By Godwin Oritse
REACTIONS and opposition continued to trail the newly approved Cargo Tracking Levy, which has  been described as illegal. Some operators are of the opinion that it will make the nation’s ports  unfriendly and costly.

One of the groups opposing the newly imposed levy, National Council of Managing Director of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA) has said that the levy is another glorified form of Pre-shipment inspection of imports and exports.

The group’s President Mr Lucky Amiwero in a letter to the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) said that the present import and export procedure in the country are currently over loaded with lengthy processes and procedure and high cost .

Amiwero stated that the implication of the newly introduced levy is also not in compliance with any domestic law in relation to process and procedure.
“It also contravene the FAL convention of the International Maritime Organization (IMO)and the Kyoto convention in the facilitation of trade.
“Such introduction requires the collective consultation of all stakeholders and the reduction of existing process and procedure and high cost for a friendly port”. He added.

Speaking in similar vein, the Tin-Can Island port chapiter of the Association Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents Mr Kayode Farinto said that the Cargo Tracking levy is illegal and a fraud.

“We are saying that the Nigerian ports are still the most expensive in the Sub-region and someone somewhere is trying to introduce another levy, when we are thinking of how we can further reduce the cost of doing business in our ports.
“This is totally unacceptable and we reject it outrightly.

“I do not know why the Nigerian government is not sensitive to plight of Nigeria, NPA has no right whatsoever to impose such levy on Nigerians.
“We are considering downing tools if the approval is not reversed

The Chairman of the Shipping Association of Nigeria (SAN) Mr Val Usifo expressed concern about the fact that the Nigerian importers are being loaded with more cost, adding that this may further lead to cost of goods and services.

He explained that the Cargo Tracking Note levy is to be paid by the importer after the shipping company must have received the ship manifest electronically from the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)He however stated that since the government wants to introduce this levy, shipping firms have no choice than to comply.