The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has suspended the proposed controversial increase in licensing and renewal fees for licensed customs agents operating at the seaports and airports.

The NCS had last year proposed a major review of licensing and renewal charges, which increased the cost of obtaining a new license, rising from N515,000 to N10 million and renewal from N215,000 to N4 million yearly.

The proposed hike generated concern among operators who feared it would strain businesses and potentially reduce participation within the profession, creating room for foreigners who have already taken over the clearing business.

The development was disclosed yesterday at an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) held in Lagos.

National President of ANLCA, Emenike Nwokeoji, said the association and the NCS reached an understanding of maintaining the current fee structure.

Nwokeoji told members that rather than escalating tensions, the association chose dialogue and engagement, an approach he said paid off.

“We are all aware that not long ago, Customs came up with a proposal to increase our license fees. I want to inform you that we have been able to reach a common ground with them, and they have allowed us to continue to renew at the old rates; the status quo remains,” Nwokeoji announced.

Also speaking, Chairman of the Customs Consultative Committee (CCC), Hakeem Olanrewaju, urged practitioners to strengthen unity within the industry, warning that internal divisions could weaken their collective influence.

He called on professionals to assert their statutory role within the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), noting that regulatory matters concerning freight forwarding should be guided primarily by practitioners.

Olanrewaju underlined ongoing reforms reshaping port and trade operations, including Customs’ B’Odogwu platform, the One Stop Shop initiative, the Nigerian Ports Authority’s Port Community System under development, and the forthcoming National Single Window project.

He urged freight forwarders to embrace digital transformation, deepen their technical competence and adopt a coordinated approach in engaging with government agencies.

Olanrewaju noted that preparedness would determine how well the profession adapts to the evolving trade environment.