Sir Osita Chukwu Patrick (Coordinator SNFFIEC)
Sir Osita Chukwu Patrick (Coordinator SNFFIEC)
For the CET to be successful in Nigeria there is the need for Nigeria terminal operators and shipping companies to key in the system by reducing their charges, they are the ones that will thwart the whole process. What we pay here in Nigeria is far too high against other ECOWAS countries; apart from the duty which may be the same, what about the charges at the ports. Charges by the concessionaires and shipping companies need to be checked and compared with other sister nations so as to balance international trade. It is a welcome development if only the cost of clearing at the ports will be the same across board.
Patrick Ozobialu (ANLCA Chairman, Seme Border chapter)
The way I see this is that we need to study it more, Nigeria is a large country and almost all the importation that is coming through ECOWAS are coming into Nigeria, if Nigeria wants to help other West African countries it is fine, but we must first of all look internally and stabilize ourselves and our growing industries before helping others. We at the borders are yet to experience the effect of the new CET since it is new, in the next three months, we would be able to know how it is affecting our importers and Custom brokers like us.
Festus Ukwu (Publicist NCMDLCA)
It’s a welcome development and also an advantage to the Nigeria economy. It is a memorandum of understanding reached by all West African states and Nigeria being the leader and biggest nation has a major role to play on the implementation of the CET, therefore in terms of trade facilitation it is of good advantage to the Nigeria economy, but however, we are sure that it will help the economy of Nigeria because the government is in a position to ensure that the CET favours Nigeria’s economy and those in the import line of business.
Eugene Nweke (National President, NAGAFF)
The CET should encourage regional competition, and if competition is anything to go by, as a freight forwarder knowing full well that for the past 20 years we have been dependent on influx of goods into Nigeria, and we know that by such action our job is limited because we are only completing the job initiated by another forwarder from port of origin. We want the CET to open the horizon whereby we would engage ourselves in exportation of goods to neighbouring countries so that we would go there and compete, not just to open the window whereby other nations will come into our market and dominate us, we want it to be competitive and we want to be involved.
Joseph Anabaroanye (Registrar FFAN)
I don't really see much of the benefit but I think, it will be to the benefit of other ECOWAS countries because Nigeria is the biggest economy, and with it will help other nations in their own trade and it’s the only way it can help Nigeria’s importers who bring in cargoes through neighbouring countries in order to pay double duties. Perhaps I don't really see much benefit Nigeria is going to derive from the CET in the real sense of it, but we hope that it will be properly managed by our government and the tariff should be reasonable to our own importers to remain in business. We have to realise that other countries that make up ECOWAS are smaller and above all, we have to look at our peculiarities as a biggest country with huge background in international trade.
Segun Musa (Chairman, NAGAFF Airport chapter)
Taking a holistic view at the CET, you will see that all the countries involved have the problems of different tariffs, if you are bringing a cargo from Europe, America to Abidjan or Nigeria, there is a difference in the freight rate, the port charges will contribute to all of this. At the end of the day, if you are bringing a cargo to Nigeria and the shipping companies and the airlines are not prepared, the rates will still be very high, and considering the infrastructural development in other ECOWAS countries, I am looking at a situation whereby most importers will begin to divert their cargo to other West African countries, and at the end of the day, cargoes will not be coming to Nigeria again. We are not yet matured to the stage of implementing CET in terms of road infrastructure and technological advancement. ECOWAS must be ready to ensure that at the end of the day, most of the cargoes that are Nigerian-bound are not diverted to other ECOWAS states, and at the end of the day most of our handling companies, terminal operators and the Nigerian freight forwarders will no longer have businesses.
Prince Olayiwola Shittu (National President, ANLCA)
The CET is a tool of operation for Custom brokers, the major challenge to our economy is the abuse of the existing CET where goods dumped in other ECOWAS countries found their way into Nigeria under ETLS, most of the ECOWAS countries are dependent on Nigerian economy for them to survive. So we must protect ourselves and make sure that dumping does not kill our industries, there must be a deliberate effort from the government through the Import Adjustment Tax (IAT). We must all do more homework by ourselves, because the abuse of the system is always in the operations and not in the system itself, and over the years, it is the operators that will bastardize the system no matter how good it looks, CET is not a bad system, but we must be on the look out to ensure that those who are going to operate it do not bastardize it, and you can only challenge them if you are also knowledgeable.
Ben Ndee (NCMDLCA)
From day one, the essence of ECOWAS is of huge benefit to all of us within the region. The sustenance of CET means well for everybody in the sub region. The idea will bring about uniformity in international trade among member nations. It will bring about uniformity and seamless trade that will be of great benefit to every member state and I will say it is of good advantage to Nigeria. In effect, I think uniformity should be the watchword. My own fear from the Nigerian perspective is that I hope the Nigerian Customs will properly enforce it for it to be of benefit to everybody and above all discourage smuggling of goods within the region. Most times, it is the high cost of clearing that leads to smuggling from one country to another; whereas in neighbouring country the import tariff is low. It is my belief that the customs mean well for everyone to encourage international trade.
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