a two day capacity building training for directorate level  staff of the public service institute/Federal Ministry of Transportation in Kaduna, Shittu noted that the charges are so much that an importer would have no chioce but to pass on the charges to Nigerians when the goods finally come out of the port.

The ANLCA boss in a paper titled “multiplicity of taxes, levies-and charges- in the ports”  listed some of the charges as, port tariffs, Government taxes, shipping company freight and local charges, marine terminal storage rents, charges and penalties, Haulage ,transport, freight charges and freight forwarders service charge.

A statement signed by Special Assistant to the National President on Media and made available to Vanguard  Mr Joe Sanni, said that the participants expressed surprise that the shipper/ importer pays so many unnecessary charges at the ports, to clear his goods.

Shittu told his audience that the way out is insistence that only charges recognised by the law for the terminal operators are paid (The maximum tariff charges of N5,015.00 for 1X20 feet container and N6,268.00 for 1X40 ft).

He also recommended that Terminal Handling Charges (THC), royalty and any other charges that are not provided for in the concession agreement should be dropped with immediate effect. He told the participants that “shipping agency charges should be dropped, since it amount to the primary responsibility of the carrier and in which the shipping agent is acting; container demurrage free time of seven working days, etc.”

In the first paper titled “Overview of the transport sector and transport policy process” which was delivered on behalf of the president, by the Special Assistent (Technical) to Shittu, Mr. Francis Omotosho, focused on the basic principles of transport, transport systems, transport planning and transport policy processes.

The paper drew attention to the fact that many factors contribute to economic and social progress, but mobility is especially important because the ingredients of a satisfactory life, from food and health to education and employment are generally available only if there is adequate means of moving people, goods and ideas.

He stressed that performance measurement can focus the attention of decision_ makers, practitioners and the public on the right path to achieving the desired goal for the sector.