The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has announced steep new fees for customs agents, freight forwarders, and related operators.
An internal NCS memo shows that new licence applications for agents and freight forwarders will now cost ₦10 million, up from ₦515,000. Renewal fees have also jumped to ₦4 million from ₦215,000.
Importers and exporters must now secure bank bonds of up to ₦20 million, far above the previous ₦350,000 requirement. For bonded warehouses, the licence fee has skyrocketed from ₦60,000 to ₦20 million, while renewals will cost ₦10 million.
Terminals are also affected, with bank bond requirements rising to ₦500 million — a 900% leap from the previous ₦50 million. Ship chandlers, once paying just ₦515 for a licence, will now pay ₦2 million, with renewals costing ₦1 million.
The last fee review was in 2002, when new agent licences moved from ₦20,000 to ₦500,000 and renewals from ₦10,000 to ₦200,000.
Customs Explains the Increase
Customs says the move is meant to “reflect prevailing economic realities, including the value of exchange rates, and address operational demands” under the Nigerian Customs Service Act 2023.
The law also calls for consultations with industry players, but some affected businesses claim they were not informed. An operator at a Lagos inland bonded terminal said they “just found out about it yesterday”.
If approved, the hike is expected to raise costs across Nigeria’s import and manufacturing sectors.
Frank Onyebu, past chairman of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Apapa, warned that agents will pass the cost down the chain. “It’s going to get back to the importers and then eventually going to get back to the consumers,” he said.
The policy comes barely a week after the Federal Government replaced the 1% Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme with a 4% free on board (FoB) charge on imports.
Traders Fear ‘Reform Fatigue’
Some traders worry the rapid reforms could hurt rather than help the economy.
“We have to be careful that we’re not breaking the back of those that want to try and endure with these numbers of extremely high reforms,” said George Coleman, a West African cable supplier.
He warned that Customs’ new charges, combined with the FoB increase, will not make the agency more efficient but could “create a bigger hole into the system”.
The NCS claims compliant agents will get ‘premium perks’ such as priority processing and better engagement channels. But many agents are still angry.
“It’s a shame. There is no reason for it. If the economy is bad, we feel it more than the Customs. Agents pay duties to Customs daily,” said Sulaiman Ayokunle, a clearing agent and executive member of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents.
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