A human rights activist and President of Ambassadors of Peace and Enlightenment Foundation (AMPEF) has blasted the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for adjusting the foreign exchange rate for its tariffs and duties while blaming President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for giving such sensitive positions to those who cannot offer much for the betterment of Nigeria.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that Prince Iche stated this on the recent increase of cargo tariffs as the new rates were reflected on the single window trade portal of the Federal Government. According to information on the portal, the NCS exchange rate has gone up by 42.5 percent or N404.94 to N1,356.88/$, as of Friday — from the preceding rate of N951.94/$.
The Customs officials explained that the adjustment followed the depreciation of the Naira at the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM).
Reacting over the increment, Comrade Ichie described it as funny and asked on what criteria the Customs deemed it right at this critical time to increase the exchange rate for cargo clearance, which will make Naira become more valueless while goods and services will increase culminating to more hardship in Nigeria.
“By the increment, it is just common analysis, our Naira will become like paper. Nigerians will now be buying things they used to buy N100 before at N500.”
“If the Government allows this to happen, there will be problem in Nigeria; there will be starvation, there will be agony in this country. It is unfortunate that we are electing or putting people into sensitive positions who don’t have the interest of their people at heart.”
Ichie stated that Nigeria is a consuming nation and virtually most of the things consumed in Nigeria are imported and that has been the major problem in Nigeria.
Comrade Saviour Iche stated that this present administration should be very careful with their policies because the perception is that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Government has really come to inflict more hardship on Nigerians and If the policies are not well thought out, there will be bigger trouble in Nigeria.
“The industries will be closing up. The raw materials that they were buying before between N15,000, N14,800 in 2015 is now N147,000 because the clearing of chemicals, goods and services at the wharf will increase by almost 80%.”
“As the cost of living is going high on daily basis, it will reach to the time a bottle of water will be sold for N500 because the raw materials imported, after clearing them from the wharf, the cost will be added to the products.”
Iche advised the Government to act fast now by addressing those things that are bringing hardship, reduce the clearing rates and alleviate the problem of the masses.
He explained that the effects of the increase will virtually affect all imported goods including vehicles and motor spare parts, machineries and importers may resort to going to Cotonou to clear their goods at cheaper rates.
“I am speaking the minds of the voiceless Nigerians. It is high time we held this government accountable. Most of these people that are at the helm of the affairs of this country, we have to check their mental health for thinking of how to increase the cargo clearing fees. Under what? Who are you trying to please? You want to bring revenue? Is that the only port that Nigeria can get their revenue? There are other ways. Why all this pain?”
Ichie charged that it is time to give appointments to those who merit them rather than using it to settle politicians and party officials, who do not merit them thereby putting the future of Nigeria in jeopardy.
“See how other African countries that Nigeria was better than 10, 20 years ago, they are now far better than Nigeria because their governments brought people that have good policies like Rwanda, Congo, who are doing well because of their good policies.”