Clearing Agents Petition Govt Over Alleged Imposition Of Duplicate Payments On Eto Call-Up System
. NPA Should Be Responsible For Eto Call-Up, Not Agents, Importers, Group Insists
. Use Collection Of 7% Port Devpt levy On Import For Eto, NPA Urged
By Sulaimon Salau
The Federal Government has been urged to urgently intervene in the alleged illegal increase on the imposed and duplicated payments of the Eto- Call-Up System on Licensed Customs Agents and importers.
The petition signed by the National President, President of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, Lucky Amiwero, claimed that the increase and the imposed duplicated fees are not backed by any law in cargo reception or delivery.
Addressed to the Managing Director, Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) with copies extended to the Secretary-General of the Federation, Minister of Finance, Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), the petition stated the fees have already been paid under the port lease/concession agreement as vehicle entry permit (VEP) and tenure maximum tariff for cargo dues.
The group stated: “We hereby bring to the attention of the Federal Government of the 100% illegal increase and duplication of the imposition of the payment of the Eto- Call-Up System on Licensed Customs Agents (LCA)/ which is not backed by any law in cargo reception or delivery “
Referring to the petition as a second reminder, Amiwero said the Nigerian Shippers’ Council has failed to take action on the protest letter, 10 months after it promised to investigate the matter.
“We now receive notification of additional Increase on the Imposed and duplicated fees of 100% (percent) which prompted the resent letters sent to the Federal Government agencies “ he stated.
“We strongly believe that, Nigerian Port System is expected to serve the Economy and meet the needs of port users in a manner, which is economically and environmentally sustainable, through the establishment of: An appropriate operational process; Effective port procedure and; Effective legislative framework.
“Before the ceding of Port operation to Terminal Operator in 2005, there was no such thing as gridlock, each port operated their holding bay, where trucks wait to load their respective consignments in and out of the ports.”
Lamenting the lack of holding bay and trailer parks, he said “The holding bay for trucks, that existed before 2005, within and around the ports, was ceded out to terminal operators as well as Land space, without providing alternative, all such spaces were ceded to terminal operators, forcing the trucks owners to use the available port access roads to hold empty containers and wait as holding bay awaiting access to the Port to load client consignment.
“The Lease agreement contracted by Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) with the Terminal Operators, incorporates Vehicles entry Permits (VEP) and Tenure Parking rate(TPR) of every truck entering the port premise as contained in Maximum Tariffs for Cargo Dues of Vehicles.
“The payment of Tenure Parking rates(TPR) which the Holding bay fees, and the Entry Permit(VEP) has already being included and paid by the Licensed Customs Agent(LCA /Importer to Terminal Operators as Contained in the Maximum Tariff for Cargo Dues on each Trailer/Trucks waiting as holding bay and for entry in to the port” he stated.
Amiwero added that “ The NPA/terminal operators are responsible for the payment to the Eto Call-Up system in line with the agreement. Eto-Call-up system is strictly NPA’s responsibility to regulate traffic, within the Limit of a port or the approach to a port under Section 32-(a) it is the legal responsibility of the NPA to provide for ease of access to the port , it is part of Nigerian Port infrastructure which is to facilitate trucks in to the port.
“It is the responsibility of NPA to regulate the traffic and not that of the Licensed Customs Agents/Importer, the ETto Call-up system is an infrastructure that is owned and operated by NPA contractor to perform NPA function, due to faulty lease agreement which, initially excludes trailer parks and holding bay from the Lease/Concession, agreements, creating the bottleneck and gridlock to access the port.
“The lack of a legal framework to regulate the Economic interest in the port, has given the concerned agencies in the port, room to impose all kinds of illegal fees on the cargo interest without concern for service tied to charges and who is responsible for payment.
“This imposition makes our ports one of the most expensive and unattractive within the sub-region with multiple charges, levies, fees which are not approved or cargo related, just like the ETO- Call System introduced by NPA, that has no cargo service tied to it, is clearly the responsibility of NPA in line with Section 32-(a) regulating traffic, within the limit of the port or approach to the port.
The group however, urged the NPA to utilise part of the collection of 7% port development levy on import for Eto Call-up system, as it is part of development of the port, which falls under the function of NPA.
“That is part of infrastructure development for movement of vehicles into the port, a 7% surcharge is paid by Nigerian importers through the Licensed Customs Agents (LCA) on every import collected since 1978 till date. NPA should utilize part of their 7% to provide for truck access to the Port going to the Terminals, which is covered statutorily under section 32-(a),
“It is the responsibility of NPA to regulate traffic and provide for free access to the port and not the responsibility of the Licensed Custom Agents(LCA)”, he stated.
