Relief for agents as Customs reverses N10m license fee hike following ANLCA intervention

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has suspended its controversial proposal to hike customs agents’ license fees, directing a return to the status quo.

The proposed changes according to the NCS would have seen new license fees skyrocket from N515,000 to N10 million, while annual renewal fees were set to jump from N215,000 to N4 million.

The National President, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents ( ANLCA) Emenike Nwokeoji who disclosed this at the association’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Lagos on Tuesday said the decision was reached after engagement with the NCS.

Nwokeoji, informed members that the association’s strategy of dialogue with Customs and other government agencies had paid off.

“We are all aware that not long ago, Customs came up with a proposal to increase our license fees. I want to inform you that we have been able to reach a common ground with them, and they have allowed us to continue to renew at the old rates; the status quo remains,” Nwokeoji announced.

The President noted that while the industry faces immense pressure, the association has focused on restoring peace and fostering a commendable working relationship with all government agencies.

Nwokeoji, however lamented that members are lagging in adopting the Customs’ Authorised Economic Operator program and other trade facilitation tools.

He said the association is collaborating with the NCS on key trade facilitation initiatives, including the Advance Ruling and the One-Stop-Shop (OSS) platform.

He added that ANLCA is also working with the Federal Government on the National Single Window (NSW) project.

“We are working with Customs on AEO, but they said our members are not responding well. We are also collaborating with Customs on Advance Ruling, especially for importers of homogeneous goods. They should take advantage of Advance Ruling,” he said.

Nwokeoji urged members to participate in the ongoing National Single Window (NSW) training.

“If you cannot be there, send a senior staff member. You must be prepared for this digital transition.” he said.

In his goodwill message, the Chairman of the Customs Consultative Committee (CCC), Aare Hakeem Olanrewaju, urged practitioners to rise above ethnic and political divides.

He stressed that the survival of the profession in a digitized era—marked by the B’Odogwu platform and the Port Community System—requires a “strategic realignment.”

“The freight forwarding profession in Nigeria must rise above fragmentation. Consolidation is not weakness; it is strategic strength. Indigenous brokerage must begin to embrace mergers and consortium models to compete, ” he said.

He further advocated for protective frameworks similar to those in Tanzania, ensuring that indigenous practitioners are not displaced by foreign entities within their own economic space.

The NEC meeting saw a massive turnout of ANLCA chieftains including: the immediate past president, prince Olayiwola Shittu, Bot Chairman, All Taiwo Mustapha,Vice President, Prince Segun Oduntan ANLCA patron, Taye Oyeniyi, Secretary CCC Eugene Neeke, among others.