BY GODWIN OBI
The Shippers’ Association of Lagos State (SALS) has raised fresh concerns over multiple taxes and levies burdening Nigeria’s maritime and logistics sector, calling for the full implementation of the National Single Window (NSW) to simplify trade and enhance competitiveness.
Speaking at the 2025 Shippers’ Day Celebration held at Rockview Hotel, Apapa, with the theme “National Single Window – Simplifying Trade Process for Nigerian Shippers,” the Executive Secretary/CEO of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Dr. Ukeyvima Akutah—represented by the Director of Consumer Affairs, Mrs. Ify Okolue—commended SALS for championing critical industry conversations.
Akutah acknowledged the vital role of shippers in driving economic growth and warned that overlapping taxes and contradictory levies were eroding pricing transparency and undermining Nigeria’s position as a competitive trade hub. He reaffirmed NSC’s commitment to reforms that ensure fairness, transparency, and efficiency across port operations.
He described the National Single Window as a transformative tool capable of integrating port processes, eliminating duplicate documentation, reducing delays, and ultimately lowering the cost of doing business. On concerns over the four per cent FOB tax imposed by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Akutah assured stakeholders that the NSC was engaging authorities to harmonise fiscal policies in line with national economic goals.
In his remarks, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi—represented by ACG Muhammed Babadede—said the NSW and the indigenous B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System were central to the government’s trade modernisation agenda. He noted that both platforms complement each other and are expected to be fully integrated by the first quarter of 2026, creating a unified digital ecosystem aligned with global standards.
The President of SALS, Rev. Nicholas Odolo, emphasised collaboration, policy stability, and 24-hour cargo clearance as crucial to building a competitive shipping industry. He called for predictable, transparent, and non-punitive revenue policies to support Nigeria’s ambition of becoming a true Blue Economy Maritime Nation.
Goodwill messages from key stakeholders—including Maritime Lawyer Chief Osuala Nwagbara, Barge Owners Association President Bunmi Olumekan, and CRFFN Registrar Kingsley Igwe—underscored the urgency of legal reforms, trade incentives, and industry resilience. They praised the strong turnout, noting that it signalled a growing resolve among shippers to resist excessive charges and push for meaningful reforms.
Jointly organised by SALS and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, the event attracted major industry players, government officials, and private sector operators, providing a robust platform to address challenges and explore opportunities for a more efficient and globally competitive maritime sector.
ADVERTISEMENTS
