PH Mundial – Port Harcourt Online Newspaper News across the Niger Delta
Related Articles
… As Onne Customs command mark 15.4% hike in revenue generation
By Paul Williams
Four freight forwarding associations, led by the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), on Wednesday February 4, 2026 continued picketing of the offices of Pacific International Lines (PIL) at Onne Port.
The picket, which has triggered concerns over revenue generation at Onne Port, was in a bid to stop their members from doing business with the shipping line until their demands are met, and follows the freight forwarders’ worry over the multiple levy of a 7% surcharge on them.
Issues motivating the protest, according to the associations, also include allegations of “hike in charges, multiple levy of 7% surcharge and PIL’s refusal to reverse hike on charges as advised by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.”
The protest, which included members of the Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (ARFFN), National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) and National Council of Managing Directors of Customs Licensed Agents, entered its second day on Thursday with sources at the Area II command of the Nigeria Customs Service identifying the protest as possible threat to revenue generation at the port “if allowed to continue.”
Chairman of ANLCA’s Onne Seaport chapter, Chief Ifeanyi Isikaku, on Thursday, said one of the issues at stake is the 7% surcharge separately imposed on freight forwarders by the Nigeria Customs Service and shipping lines such as Pacific International Line (PIL).
Isikaku said, “Shipping lines in Nigeria have been charging us 7% surcharge. Surcharge means NPA, Port Development Levy. Customs also are charging us. When we are paying custom duty, that 7% is part of it. And they charge us from the custom duty, the 7%.
“So we cannot come here, and shipping companies, also charge us the same amount. So we are asking them to expunge that one out of their invoice. That is part of our demands? They have to expunge it out of their invoice because we cannot pay double taxation,” he said.
Chairmen of the Onne Seaport chapters of ARFFN and NAGAFF, Prince Obinna Ugochukwu and Hon. (Dr) Okechukwu Anselem Ike respectively, pointed out that the main grouse of the picket is the “arbitrary increase in freight charges by PIL,” urging the company to maintain status quo on its charges as advised by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.
Ugochukwu and Ike noted that the Shippers’ Council had directed PIL to carry out stakeholders’ engagements, among other things, before embarking on increase of its service charges.
Meanwhile, Controller, Area II Command, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Aliyu Mohammed Alkali, has engaged stakeholders on procedures and trade facilitation, while challenging them on strict compliance with cargo documentation.
He was speaking during a meeting with stakeholders at the command headquarters, at Onne Port, on Tuesday February 3, 2026,
Alkali said the robust synergy that exists between the command and its stakeholders enabled it to succeed in revenue generation, disclosing that the command recorded a 15.4% increase in revenue collection in 2025 compared to the previous year, 2024.
The comptroller urged stakeholders to ensure strict compliance with cargo clearance documentation, stressing that proper documentation remained critical to seamless operations.
Alkali said, “the Time Release Study (TRS), launched on 26th January 2026 during the celebration of International Customs Day, revealed that improper documentation remains a major factor hindering timely clearance and the fast release of consignments.”
He cautioned against the improper utilization of Pre-Arrival Assessment Reports (PAAR) issued for Port Harcourt Area II Command, saying that such should not be used in other Area vommands.
He emphasized the need for shipping lines to clearly specify the intention of consignments during manifest transmission, warning against tampering with container tracking devices, and highlighted the importance of timely renewal of Customs bond licenses to prevent operational delays.
