WHARF LANDING FEE: Authority Accuses Freight Agents Of Exorbitant Charges From Importers

The Lagos State Wharf Landing Fees Collection Authority has called on shippers to pay the levies directly to avoid any form of delay that may arise , even as it accused freight forwarders and customs agents of charging exorbitant amount from the shippers.

 

The Lagos state Authority also called on importers to work closely with the Lagos State Government in its collection mandates on the levy to avoid leakages.

 

 

Chairman , Lagos State Wharf Landing Fee Collecting Authority , Hon. Gboyega Salvador Adebayo disclosed this during a meeting with members,  Importers Association of Nigeria (IMAN) on Monday in Lagos.

 

He accused customs brokers and freight forwarders on avoidance of the levy payment to the authority noting that what the freight agents collect from their importers was extremely too high compared to the paltry amount payable to the state government.

 

Adebayo reiterated that some of the freight agents are adamant to pay the levies which include; N300, N500 and N1000 respectively, alleging that agents collect as high N50,000 from their principles.

 

The Chairman noted that:”Our mandate is to collect Wharf Landing Fee and we believe that with this rapport we will have a good working relationship with importers.

 

“The importers will pay to clearing agents but these agents refuse to pay to us. We have heard about an importers paying Ñ50,000 to his agent yet that agent was not willing to pay just N300 until that consignment was impounded by us.”

 

 

 

Adebayo harped on the need for importers to pay the levies  ahead of the  cargo clearance from the seaports adding that multinational companies engage the authority even when the cargoes aboard the ships are at berth.

 

Stressing the need for synergy with shippers, he described Importers as  critical stakeholders in the levy collection noting that freight forwarders and licensed customs brokers have no role to play in the process.

 

According to him, the Authority will continue to discuss with importers in line with Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) , calling on the shippers to organize themselves and eradicate any form of corrupt tendencies that may arise cargo clearance.

 

He disclosed that talks are ongoing with the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu on the need to review the $2 payment on imports.

 

Adebayo lamented that since the establishment of the Authority, the charges has not changed adding that for 13 years in existence the levies collection from shippers are still the same.

 

Earlier , President of IMAN,Mr. Kingsley Chikezie affirmed that the meeting was informed by members to familiarize itself with the Authority of  Lagos State Government.

 

Chikezie said the group will support online collection to boost revenue generation and reducing bottlenecks from the port corridors.

 

He stated that the meeting was an eye opener for importers noting that “We are 100 percent in support of online collection of the fees because it will boost revenue generation and the clumpiness on the road will stop.

 

“We as principles to agents we will take the bull by the horn by paying directly  to the Authority and when the committee is set up, we will look into that aspect the more, “the President reiterated.

 

Also speaking, Coordinator, South West Zone of IMAN, Chief Austin Kelly, said the visit would serve as a turning point for healthier working relationship between importers and the authority.

 

Kelly said: “Importers are critical stakeholders in the maritime industry and contribute immensely to the economy of this great nation by taxes they pay to drive the economy.

 

“We believe as critical stakeholders in the port and border stations in line with globalization, organization, administration successes would be revolved around collaboration, strategic alliance responsible partnership among stakeholders in the industry”,he noted.

 

By Roland Ekama