Tension mounts over imposition of CRFFN fees by NPA
Unease calm has pervaded the nation’s seaports, managed by the Nigerian Ports Authority, as palpable tension has gripped the sector over a new policy enunciated by the management.
Indeed, this is coming on the heels of the alleged imposition of the fee on the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria CRFFN, by the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, as a condition for the issuance of port pass to licensed customs. Agents.
For this reason, tension is fast brewing amongest the agents, who are lamenting the huge demur rages they are incurring over their inability to operate within the ports’ environment.
This has led the President, National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Lucky Amiwero to petition the Federal Government to call the agency to order, describing the move, as a contravention of the Customs Excise Management Act 61 of 1999.
A copy of the petition sighted by The Daily Times claims that the customs’ agents are restricted from entering the ports, due to their inability to obtain port passes, which are a requirement for operating within the ports.
The petition read in part, “We hereby bring to the attention of His Excellency, Muhammad Buhari, President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, of the imposition by Nigerian Ports Authority’s (NPA’s), requirement of the the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria as a condition for the issuance of Port Pass to Licensed Customs Agents, who by law, are only the practicing organ that is allowed to practice in the Ports’ Border station.
According to the petition, the Licensed Custom Agent are restricted by NPA with the strong connivance of the management to enter the Port, even with all the legal processes, which the Licensed Customs’ Agents underwent to procure their practicing license yearly, which is the only instrument to practice in the Port, as contained in Section 153 of (CEMA).
The restriction has resulted in the payment of demurrages by the Licensed Customs Agents due to restriction from the Port to performing their normal function in, which the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agent(NCMDLCA)inform the management through letter, dated, 7th of June, 2017, without any respite.
According to them, “We, as reputable organization, are imploring the Federal Government on the need to urgently intervene on the illegal imposition that has forced the License Customs’ Agents to pay the Illegal fees imposed by CRFFN, which restrict the License Customs’ Agents from performing their legitimate function, as contained in the various laws.
Recall that CRFFN Fee is a subject of litigation with the customs’ agents, who had argued that the non-existence of a CRFFN board, renders the council null and void.
