A former acting President of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Dr. Kayode Farinto has submitted a memorandum to the House Committee on Shipping, Services, and Related Matters, expressing concerns about the proposed bill to repeal the Nigerian Shippers’ Council Act and enact the Nigerian Shipping and Ports Economic Regulation Agency.
The memorandum obtained by our correspondent highlighted potential conflicts with existing laws, including the CRFFN Act 16 of 2007, and urges the committee to consider the interests of Nigerian freight forwarders.
In the memorandum, he also frowned at the user-guide document purported to have been issued by the Council stating money to be collected from different stakeholders under the guise of registration.
Farinto explained that the bill if passed could lead to double taxation and multiple registration while also explaining that it will lead to overlapping roles with the Nigerian Ports Authority and CRFFN, potential increase in freight charges and cargo clearance costs, unfair practices and price fixing including usurpation of CRFFN’s powers.
The memorandum proposes alternative solutions, including excluding freight forwarders from certain provisions, strengthening inter-agency relationships, charging a 0.05% documentation fee on repatriated funds instead of imposing levies on shippers.
Farinto charged the committee to carefully consider these concerns to ensure a fair and effective regulation of the shipping and ports industry.
