The Sea Empowerment and Research Centre has urged the Nigeria Customs Service to consider fair and reasonable licence renewal fees for customs agents ahead of its planned review.

SEREC’s call is contained in its August bulletin released by its head of research, Eugene Nweke, on Tuesday.

The appeal followed consultation between the NCS and stakeholders on a planned review of renewal fees for licensed customs agents, expected to take effect in January 2026.

The centre stated that the call was made in view of the already challenging operations of the port system and the need to support small and medium-sized enterprises.

“We advise against exorbitant fee increments in the current port system, given the already challenging environment,” it said.

The centre called for a well-structured licensing framework for customs agents to promote professionalism, efficiency, and compliance.

It recommended a tiered fee structure based on service type or licence level, with lower rates for smaller businesses and new entrants.

It proposed a standard licence for general customs clearance and an advanced licence for complex clearances involving specialised commodities or high-value goods.

Others include a specialised licence for handling specific commodities such as hazardous materials or controlled substances, a brokerage licence for customs brokerage services, and a multi-tasking operational licence.

It stressed that licensing should focus on competence in customs procedures, tariff classification, valuation, and origin determination, with mandatory training for licence holders and professional development to maintain their licences.

The centre cautioned against using recapitalisation, consolidation, or mergers as tools for licensing reform, noting these could cause delays.

Instead, it urged a streamlined and efficient approach to licensing reform, alongside broad consultations involving the Nigeria Shippers Council and the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria.

According to SEREC, such measures will protect stakeholders’ interests and prevent undue burdens on the industry.

“We caution against recapitalisation, consolidation, or merger/acquisition of customs licences as a method of ensuring effective licensing regulations, as this may entail lengthy processes and timing,” it said.

It stated that to balance regulatory oversight with industry needs, the NCS should conduct regular reviews and update the licensing framework to ensure it remained effective and efficient.

It added that fair compensation should be given to agents to incentivise compliance.

“Agents or brokers should receive a fair allocation of a certain percentage of total duty collected to incentivise compliance and reduce the likelihood of collusion with traders to circumvent duties,” it stated.

While the NCS began consultations with key stakeholders on August 7, SEREC urged wider engagement in any decisions on fee increments or licensing reform.

It also pledged to work with the NCS to implement an inclusive licensing framework.

“SEREC believes that a collaborative and inclusive approach to licensing reform can benefit all stakeholders, including the NCS, customs agents, and the trading public. We look forward to working with the NCS to implement a licensing framework that balances regulatory oversight with industry needs,” it said.

(NAN)