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Exporters in the Airfreight business have decried the exorbitant
tariff charges imposed by the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service on
agricultural produce, saying the agency charges as high as N5000 per kilo of
goods.
tariff charges imposed by the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service on
agricultural produce, saying the agency charges as high as N5000 per kilo of
goods.
They disclosed that due to the ridiculous charges, many of them
have resorted to taking their goods to Ghana for export, to curtail the
excesses of Nigerian government’s agencies.
have resorted to taking their goods to Ghana for export, to curtail the
excesses of Nigerian government’s agencies.
The Chairman of Airfreight Forum, Sunday Akintunde, in Abuja,
lamented that exporters prefer to carry their goods to Ghana and export with
Ghanaian label to other parts of the world, thereby growing the economy,
instead of Nigeria’s.
lamented that exporters prefer to carry their goods to Ghana and export with
Ghanaian label to other parts of the world, thereby growing the economy,
instead of Nigeria’s.
He expressed concern that the high tariff has pushed a lot of them
out of business, as there is no return on investment, adding that it has indeed
hampered export business in the country.
out of business, as there is no return on investment, adding that it has indeed
hampered export business in the country.
“We have a lot of challenges, one of it is the cost of exporting
cargo, the aim of any business man is to have return on investment and
unfortunately we don’t have that, there is so much bureaucracy by government
agencies, inspection agencies like those in charge of issuing form CCI
(Certificate of Capital Importation),” he said.
cargo, the aim of any business man is to have return on investment and
unfortunately we don’t have that, there is so much bureaucracy by government
agencies, inspection agencies like those in charge of issuing form CCI
(Certificate of Capital Importation),” he said.
Akintunde called on government to review its policies and remove
all the bottlenecks, adding that the world is changing and does not do manual
documentation anymore.
all the bottlenecks, adding that the world is changing and does not do manual
documentation anymore.
A member of the National Association of Government Approved
Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Lanre Akerekan, affirmed that quarantine services
charge them N5000 per kilo of any farm produce, which is very outrageous.
Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Lanre Akerekan, affirmed that quarantine services
charge them N5000 per kilo of any farm produce, which is very outrageous.
“The major goods that is exported out of Nigeria are foodstuffs,
which is being regulated by quarantine service, but with a tariff as high as
N5000 per kilo and you have a weight of 200kg, if you multiply that, how much
is left for you?
which is being regulated by quarantine service, but with a tariff as high as
N5000 per kilo and you have a weight of 200kg, if you multiply that, how much
is left for you?
Mr. Maaruf Idris, a Shea Butter exporter, said that the major
challenge facing them is the high cost of operations due to logistics, tariff
and the delay in getting the necessary documentations.
challenge facing them is the high cost of operations due to logistics, tariff
and the delay in getting the necessary documentations.
He said that before an exporter finishes with all the certification
from the various agencies, some of the goods are already getting bad adding
that there is delay in issuance of certification and document from National
Export Promotion Council.
from the various agencies, some of the goods are already getting bad adding
that there is delay in issuance of certification and document from National
Export Promotion Council.
The Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers Council, Hassan
Bello, assured that the council was working with all relevant stakeholders in
the sector to address the challenges.
Bello, assured that the council was working with all relevant stakeholders in
the sector to address the challenges.
He said the main objective of the council was to fast track
clearance of cargoes and ensures adequate storage of cargoes and perishable
items to attract more exporters into the business adding “we have to take into
consideration the cost of cargo, some costs are not justified as they are not
tied to service
clearance of cargoes and ensures adequate storage of cargoes and perishable
items to attract more exporters into the business adding “we have to take into
consideration the cost of cargo, some costs are not justified as they are not
tied to service
He assured “We are not going to control cost but we will not allow
arbitrary charges in the Nigerian port industry in the course of clearing
cargoes.”
arbitrary charges in the Nigerian port industry in the course of clearing
cargoes.”
The Guardian
