ICTN: Shippers’ Council Rules Out Additional Charges for Nigerian Importers
NSC CEO
By Our Reporter
The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Hon Emmanuel Jime on Monday ruled out additional fiscal burden for importers and exporters following the planned introduction of the International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN) platform in Nigerian ports.
Jime stated this during a meeting with executives of Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (MAN) who visited the NSC headquarters in Apapa.
He said that rather Nigerian shippers should expect to gain from the ICTN, adding that this was far more than the fiscal burden.
According to him, ICTN will check issues of proliferation of small arms in the country, particularly those may come through the ports.
According to him, “The understanding we have at NSC is that this cost will not be borne by the Nigerian shippers. The cost implication has been located in a way that doesn’t do dramatic damage to the economy. However, Manufacturers are within their rights to seek clarification and be informed on what is to be expected as far as International Cargo Tracking Notes (ICTN) is concerned.
“The cost will be very minimal and let’s keep in mind that this cost has always been a shipping charge. It isn’t something that is really new. Nevertheless, we have to look at the real impact this will have on the Nigerian economy
“It makes more sense that with ICTN we can secure ourselves because no one wants to do business in an environment devoid of security. On the issue of crude theft which is a huge challenge to the nation’s resources, ICTN will also stop that. One can argue that the amount of crude that has been stolen from Nigeria is enough to establish the kind infrastructural developments we want for the nation. The problem of undervaluation of goods is something that can also be curbed by ICTN. These are some of the balancing factors that ICTN is going to bring. With these immense benefits that will come to the nation’s economy from ICTN, you will agree that there are more reasons to introduce ICTN than not to.”
The Vice President, MAN, Lagos Zone, Chief John Aluya, had during the meeting expressed concerns that the ICTN could lead to fiscal burden on Nigerian shippers in what may lead to inflation.
Aluya said that already Nigerian ports have the problem of being over-taxed as regulatory issues have additional costs attached.
He added, “Manufacturers ultimate aim is to make sure that Nigeria becomes the hub of the West-African region in production; but if our port costs keep rising we will be driving away the land-locked countries from using our ports.”
“We don’t pay these additional costs directly. It is the final consumer that pays because it would would reflect on the final prices of our products.”
The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Hon Emmanuel Jime on Monday ruled out additional fiscal burden for importers and exporters following the planned introduction of the International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN) platform in Nigerian ports.
Jime stated this during a meeting with executives of Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (MAN) who visited the NSC headquarters in Apapa.
He said that rather Nigerian shippers should expect to gain from the ICTN, adding that this was far more than the fiscal burden.
According to him, ICTN will check issues of proliferation of small arms in the country, particularly those may come through the ports.
According to him, “The understanding we have at NSC is that this cost will not be borne by the Nigerian shippers. The cost implication has been located in a way that doesn’t do dramatic damage to the economy. However, Manufacturers are within their rights to seek clarification and be informed on what is to be expected as far as International Cargo Tracking Notes (ICTN) is concerned.
“The cost will be very minimal and let’s keep in mind that this cost has always been a shipping charge. It isn’t something that is really new. Nevertheless, we have to look at the real impact this will have on the Nigerian economy
“It makes more sense that with ICTN we can secure ourselves because no one wants to do business in an environment devoid of security. On the issue of crude theft which is a huge challenge to the nation’s resources, ICTN will also stop that. One can argue that the amount of crude that has been stolen from Nigeria is enough to establish the kind infrastructural developments we want for the nation. The problem of undervaluation of goods is something that can also be curbed by ICTN. These are some of the balancing factors that ICTN is going to bring. With these immense benefits that will come to the nation’s economy from ICTN, you will agree that there are more reasons to introduce ICTN than not to.”
The Vice President, MAN, Lagos Zone, Chief John Aluya, had during the meeting expressed concerns that the ICTN could lead to fiscal burden on Nigerian shippers in what may lead to inflation.
Aluya said that already Nigerian ports have the problem of being over-taxed as regulatory issues have additional costs attached.
He added, “Manufacturers ultimate aim is to make sure that Nigeria becomes the hub of the West-African region in production; but if our port costs keep rising we will be driving away the land-locked countries from using our ports.”
“We don’t pay these additional costs directly. It is the final consumer that pays because it would would reflect on the final prices of our products.”
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