ZAINAB JUNAID
The National President of the Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON), Otunba Frank Ogunojemite, has commended the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for suspending the recently announced 4% Tariff on all imported goods into the country.
Otunba Frank made this commendation at the first APFFLON meeting held on Wednesday, 12 February 2025, at the association’s Secretariat in Ikeja, Lagos.
This suspension followed a week-long debate on the 4% Free On Board (FOB) levy introduced by the Nigeria Customs Service on all imports, citing Section 18(1)(a) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCSA). It is expected to enable comprehensive stakeholder engagement and consultations regarding the Act’s implementation framework.
Reacting to the suspension, Otunba Frank appreciated the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for being a listening leader, saying “It takes humility for a man to listen to constructive criticism and to admit error in his action.and take a step further to reverse and correct himself. By this suspension, the CG has proved himself a true leader”.
The National President equally called on the NCS to embark on aggressive stakeholder engagement to get them on the same page regarding the levy’s implementation framework.
Otunba Ogunojemite further appealed to the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to also reconsider its planned decision to increase charges by 15% across the board, citing harsh economic conditions and difficulties faced by Nigerians.
Otunba Frank Ogunojemite and Executive Members of Murtala Muhammed Airport(MMA) chapter, at the first APFFLON meeting held on Wednesday, 12 February 2025, at the association’s Secretariat in Ikeja, Lagos.
He argued that any increment in charges at this time will further aggravate the hardship faced by Nigerians.
His words, “Increment in charges of any kind at this period is ill-timed and ill-advised considering that Nigerians are grappling with so many challenges”.
While fielding questions from our reporter on skyrocketing cost of procuring ETO Call -Up, the APFFLON President expressed concerns over the arbitrary rate which has become out of reach for many truck drivers.
He called on the NPA and Truck Transit Parks Limited (TTP) to revisit the cost which is currently pegged at N300,000.00 and urged them to emulate the NCS in suspending anti-people policies.
“We can’t be talking about a robust economy with policies and actions which seek to impoverish Nigerians. Such development cannot take us anywhere rather it would drive away investors and kill businesses in this country. Eto is now causing an impediment to the Ease of Doing Business at the port and you can’t be talking about Ease of Doing Business when the cost of getting Eto is now up to three hundred thousand naira (N300,000). This development can only lead to congestion at the port and further make our ports inefficient and costly.
“I therefore, appeal to both NPA and TTP to take a holistic look at this development and emulate the Nigeria Customs Service in suspending some of these anti-people policies and actions for a virile and robust port system in Nigeria,” he pleaded.
Otunba Frank also hinted that the groundbreaking ceremony for a new site granted by the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) will take place soon.
Otunba Ogunojemite and some members of the association
The meeting concluded on a celebratory note, with the cutting of a birthday cake for the National President, who marked his birthday on January 29.
