Recall that activities at the handling companies have been grounded since 25th of last month as Clearing agents under the aegis of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) and National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) kicked against the 100 percent increment and have shut down their operation. They said the new charges would further impose hardship on Nigerians.
The agitation made the aviation handling companies reduced the increment to 75 percent, which are still being rejected by the clearing agents.
But the Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) described as hypocritical the actions of ANLCA and NAGAFF, saying the move against the tariff is “insensitive”.
The agents had earlier last weekend withdrawn from work in protest against the action of the handling firms.
Following the increase, general cargo/bank consignment charges per kilogramme rose from N63.30 to N130.60, the demurrage per kilogramme was increased from N13 to N26, while re-registration was pegged at N15,000 from N4,420 among others.
The Vice Chairman of ANLCA, Muritala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA), Davies Ben Chukwunenye, said that the new increase would compound the suffering of the masses.
Davies insisted that the 100 per cent increase was ill-time, saying the last increment was less than three years ago.
The ANLCA Vice Chairman said that the intervention of their executives led to the downward review of 100 per cent, which he said was against trade policy all over the world to have a 100 percent increment.
He explained that the previous increment sent many agents out of business, as they could not cope with the situation, lamenting that the new increment will further add to the plights of agents.
Former NAGAFF, Chief Eugene Nweke, also posited that any increment of port charges at this moment will affect cost of doping business at Nigerian ports and airports and the difference in cost will be transferred on the market price of products at the markets.
However, the Chairman APFFLON, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Victor Akorede, said that the aviation companies are not immune from the harsh economic situation in the country.
He said that those kicking against the new tariff regime were being hypocritical.
He said that the increment in the tariff was because the companies had to adjust to the harsh economy of the country.
“Again, we are all aware of the setback and havoc wreaked on International businesses by Covid-19, and cargo handling companies were not excluded.
“Today, prices of passenger tickets across airlines have increased to over 300 percent, yet nobody or group is coming out to protest against the development.
“The continued plunging of naira against the dollar and other world currencies is causing serious inflation which is adversely affecting businesses as well,”he said.
Akorede recalled that in 2019, APFFLON went to court seeking to stop the same increment due to the insufficient reason behind it at that time.
He said that it was disturbing that ANLCA leadership was not standing up against multiple taxation on imported vehicles in the country.
