Freight Forwarders Seek FG Stimulus Package for Logistics Viability, Sustainability
By Onyinye Apeh
The President of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Iju Tony Nwabunike has called on the federal government to consider providing freight forwarders with some form of support as it has done in other sectors of the national economy.
Nwabunike in a goodwill message to customs brokers/freight forwarders to mark Nigeria’s 60th independence anniversary, Nwabunike said while freight forwarders have heard of federal government interventions through the Central Bank and Bank of Industry (BOI) to private sector businesses to improve on their viability and sustainability, nothing has been offered to customs brokers.
He said this was not the best considering the expectations of government on the role freight forwarders play in revenue generation at the ports nationwide.
Nwabunike said, “ We have heard and seen Federal Government interventions through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Bank of Industry (BoI) to private sector businesses improving on their viability and sustainability.
“No such programme has been designed for us in the freight forwarding and logistics sector of our economy.
“Aside not getting any form of palliative from government, there is no offer of single digit loan by government tailored towards our needs in procuring trucks, maintaining warehouses, investing in logistics aided technology like tracking devises and fleet of motorcycles for E-commerce transactions in a state of difficult traffic situation as what we experience in Lagos.
“We call on the Federal Ministries of Finance, Transport, Trade and Industry, CBN, NCS and others to see us as professionals deserving of state support, not only as potential tax payers because the likely quake or collapse of our sector will adversely affect the country”
.
Nwabunike however assured members of the freight forwarding professionals that he will open talks with government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to “ see how our sub sector can be integrated into government interventionist financial programmes and support initiatives”.
He advised freight forwarders to reflect on the many untapped potentials in the country as professionals and as business men on this occasion of Nigeria’s 60th independence anniversary.
He said, ”Our professional calling as logistics experts playing critical roles in E-commerce now requires us to think beyond clearing cargoes from the ports and be the chain linking people and business together.
“ANLCA’s age is 66 (established 1954) , Nigeria is 60. We shouldn’t just be glorying in old age without commensurate maturity to match our many years of existence as a body of great professionals. We must not derail in our drive for success
“We should continually see ourselves as part of the move to diversify Africa’s largest economy from a totally oil dependent country to a viable country making sustainable revenue from non oil sector.
“Our roles in the import, export and supply chain management has made us critical contributors to government revenue drive of attaining over N4 trillion by Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and supporting the Nigeria Customs Service in sustaining it’s N1trillion yearly collection.
“Our sector holds the capacity for 50,000 direct and ancillary employments from the ports, airports, border stations, delivery chain linking warehouses and market, if properly harnessed.
“While I call on our members and professionals in our line of business to keep up their patriotic acts of engaging only in legitimate deals and prompt payment of taxes to government, it also rests on the Nigerian State to give us support”.
The President of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Iju Tony Nwabunike has called on the federal government to consider providing freight forwarders with some form of support as it has done in other sectors of the national economy.
Nwabunike in a goodwill message to customs brokers/freight forwarders to mark Nigeria’s 60th independence anniversary, Nwabunike said while freight forwarders have heard of federal government interventions through the Central Bank and Bank of Industry (BOI) to private sector businesses to improve on their viability and sustainability, nothing has been offered to customs brokers.
He said this was not the best considering the expectations of government on the role freight forwarders play in revenue generation at the ports nationwide.
Nwabunike said, “ We have heard and seen Federal Government interventions through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Bank of Industry (BoI) to private sector businesses improving on their viability and sustainability.
“No such programme has been designed for us in the freight forwarding and logistics sector of our economy.
“Aside not getting any form of palliative from government, there is no offer of single digit loan by government tailored towards our needs in procuring trucks, maintaining warehouses, investing in logistics aided technology like tracking devises and fleet of motorcycles for E-commerce transactions in a state of difficult traffic situation as what we experience in Lagos.
“We call on the Federal Ministries of Finance, Transport, Trade and Industry, CBN, NCS and others to see us as professionals deserving of state support, not only as potential tax payers because the likely quake or collapse of our sector will adversely affect the country”
.
Nwabunike however assured members of the freight forwarding professionals that he will open talks with government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to “ see how our sub sector can be integrated into government interventionist financial programmes and support initiatives”.
He advised freight forwarders to reflect on the many untapped potentials in the country as professionals and as business men on this occasion of Nigeria’s 60th independence anniversary.
He said, ”Our professional calling as logistics experts playing critical roles in E-commerce now requires us to think beyond clearing cargoes from the ports and be the chain linking people and business together.
“ANLCA’s age is 66 (established 1954) , Nigeria is 60. We shouldn’t just be glorying in old age without commensurate maturity to match our many years of existence as a body of great professionals. We must not derail in our drive for success
“We should continually see ourselves as part of the move to diversify Africa’s largest economy from a totally oil dependent country to a viable country making sustainable revenue from non oil sector.
“Our roles in the import, export and supply chain management has made us critical contributors to government revenue drive of attaining over N4 trillion by Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and supporting the Nigeria Customs Service in sustaining it’s N1trillion yearly collection.
“Our sector holds the capacity for 50,000 direct and ancillary employments from the ports, airports, border stations, delivery chain linking warehouses and market, if properly harnessed.
“While I call on our members and professionals in our line of business to keep up their patriotic acts of engaging only in legitimate deals and prompt payment of taxes to government, it also rests on the Nigerian State to give us support”.
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