Bolade Oladipo Lawrence (ANLCA National Secretariat)
Apart from the fact that on vehicle we usually get the duty at N197, and when you now use the present N282 conversion, it will sky rocket the duty on vehicles. So, the new duty rate will lead to increase in the price of vehicles and other relative charges, it does mean that the price of clearing cargoes at the port will be higher. The agents would be expected to react to the development, but it is the consignee who are the people buying the commodity and importing down here. So, the Shippers Association and the importers group are supposed to react while we follow suit, we are the intermediary between them and the government, so we are not expected to take the lead action, so we are just watching.
Olorogun Andrew Ugwi (Customs Agent)
We will not blame any government agency or terminal operator for anything they do, because those whom we thought are representing us as leaders of associations are just compromising. It is not a matter of increasing the exchange rate for customs revenue, they ought to look at the market and see how they can enhance collection of revenue, but what I think they are doing now is to find means to make the license customs agents become slaves to them while at the same time enriching them (officers) and government receives nothing from this exchange rate. At Grimaldi for example, how operational are they? They are not doing anything, customers have shifted to other neighbouring ports; meanwhile some of the cargoes still find their ways into Nigeria. So, government should partner agents because we are the ones talking to the importer and tell them how the port is.
Chief Chukuemeka Shedrack (Licensed Customs Agent)
I believe it is necessary for government to put the exchange rate that way, we cannot blame the customs service for it because the policy is from the CBN, when government increased fuel pump price, it affected everything in the market, so I believe it is necessary for them to do this in other to stabilize the Dollar. When you consider the duty at N282, it is very high, but there is nothing we can do, we have to try and endure so that at the end of the day we can have a stable Dollar rate. The implication is that prices of goods will be high and importers will spend more, and it affects agents because the industry we are into is one that you will tell the importer the truth but he will insist on paying less amount for duty, it is only the ones that are understanding that will know that N197 and N282 is not the same.
Adeola Gani (former PRO, ANLCA PTML)
I believe it is the consumer that will suffer everything; it is quite unfortunate that in other civilised countries today, they are doing everything for their citizens to live above poverty level, but in Nigeria, inflation is the order of the day. The exchange rate will increase customs revenue partially, but it is only the goods that are coming into the country that customs can generate revenue from, when there is nothing coming into the country, there is nothing for customs. We are also affected because it is only when an importer imports that we would have job to do, all our importers have ran away to neighbouring countries, while our shipping companies and terminal operators are sacking workers, what signal is this sending to licensed agents? The terminals have turned into football fields, the little cargoes coming into the country are coming through the land borders and unapproved routes.
Chief Osita Chukwu Patrick (SNFFIEC)
I think with the new development by CBN on the exchange hike, there is need for the maritime stakeholders, especially the freight agents to meet with the concerned authorities like CBN, and the Customs to fashion out ways to address the issues because this is the beginning of inflation in Nigeria. We are all aware of the fact that importers and agents are no longer in active business as it used to hence, there is need to address the matter before it gets worse. Duty payable on both import and export will definitely increase, but if we can advise the government and they can listen then it will go a long way in resolving the sudden charge on exchange rate.
Mr. Jones Idemili (Apapa chairman AREFFN)
I don't know how to interpret this action taken by CBN and the Customs because this move will not go down well with the importers and end users. As we speak, there are no activities going on at the Nigerian ports talk less of the new hike in exchange rate. The situation will further run people out of import or export business following the new policy and I can take a bet now that any container that is captured will pay heavily as duty on that consignment which at the end will fall back on the end users. It is so sad to say that the government has been wrongly advice and I appeal to them to go back to status quo, otherwise so many things will go wrong in the system.
Chief Patrick Ofoegbu (NAGAFF)
This new hike will further worsen the situation for importers, exporters, the nation and the freight agents. Before now we are complaining about the rate, then this new development. It is very difficult for the shippers to access Forex and with this development; the masses will suffer the more because the policy makers are not bothered on how to help the situation. The importers clear at a very high rate and sell at a high rate to the final consumer which in turn will not go down well with the common man in the country. I think the best way out of this is for customs to put in place a position paper for CBN to understand the negative side of this new policy which will further put the country in economy jeopardy.
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