Over 1000 clearing agents operating at the Port and Terminal Multi-Services Limited (PTML), thronged the Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Wednesday morning, and threatened to withdraw their services over what they called sudden and unexpected implementation of the new tariff on imported vehicles by the command.
The customs management had in March, suspended the implementation of the new automotive policy, after a peaceful protest was carried out by clearing agents against the introduction of the policy.
Subsequently, the Federal Government through the NCS management, directed that implementation should be shifted to commence 1July, this year.
It was gathered, however, that the implementation of the new policy was carried out only at the PTML command.
An executive member of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Mr Ugochukwu Nnadi who confirmed the development, said that agents were surprised at the development.
He said agents operating at the terminal had withdrawn their services “and there is no going back until the 35 per cent duty rate is reverted.”
He said the Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Tunji Aremu, who met with the agents, on Wednesday, said the directive to commence implementation of the new vehicle tariff came from the customs headquarters in Abuja.
