Blue Economy
Customs Reverses Licence Fee Hike After Industry Pushback
In a move that brought relief to thousands of freight forwarders, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has suspended its controversial plan to increase customs agents’ licence fees by nearly 2,000%.
The proposal, which would have raised new licence fees from ₦515,000 to ₦10 million and annual renewals from ₦215,000 to ₦4 million, sparked widespread alarm across the sector.
The reversal came after sustained engagement between Customs and the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), whose president, Emenike Nwokeoji, announced at a NEC meeting in Lagos that the status quo would remain. “They allowed us to continue to renew at the old rates,” he said, crediting dialogue for defusing tensions in a sector already under strain.
Why the Proposal Was Problematic
The last licence fee adjustment occurred in 2025, but the proposed 2026 hike was unprecedented. If implemented, it would have:
- Crushed small and indigenous agents, many of whom operate on thin margins
- Favored large foreign firms, risking displacement of local practitioners
- Contradicted Nigeria’s trade facilitation goals, especially amid digital reforms
Customs Consultative Committee Chairman Hakeem Olanrewaju called for unity and structural reform, urging agents to embrace mergers and consortium models to remain competitive in a digital-first era shaped by platforms like B’Odogwu and the Port Community System.
Digital Transition: What Agents Must Do
While the fee hike has been shelved, the sector is undergoing a rapid digital transformation. Nwokeoji warned that survival depends on embracing key trade tools:
| Digital Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) | Streamlines clearance for compliant agents |
| Advance Ruling System | Provides binding decisions on tariff classification and valuation |
| National Single Window | Integrates all trade-related processes into one digital platform |
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