Clearing agents petition Buhari over controversial cargo tracking note

THE Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) has now being dragged before President Muhammadu Buhari by the National President of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA) over the implementation and charges associated with the controversial tracking note.
President of Managing Director, Lucky Amiwero said his association had to take the step because of the adverse economic impact of the so-called advanced cargo tracking note which was once scrapped by the Federal Government in 2011 but re-introduced by the NSC this month November 2, 2015.
According to a letter dated 16th November, 2015, and addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari, Amiwero said, “The negative impacts generated by the introduction of Cargo Tracking Note (CTN) necessitated the need for the cancellation as directed by the President and Commander-in-Chief in 2011.”
“The abolition, cancellation was authorized through the Nigerian Ports Authority’s Circular HQ/ED/M&O/OP/123/5 of 9th November, 2013.”
In the letter which was copied to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Minister of Finance, Minister of Transport and the Customs Comptroller General, Amiwero said that the negative impacts generated by the introduction of the CTN in 2010 necessitated the need for its cancellation on the directives of former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011.
The abolition and cancellation was authorized through the Nigerian Ports Authority’s Circular (HQ/M&O/OP/123/5 of 9th November 2011.” Amiwero stated in the ICTN letter, he said the notice of changes given to shipping lines and consignees dated November 2015 by the NSC was a duplication of the process of the pre-arrival assessment report (PAAR) Form ‘M’ requirements being implemented by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
Amiwero said the multiplicity of costs on Nigeria-bound imports and export has negatively impacted on locally manufactured products and the attraction of foreign direct investment which affects product competitiveness.
He urged the government to set up a committee of experts to look into the various charges on import made in order to streamline them.
Stakeholders including importers, freight forwarding associations and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has all protested against the additional cost burden imposed by the cargo tracking note implementation.
They have all, variously called on the Federal Government to suspend the scheme until the controversies surrounding its implementation are resolved.