ANLCA Condemns Fresh Charges By Shipping Companies

The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has decried the introduction of a new charge called-Port Additional Destination (PAD) by foreign shipping companies, describing it as illegal. 
Speaking at a press briefing at the ANLCA National Secretariat in Lagos at the weekend, Senior Special Assistant to ANLCA President on Shipping Companies and Terminal Operators; Mr. Pius Ujubonu, argued that shipping companies in Nigeria are not supposed to collect any other charges other than documentation charges. 
He lamented that the multiplicity of associations has led to terminal operators, shipping companies cheating Nigerian importers as they cannot speak with one voice. 
He said: “Shipping companies are not supposed to make increments or initiate charges; they are certainly not to initiate any charge at all because they are at the terminal end of an agency, to say that a shipping company introduces a charge has to be done internationally. What they are supposed to collect is documentation charge”
“The problem of the maritime sector is the Nigerian government; they are not supposed to increase anything without government agency approving it for them. The shipper’s council supposed to approve it before they begin collection” 
“The government does not respect us and this is why our opinion is seen as that of people from unorganized sector and this is a stigma, they take MAN, Chambers of Commerce serious, but when the real practitioners like us talk, they don’t see it as important” 
Meanwhile, the association has announced its intention to honour five lawmakers at both federal and state levels who were members of the association, as well as six past presidents of the association.
Mr Ujubonu stated that the association is holding the awards to celebrate its members who are in politics and to further leverage on their positions to improve the association.
Among those ANLCA plans to celebrate are: Honourable O.C Prestige representing Aba South Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, a member of Port, Harbors and Waterways Committee, and Chairman technical committee on customs and excise. Also among them is Hon. Harford Ikechukwu Oseke, Deputy Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly
Others are; Hon Israel Olumuyiwa Aloba, a member of Osun State House of Assembly and immediate past chairman of ANLCA in Ikorodu lighter terminal, Hon. Ifeanyin Isikaku, he is the local government chairman of Ngwa South Local Government in Abia State and his deputy, Hon. Chidiebere Asonye.
Ujubonu said that the occasion would also be used to give an award of honor and excellence to past presidents of ANLCA including; Alhaji Rafiu Ladipo, Alhaji Saliu Sanni Kamba, Chief Peter Eloka Okocha, Aare Sanni Shittu, Alhaji Innua Muhammed and Sir Earnest Elechukwu.
According to him, the event is billed to take place on 27th of November 2017. 
He explained that ANLCA has benefitted tremendously from having its members in government and that it intends to further exploit the benefits, particularly in changing government policies.
“A son is as good as the father wants him to be, if you have members at the House of Representatives and you leverage on their positions, you have so much to gain, we have gained from them tremendously. The list is longer but we are only honoring those members who were elected and not appointed, if we go into appointment, the occasion would be boring. We expect in attendance, the Speakers of all the relevant Houses of Assembly, the Governors of the relevant states and major stakeholders as may be invited by these illustrious members of ours”, he added.