Remi Ogungbemi (Chairman, Association of Maritime Truck Owners)
When the fee was introduced, I was in support, because we were made to understand that the money will be used to maintain the roads. But to my dismay, since the beginning of the collection I have not seen anything significant to show for the collection, our roads are still impassable, you can also be a witness to the rate at which trucks are falling off with containers on it. My thinking back then was that there would be a frequent maintenance of the road. However, if the Wharf Landing Fees must be introduced in other states, my question is, what has government achieved with the one they are collecting in Lagos? How far have they enhanced movement of trucks on the roads? It is clear that we can only talk but government will go ahead to implement what it likes.
Increase Uche (Deputy National President, NAGAFF)
I would support the collection of wharf landing fees at other ports because, looking at the economy and business environment, it is the state that provides the road infrastructure, there are pollutions created through the movement of the cargoes which they also take care of, so I think the collection should be encouraged. However, it should be regulated; the Federal Government should also have a part to play so that the money is not collected with impunity. Internally Generated Revenue is very important now for every state to survive, so wharf landing is an advantage to any state in which seaports are located. As for whether it would add to cost of doing business at the port, I don't think so, the N500 or N300 cannot be compared to the manner shipping companies and terminals increase charges unilaterally.
Bolade Lawrence (Senior Special Assistant to ANLCA President)
If the money will be used for the development of port environment, I don't think there is anything wrong with it, but if the major intention is to collect the money and take it away without actually investing it back into where it was collected, then I would not support. The Wharf Landing Fees is a welcomed development; provided it would be used to develop dilapidated roads around the ports and other infrastructures. It could add subtly to the cost of doing business, but when you look at the advantages, and you see the good roads, one wouldn't mind paying. For example, if you look at the roads around the Tin Can Port today, you will see the roads are in bad shape, if some of the monies collected could be used to develop the road, stakeholders would be happy. The collection of the money in Lagos so far has not been justified.
Dr. Frank Ukor (President AREFFN)
Lagos State took the lead because they have ports, they forced people to pay and they started paying, they used the Police to force people to pay this money. So if they did and they succeeded, why won't others do the same? So it is alright if Calabar, Port Harcourt and Delta ports also collect the fees. The Federal Government did not oppose Lagos State Government when they started collecting, so opposing others now would be making a mistake. When we wanted to collect practicing fees at the port, they told us it would add to the cost of doing business at the port, but then the fee is paid from the gains the agent makes, the same thing with the Wharf Landing Fees, it would not add to the cost of doing business.
Emmanuel Nwagbara (Maritime Lawyer)
Lagos State Government has not justified the collection of Wharf Landing Fees, about six years since its introduction. Recall that when Governor Babatunde Fashola signed the bill into law around 2009, he stated that the roads in Lagos State including federal roads needed urgent attention. Today, Apapa and Tin Can Island ports, the geese that lay the golden eggs, cannot be ingressed or egressed, as a result of craters and potholes, as well as blockage by broken down vehicles and those going into the ports. This situation has remained the lot especially of Tin Can Island port access road, before and after the introduction of the wharf landing fees. Apapa main streets remain dirtiest ever, as we speak. When it rains Kofo Abayomi and other adjoining street remain impassable for hours. So what is the benefit of the wharf landing fees? Wharf landing fees should be applied to make Apapa a special city in Lagos State in terms of accessibility, cleanliness, aesthetics, parks and gardens for recreation during free working hours, security, water supply, independent power supply, etc. The law has not served any useful purpose so far and should be questioned by stake-holders.
Boniface Okoye (NCMDLCA)
Collection of wharf landing fee under the guise of developing some portion of Apapa and Lagos state needs to be probed, because we pay 7% charge of infrastructural development which l will say is part of the multi taxation on the part of the stakeholders. However there is no way the people in charge of the fees can defend why they are collecting the fee and that is why the government must look into the collection because it has a way of affecting the end users. Wharf landing fee is wrong and must be disbanded by government because it is illegal and the people in charge share that money among themselves without any meaningful development in the community or port development. There is need to probe how the money has been utilised. If they want to introduce wharf landing fee in Cross River, I can bet you that some multinationals over there will resist it and even sue the state government for that because it is not enshrined in the constitution. I will advise the MD of NPA to ensure that she puts a stop to the collection of the fee, because the state of the roads connecting the ports is porous.
Atoloye Joseph (Clearing Agent)
The purpose of the wharf landing fee as far as I am concerned is extortion. The purpose of establishing the fee has been defeated knowing full well that it has no significant contribution to community development. There is no way they can justify the collection of that fee, considering the bad nature of the roads leading to the ports. The Cross River State government has been able to understand the huge revenue collected in Lagos State that is why the government is about to introduce it over there, but I don't really subscribe to it in anyway because it is another way to extort port operators.
Temitope Babalola (ICNL)
Wharf Landing Fee should be totally scraped because it is not properly defined and implemented. It’s a form of extortion and double taxing by the state government. Let’s take a look at what importers normally pass through before getting their goods cleared from the port. Let the government tell us the need for wharf landing charges.. With the current rate of Customs duty now, importers are finding it too difficult to clear their cargo. The fee is not even getting to the said local government because any where you take you cargo to, area boys are everywhere to ask you for money before your cargo can be discharged or get to your warehouse. The purpose is defeated and it is not ideal.
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