Sometime in 2009, we broke the story of the impending collection of the controversial wharf landing fees. We even called attention to the fact that the state government was about passing a law to legalise its collection, even as we reminded stakeholders that the idea of the levy was first mooted in 2001 during the tenure of Chief Ojo Maduekwe as transport minister and Alhaji Munir Muse as the chairman of Apapa local government. The duo ‘fought’ on opposing side and at a point dragged the then-vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar into the face-off. The idea eventually died in 2001, but resurrected in 2009 as wharf landing fee bill.
The controversial law has been in existence for close to one year without any serious objection. But, in the last few weeks, we have received mails from stakeholders expressing different types of apprehension about how the law is being implemented. They accused the private firm that is collecting the fee on behalf of the state government of brutality and crude method of collecting the levy. As a matter of fact, one of the stakeholders gave details of how he was practically dragged out of his truck around the popular Liverpool area of Apapa by officials of the private firm and assisted by some policemen.
We recall that it came like a joke, a joke, an untenable proposal, but it is now a reality. Wharf landing fee is now a part of our ‘shipping lives’.
Since its unexpected, but well orchestrated passage into law on March 2, 2009 by the State House of assembly and the eventual assent of the state Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, Wharf Landing Fees has ensured that all imported consignments which arrive at Nigeria through the two ports in Lagos (Lagos Port Complex and Tin Can Island) attract certain levies.
Although, at the commencement of the push for the bill, there were agitations and oppositions from members of the shipping community; with some even threatening litigation, the bill sailed through with a public hearing which was attended by a select cross section of stakeholders.
The controversial levy has been categorised into =N=500 and =N=1,000 payable on each 20-footer container and 40-footer container respectively. Similarly, heavy duty vehicles and cars will attract N1, 000 and N500 respectively.
Technically, the law empowers Apapa local governments in the state ( under whose jurisdiction the ports are located and the cargo pass through to their final destination) to collect varied amount of fees on such goods.
Alhaji Muse; now a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria representing Lagos state had used his experience as a former port manager in one of the ports belonging to Nigerian Ports Authourity to attempt to take advantage of the relative newness of the democratic dispensation at that time to force wharf landing fees down the throat of importers.
He relied on the fact that the way the Presidency was structured at that time was such that the office of the vice president related directly with the local governments. He had a double advantage in the fact that he was well informed enough to canvass it and he also used the fact that the then-vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has tremendous background in port operations; being a former top customs officer.
Muse’s manoeuvrings almost caused chief Maduekwe his job as he was not favourably disposed to imposition of any additional levy on Nigerian importers.
At one of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meetings, the issue of wharf landing fees was tabled, and the minister was given the opportunity to rubbish the proposal. He was able to convince the Council of the dangers inherent in allowing it. And so, it died. Surprisingly, it is that same levy which could not scale the FEC hurdles in 2001 that the lawmakers in Lagos are bringing in through another corridor.
As much as we acknowledge that the administration of Mr Babatunde Raji Fasola in Lagos state is doing a great job and will require as much funds as it can lay its hands on, we shudder at the economic and the multiplier effect of the law.
Lagos enjoys the enviable status of being the hub of economic activities in Nigeria; playing host to two ports administrative structures and about 10 terminals. The ports in Lagos feed the South -Western states and beyond.
But, while Lagos is enviably placed, Onne port in Rivers State is also in the same category; serving South- Eastern and South – South states.
While it is almost impossible to ask for a repeal of the wharf landing fees Act, it is possible to ask both the Lagos state government and Apapa local government to direct the private firm that is collecting the fee to adopt a more scientific method to collect the fee.
FOOTNOTE:
Stakeholders who spoke here were cornered by our reporters in 2009 at the heat of the debate. As you will read, they were divided, majority may have forgotten what they said, but we republish them without modification.
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