NRS denies blanket waivers as port agents protest delays

Weeks after the Nigerian Revenue Service and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council said they would urge shipping companies and terminal operators to grant waivers to importers and their agents affected by delays linked to the implementation of the National Single Window, licensed agents operating at the nation’s seaports have accused the NRS and the NSC of not keeping to their promises.

But the Special Adviser to the NRS boss, Dare Adekenmbi, countered the position of the agents, stressing that there was no blanket waiver for importers.

“We have met with the terminal operators, and they have confirmed that importers or agents impacted by the initial glitches from the NSW launch can apply for demurrage waivers,” he stated.

Adekenmbi added, “However, such importers/agents need to ensure they have enough evidence to support their claims. There will be no ‘blanket’ waivers on demurrage, as we know that some importers/agents may take undue advantage of such.”

But the agents, who earlier spoke with Sunday PUNCH, described the statement by the NRS and the NSC as a political promise that was not fulfilled.

In April, it was reported that the NSC and the NRS urged shipping companies and terminal operators to grant waivers to importers and clearing agents affected by delays linked to the implementation of the National Single Window at the nation’s seaports.

The appeal was made during a stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos that brought together representatives of the council, NRS, National Single Window Secretariat, terminal operators, and shipping companies to review the progress and challenges of the newly introduced system.

Speaking at the meeting, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NSC, Dr Pius Akutah, acknowledged that while the NSW initiative marked a major milestone for the maritime industry, “its rollout has been accompanied by initial operational challenges impacting cargo clearance timelines.”

Also speaking, the Chairman of the NRS, Dr Zacch Adedeji, urged shipping companies and terminal operators to show understanding by “granting waivers on demurrage and storage charges incurred during the delay period.”

Giving an update on that, the Apapa Chapter Chairman of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, Mr Abayomi Duyile, said nothing had been done.

“They didn’t do anything; they didn’t do anything as I speak to you now. There is no waiver for any agent that I know of. Even today, I am just coming from a meeting with a shipping company. They had a stakeholders’ engagement to inform us of the areas they are going to increase,” he said.

Also speaking, a former acting National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, Kayode Farinto, said there was nothing like that. “It’s all propaganda. Nothing like that, no waiver has been granted, to the best of my knowledge. It’s a political statement,” he said.

Farinto admitted that some of the challenges facing the NSW were gradually being tackled. “I think they are actually surmounting most of their challenges, and it’s moving gradually. Because some of the agencies that are giving them problems, like the Standard Organisation of Nigeria and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, have reversed it to how it used to be before,” he said.

An attempt to speak with the spokesperson for the NSC, Rebecca Adamu, was unsuccessful as she did not respond to messages sent to her as of the time of filing this report.