Customs agents have lamented that the country’s imports would worsen due to the recent further depreciation of the naira.
The PUNCH observed that at the Nigeria Customs Service portal, on Thursday, the exchange rate for cargo clearance was raised from N757 per dollar to N783 per dollar, representing a 3.4 per cent increase.
Licensed agents told our correspondent that the new rate would guide the importers and clearing agents as they make quotations for new jobs and for capturing payments.
According to the agents, this would lead to a decline in importation.
The Youth Leader of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, Tincan Island Command, Sikiru Remilekun, said the development would further worsen the country’s import.
“Since the implementation of the floating dock seven months ago, importation has dropped by 60 per cent, and we don’t need and prophet or soothsayer to tell us what will happen next. We should expect up to 70 per cent drop in importation,” he noted.
Sikiru, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Sikremstar Logistics Limited, complained that many importers had dumped importation to other businesses.
“Majority of the importers have switched and diverse to another business. A lot of clearing agents are roaming the street doing nothing. Many have been depressed due to no job.
“How do we cope when the importers refuse to import due to a hike in dollars? It is barbaric. I want to sincerely and honourably pass a message to the Honourable Minister of Marine And Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, to wade into the lingering issues we are facing in the industry. The current situation is killing,” he lamented.
Also, the Chairman of Ports & Terminal Multipurpose Limited Chapter of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, Mr Thomas Alor, said, “There was no pre-information on that. We just woke up this morning and noticed that they had raised the exchange rate for clearing of cargoes.”
According to Alor, the exchange rate for clearing of cargoes hike will affect the duty.
