Stakeholders react as FG raises import supervision charges by 4%

The federal government has raised the Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme from one per cent to four per cent.

The increment, which is embedded in the Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme, rose from one per cent to four per cent at the close of work on Monday.

A finding revealed the implementation of the CISS started on Tuesday.

The CISS is from where the NCS draws funds to implement its modernisation projects.

Meanwhile, licensed agents operating at the nation’s seaports have reacted to the development.

In a chat with The PUNCH on Tuesday, the Deputy National President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, Mr. Nnadi Ukochukwu, said, “That is Tinubu’s economic policy, collecting tax, so it is not surprising to us. That is Tinubu’s economic policy: always taxation. This will have effects on the cost of clearing, imagine from one per cent to 4 per  cent, that’s a 300 per cent increase. Imagine paying like N1000 before, and you’re now paying N4000. Don’t you think it will have effects? This is my own personal opinion: NAGAFF will still look at it and express their own opinion.”

Also speaking, the National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, Mr Emenike Nwokeoji, on Tuesday, debunked claims that the association was protesting the increment, adding that the it is expressly stated in the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.

He, however, called for adequate sensitisation, stressing that “there is a need for the service to sensitise stakeholders before going ahead with implementing it.

“I am not aware that ANLCA is protesting over the increment of the CISS from one percent to four percent. What I am aware of is that the ANLCA NECOM is meeting to take a decision on the increment.”

According to him, the increment is backed by the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.

“The increment is in the Act; that is where they brought it from. They should have, however, held sensitisation meetings to ensure all stakeholders are well aware. The increment started today. NECOM will be meeting very soon to take a stance on the new development,” he said.