By Godwin Oritse
In a bid to further sanitise the freight forwarding practice in Nigeria, the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has commenced moves to introduce a uniform  Customs brokerage fee Confirming this to Vanguard in Lagos, ANLCA’s President Prince  Olayiwola Shittu, said  that the proposed uniform fee for freight forwarders is geared towards ensuring that a one stop shop is created for the payment of import duties and other charges.

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Shittu stated that for this project to work, there must be a bench mark of charges by Customs brokers and other service providers.

The move according to the group’s President will also help importers do better projection of their imports since they already know what will be charged on any container they bring into the port..

Although, Shittu was silent on the figure to be charged per 20″ and 40″ container, he however added that ANLCA is still consulting with other groups and stakeholders to reach an acceptable brokerage fee chargeable.

His words “ We had earlier requested for a one stop shop for the payment of every fees, dues and levies at this shop for the solution to the problems in the ports

“One stop shop for Customs for the payment of revenue collection, another one stop shop for all other payments in the ports.  When we have this one stop shop, it means there will a bench mark,  meaning that the amount chargeable on any container will now be of public knowledge and before any importer goes for his or her importation, he or she has an idea what will be paid to Customs, shipping companies, transporter, and the brokerage fee of Customs agents.

“By the time we are done with this project, an importer will know how much it will cost to engage an agent.
“The figures we are looking at right now has gone through a lot of consultation amongst the various freight forwarding groups

“Do not forget that in freight forwarding, services differ, your service to transporter is different from Customs licensed agent,  so the one I am concerned about is not how much you pay a freight forwarder, but how much you pay a Customs agent doing your Customs brokerage which is our specialty.

“I can also tell you that between ANLCA, NAGAFF and other groups we are looking into marrying our charges in  such a way that we will able to publish it”.

He explained that the move to introduce a uniform charges is still subject to the approval of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarders in Nigeria

On how soon to expect the introduction of this uniformed charges by Customs agents Shittu stated that the regulated charges will be introduce before the end of the year.