Maritime
New Charge On Imported Vehicles Sparks Tension At Nigerian Ports
Customs agents at Nigerian ports have raised concerns over a new charge introduced by the Lagos State government on all imported vehicles leaving the ports in the state.
The charge, known as the Temporary Vehicle Tag (TVT), has been imposed by the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA), and is set at N4,600 per vehicle.
According to reports, the introduction of the TVT has generated tension among port users and vehicle importers, who have vowed to resist the new charge.
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has also reportedly linked TVT payment to the Terminal Delivery Order (TDO) and instructed terminal operators not to release any vehicle without evidence of payment.
The Managing Director of the Lagos State Wharf Landing Fee Collection Authority, Mr. Gboyega Savaldor, has confirmed the development, stating that the charge is intended to enhance security for everyone living in Lagos.
He added that the TVT will also help to curb the use of unregistered vehicles by dealers who sometimes use them for criminal purposes.
Mr. Savaldor disclosed that clearing agents would be issued a sticker to be placed on the vehicle after payment of the N4,600 charge. The sticker would allow the vehicle to be driven within Lagos for a period of one month.
He also clarified that the Wharf Landing Fee, which is collected on all cargoes including vehicles, is being operated under a law and the funds collected are not for the Lagos State Government but rather to assist operators.
The Lagos government is inconveniencing itself to implement the new charge, he said, adding that the money collected would be used to eradicate area boys harassing truck drivers on Lagos roads and shared among local government areas.
In his words “The Wharf Landing Fee is being operated under a law. The money collected is not for Lagos State Government, it is to assist the operators. The Lagos government is inconveniencing itself to do this, the money is being collected to eradicate area boys harassing truck drivers on Lagos roads, and the money is shared among local government areas” he said
However, clearing agents at the port have lamented that they are already being overtaxed, with Wharf Landing Fees being collected on all cargoes including vehicles.
The Youth Leader of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) at Tin Can Island Port, Comrade Remilekun Sikiru, claimed that the Lagos State Government had initially said the TVT would replace the Wharf Landing Fees when they visited the port in December 2022.
He expressed his disagreement with the new charge, stating that it would be resisted. Mr. Sikiru alleged that the Lagos State Government was taking advantage of the high number of vehicles leaving the port to force clearing agents to make the payment.
He said “They came around last year around December, they claim this will replace the Wharf landing payment, I called and spoke with the coordinator whose phone was on the flyer, he told me that with the sticker which cost about 4,600 the vehicle can be driven within Lagos for the period of one month.
“I told him this sticker should be directed to the dealers who take their vehicles around before they are sold.
“The truth remains that they want to take advantage of the fact that lots of vehicles come out of the port and want to compel the clearing agents to make this payment, furthermore they will begin operation with task force to enforce payment for the sticker” he said.
The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), the port economic regulator, has reacted to the development, stating that they are not aware of the introduction of the TVT.
Chief Agu Cajetan, Director of Consumer Services at the NSC, said that the council views the development as a rumor until the affected parties come forward with their complaints.
He said: “We are not aware of the development, we have heard it like a rumour, and we are waiting for complainants to come forward. This is a country where anybody can wake up in the morning and impose any charge without recourse to the Nigerian Shippers Council.”
The Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola has deposited three Instruments of Accession to IMO Conventions signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with the global body.
He did so on Tuesday, at the headquarters of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which acts as the repository for these conventions.
This move, coming a few weeks after Nigeria declared its intention to contest election for a seat on the IMO Council, is expected to enhance Nigeria’s maritime governance and align its practices with international standards, promoting maritime safety, security, and environmental protection.
Shortly after the presentation ceremonies, Oyetola informed the IMO Secretary General, Arsenio Dominguez, of the President’s commitment to ensuring that Nigeria aligns with international maritime standards regarding maritime safety, security, and sustainable marine practices.
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He also called on the IMO to extend technical support to Nigeria.
In his words, “These instruments, duly acceded by His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, signify Nigeria’s continued commitment to aligning with international maritime standards, ensuring maritime safety and security, and promoting sustainable marine practices.
“We hereby request tailored technical cooperation under the Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP) to enhance Nigeria’s compliance with IMO conventions and improve our maritime governance and implementation of the instruments we submitted today.”
On his part, Dominguez, acknowledged with appreciation the formal deposition of the Instruments of Accession, stating that it underscores Nigeria’s steadfast commitment to aligning with global maritime standards.
“I congratulate Nigeria for its exceptional efforts in acceding to these six critical IMO instruments. I encourage continued momentum by securing presidential assent to additional key conventions. We at the IMO remains fully committed to supporting Nigeria through technical cooperation and capacity-building initiatives to ensure the successful implementation of these instruments,” he stated.
The instruments Oyetola handed over to Dominguez include the instrument of accession to the 2005 Protocol to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf (SUA Protocol 2005), the instrument of accession to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW-F), and the instrument of accession to the Protocol Relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Pollution by Substances Other Than Oil (Intervention Protocol 1973).
It was gathered that three other Instruments of Accession signed by President Tinubu are undergoing further steps to complete the processes for their deposit.
Funds accrued under the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) are intact and currently held with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under the Single Treasury Account (TSA).
This assertion was made by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), in a statement in Lagos on Tuesday.
The clarification became necessary to address “a misleading publication alleging that funds have disappeared from the CVFF account”.
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The statement reads, in part, “The report of a missing money is both misleading and false.
“For the record, the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund, securely held in the NIMASA account at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), remains intact. There has been no disappearance of funds, and no illegal transactions, as the article suggests. This misinformation is a figment of the authors imagination, aimed at undermining NIMASA’s integrity, and mislead the public about the Agency’s operations.
“The Management of NIMASA will ensure that the CVFF is utilised in line with its statutory purpose. NIMASA Director General, Dr Mobereola has assured stakeholders of the safety of funds under the CVFF.”
The statement cited the DG thus, “Let us be clear that the CVFF account at the Central Bank of Nigeria is safe, intact, and secure. We at NIMASA will continue to manage it with the utmost responsibility, and there are no irregularities or illegal activities surrounding the funds. I urge the public to disregard this false narrative and to continue trusting the Agency’s ability to uphold the integrity of Nigeria’s maritime sector”.
It was gathered that the CVFF is a fund established under section 42 of the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003 to promote the development of indigenous ship acquisition capacity and to provide credit facilities to local maritime operators.
The NIMASA, assured of its commitment “to transparency, accountability, and the advancement of Nigeria’s maritime sector.”
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo appears eager to deliver the dividends of democracy to his constituents.
This is discernible from the frenzy of activities being witnessed in his first few days on the job, including dissolution of boards, constitution of investigative panels, flagging off of infrastructure projects, among others.
In the bid to address the perennial road traffic congestion negatively impacting economic and social activities in Benin City, the state capital, Gov Okpebholo on Wednesday flagged off the construction of a flyover bridge.
Biztellers reports that the flyover bridge around the popular Ramat Park in the city centre is the first of such in the history of Edo State.
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The Edo State Government made the disclosure in its verified handle on micro-blogging site, X, on Wednesday.
It wrote, “Traffic decongestion: Gov Okpebholo flags off first flyover in Edo.
“Edo State Governor, Sen. Monday Okpebholo has flagged off the construction of a flyover bridge at Ramat Park, Benin City, the State Capital, as part of immediate efforts to reduce traffic congestion in the city.”
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