According to Punch newspaper, importers now have to pay 50 per cent more to clear their goods at the ports.
Investigations by the paper’s correspondent on Friday showed that goods are now being cleared by the agents at the rate of N750 per kilogramme, compared to the previous amount of N500. This represents a 50 per cent increase.
Importers who spoke in separate interviews with Punch correspondent described the increase as unjust.
They also explained that the increase was not duly communicated to them but was imposed on them without any justifiable reason.
This, they added, was causing untold hardship not only to importers, but also to end-users of the products.
The President, Association of Finished Textile Dealers of Lagos, Mr. Patrick Uzomah, told Punch correspondent that the hike in the clearing rate should be reversed by government