Shippers lament as FG's policies push cargo clearing costs higher

Nigerian shippers have lamented the disruption and losses they're incurring due to the high cost of clearing and the fluctuating exchange rate for cargo clearance.

Shippers are individuals and entities involved in exportation, importation, manufacturing and owners of cargo being exported or imported into the country.

At its maiden media parley in Lagos on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, the National Shippers Association of Nigeria (NASAN) highlighted the impact of the Federal Government's policy inconsistencies on the sector.

Speaking during the event, the President-General of NASAN, Innocent Akuvue, complained that the protracted exchange rate crisis and attendant effect are hindrances to members and manufacturers.

Akuvue pointed at inconsistent policies on the part of the government and failure to engage in proper consultations with stakeholders before policies are formulated and adopted as major factors impeding growth in the sector.

“There is also a complex nature and inconsistencies in the process of clearing plus the rising cost of doing business at the ports. Our roads and other infrastructure, including logistics of goods from the ports, have been a challenge,” he said.

For her part, the Secretary-General of NASAN, Ijeoma Ezeasor, lamented that warehouses belonging to manufacturers are filled to the brim as Nigerians could no longer afford to buy their products.

Ezeasor, also a Director at Cutix Plc, a cable manufacturing company, further disclosed that manufacturers are facing a debacle of having to clear backlogs of goods at the new rate.

“Some of the goods we ordered for and paid for since the era of COVID-19, which were disrupted then, are still coming back now and we are faced with the challenges of clearing them with the new rate,” she said.

In his submission earlier, a chieftain of the association, Jonathan Nicol, noted that the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) constituted by the Muhammadu Buhari administration had lost its essence.

Nicol said shippers are working on new port policies, which will be presented to the government, to inject greater efficiency and progress in the sector.