By Enyeribe Anyanwu
Shipping lines, freight forwarders and other service providers in the ports have risen against the introduction of a new registration fee by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC).
The stakeholders, who spoke at a sensitization workshop organised by the NSC in Lagos on Thursday, lamented the multiple charges they contend with from other government agencies including the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarders in Nigeria (CRFFN), among others.
They said the implementation of the new fee by NSC will erode the confidence they have in the Council.
A breakdown of the registration fee released by NSC showed that shipping line agencies are expected to pay a registration fee of N100,000 per annum; cargo consolidators N20,000; dry port operators N50, 000; freight forwarders and clearing agents N10, 000; haulage firms N10,000; inland container depot operators N50,000; off dock terminal operators N20,000; seaport terminal operators N100,000; shippers N1,000; shippers associations N5,000; stevedoring companies N20, 000; and warehouse operators N20,000.
A staff of one of the shipping companies, Ohizu Vincent, said that the introduction of the charge would add to the cost of shipping line services, which will be transferred to the end users.
He said, “This is cost addition to what the shipping lines are going to incur. What are the criteria set aside to corroborate this payment? You have asked some to pay different payments and you have given the bulk of the payment to shipping agencies.
“Looking at what Nigeria is today; are we trying to encourage indigenous shippers or bring them down because with such charges, it will be difficult for indigenous shippers to make these payments.”
But the Nigerian Shippers Council said the the registration is aimed at regulating their activities, ensure quality service delivery and eradicating quackery in the maritime industry.
Mr. Samuel Vontau, Director, Legal services at NSC, said that the essence of the registration and regulation of the services providers by the Council is to ensure the availability of adequate and standard services in the industry as well as ensuring reasonable profit for the providers of the services. He said the move will also enable the regulator to sufficiently protect indigenous operators from domination by foreign services providers.