The Shippers’ Association Lagos state (SALS) has said the Common External Tariff (CET) will curb the excesses of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).
Speaking exclusively to SHIPS & PORTS DAILY on Monday, the president of the association, Rev. Jonathan Nicol said the policy was best for the shippers as it would allow them project their ales margin.
He said, “I think the policy will control the excesses of the Nigerian Customs Service because there will be a common tariff in the ECOWAS sub region that they cannot influence.
It is a good thing for Nigerian shippers; it is a very good innovation if it is well managed.”
Nicol said with the CET, there is no way the tariff of the Nigeria Customs Service would be different to other customs services in the ECOWAS sub-region.
“There is no way Nigeria Customs will give their own tariff anymore because there will be a common market. It will help shippers to make their plan, projections and sales margin unlike now that we can’t make projection and sales margin because you don’t know what to meet at the port,” he said.
He applauded the federal government for endorsing the policy.
He said, “I believe CET will help reduce smuggling because it never be eradicated because some people do not believe in paying duties but I know the introduction of CET will help reduce it from the worse situation we have now.”
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