Importers abandon cargoes due to high clearance cost

Importers abandon cargoes due to high clearance cost

The Shippers Association of Lagos State (SALS)
announced on Thursday that importers had been
abandoning their cargoes at Nigerian ports, due to
high costs of clearing such cargoes.
The President of the association, Mr Jonathan Nicol,
made the announcement in Lagos.
He said the cost of cargo clearance had become
“uncontrollable,’’ suggesting that the way out was
for government to review the nation’s import policy.
The shipper said the sliding naira exchange rate had
also slowed down business at the ports.
He explained that clearing a 20 feet container was
costing as much as N840,000 while to clear a 40 feet
container now cost N1.2 million.
Nicol said that customs, shipping and terminal
charges as well as local transportation charges had
not changed, in spite of the port reforms announced
by the Federal Government.
“Our tariff management has not changed. Rather it
is getting more complicated with incessant queries
on goods.
“Yes, we must comply with international best
practices but importers do not have so much money
to pay for un-receipted items,’’ he stated.
According to him, diversion of cargo to other African
ports has become the option for many importers.
“The purpose of doing business is to make some
profit. The outlets of official and unofficial payments
are unbearable.
“Very soon, car terminals will be empty,’’ he stated.
Nicol, however, called for restructuring in
organisations handling maritime matters.