Role Of a Custom Licensed Agent In Nigeria:

In Nigeria, Customs agency is by corporate Membership. A customs licensed company acts as an agent for an importer or exporter in Customs port and shipment procedure related matters.  Customs Agent must be certify and licensed by Nigeria Customs Service, licensed and permit department headquarters.  A Custom Agent assemble all shipping document for filling of Custom Entry Form C2010 (SGD) Single Goods Declaration Form; calculate and pay taxable duty and take necessary steps to facilitate final release of goods from customs, ship agent and terminal operator custody on behalf of the clients.

• A custom licensed Agent must have adequate knowledge of extant Nigerian Government guidelines, regulation and imposed control on import and exportable goods.  Importantly He/She must be excellent in (CET) Common External Tariff interpretation And product rate classifications.  Customs Agent must have broader view on transportation medium and advice clients on best and cost effective transport options, mode of packing, carrier, routes and land transit handling to clients door step.
  Complexity and incessant changes of  Nigerian Government Fiscal Policy statements and guidelines makes it absolutely Necessary for a shipper to engage a licensed customs Agent, who must be aware of any potential problem that might arose on a particular customs goods entry form and proffer solution. 534 pages of Nigerian Custom Service Board (CET) Tariff book as well as several quarterly amended changes to the tariff book provision make it a reasonable thing do by appointing an Agent on your shipments:
  As your solicitor, custom agent must have excellent knowledge of resolutions of possible customs query that may arise. Filled SGD entry form, competence to apply correct duty rate code on every product by engaging globalize world customs organization accepted Harmonized System and Explanatory Note and world custom decision on matters of litigation concerning rightful classification of goods as decided by WCO (World Customs Organization) for any member countries.
  Custom Agent roles transcend Custom Formalities only.  As he/she is responsible and always in contact with more that 22 other government agencies domiciles in Nigeria ports such as : Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON),  National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control  (NAFDAC) Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA), Plant & Animal Quarantine services, Nigeria Police, Drug Law Agencies, Bomb Detector Agency, Defence Military Intelligence (DMI) e.t.c. the Agent Undergoes process of compliance checks and respond to the required documentation needs of all this Agencies.
  Valentino banks agency will do all this for you, reason why you must talk to us as your Agent.
  

Emesure Global Resources

Description:	Emesure Global Resources is a global trade consulting and commodity brokerage firm which acts as broker with Seller Mandate or Buyer Facilitator introducing REAL Buyers to REAL Seller and arranges contracts for the supply of a variety of sought after commodities between established Sellers and Buyers in the Global Trade Business but not limited to Commodity Industry. Our firm is your one stop service for Global Commodity Brokerage Services.
Street Address:	18 Awoni Murphy Street, Ifako Ijaiye
City:	Lagos
State:	Lagos
Postal Code:	10015
Country:	Nigeria
Business Type:	Broker / Commision-based consultant
Website:	emesureglobal.wix.com/trade
Phone Number:	+2348098086833
Fax Number:
Products/Services:	Sesame seed, Cashew nut, Palm kernel shell, Oil seeds, Sunflower oil, Yellow corn, sugar icumsa, cocoa beans, bitter kola, kola nuts, herbs, Spices, Rice, Ayurvedic Products & Medicines Commodity Brokerage Services
No. of Employees:	Less than 5
Year Established:	2005

THE ROLES OF SHIPPING AGENTS IN PORT

Each person has their role either in daily life or work. As well as the shipping agency.The role of a shipping agent organizing a pilot, tugs and linemen who will help bring the shipinto the port. The shipping agent ensures that a ship has the necessary berth in port and thatall required paperwork, including customs paperwork, is completed.When a ship arrives in port, the shipping agent’s role includes bringing mail and localcurrency for the ship’s crew. The shipping agent organizes the supplies needed for a ship’screw to survive on the next leg of a journey.Shipping agent have some responsibilities for organizing the cargo to be carried by aship and for making sure the necessary paperwork is completed for a ship to leave port.ashipping agent may pay bills on behalf of the ship’s owner when the ship departs from port. Another roles of shipping agents are ensuring a berth for the incoming ship, arrangingfor the pilot and the tugs if necessary, drawing up the documents for the customs andharbour services and assisting the master in making the necessary contacts with the localauthirities and the harbour authorities.Besides, arranging for the necessary ship fresh water or provisions, arranging for thenecessary doctor for the crew any medical assistence, arranging for storage bunkers if theseare needed and arranging for the necessary repairs alsothe roles of shipping agents. A shipping agents coordinate the arrival and launch times with the ship’s schedule,synchronizing vendor request, arrival dates and needs or directions from the pilot or captain. A ships’ needs while in port are arranged and coordinated through the ship agent. The agentis responsible for maintaining a formal schedule, disseminating information to involvedparties and creating an in or outboard the personnel resources required on vessel forscheduled pick-ups or offloads and is contact for any certified signitures. A ship agent should know all shipping regulations for all ports, ensuring compliancewith international shipping regulations, safety practices and policies of the ship's owner. Theagent should also know all applicable publications containing regulations and certifyingauthorities. Agents should maintain copies of all documents, including bills of lading, andinsurance and inspection certificates. A ship agent is available during arranged hours for communications involving theship's owner. The agent is also the point of contact for all stakeholders, crew and portauthorities, serving as the ship's main liaison while in port. These communication dutiesinclude cultivating various relationships at port with appropriate agencies, as well as fulfillingcommercial and public relations needs. Communications should be recorded in a ledger forreference. On-call and extended hours are often required.Besides, a ship agent must canvass cargo to be carried by theprincipal’s vessel andalso collect all freight due and to remit the freight collected less communication due to agentsto the principal. A ship agent also must prepared all the shipping documents requires.Example is the bill of lading, delivery orders, arrival notifcations freight invoices and cargomanisfests.

Association wants more shippers’ association chapters

The President, Shippers Association Lagos State, Mr Jonathan Nicol, on Friday urged shippers across the country to come together and build shippers’ associations.

Nicol made the plea in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

He said that, thereafter, the associations would merge and form the Federation of Nigerian Shippers Association.

“The Act says shippers’ associations should be established within the 36 states of the federation. Thereafter, they would come together, merge as one and FONSA (Federation of Nigerian Shippers Association) would be born.

“We have not been able to get all the states to establish shippers’ association but we are making a call for all other importers irrespective of what name you call yourself, you are a shipper. To come together as one and when we come together as one, do not forget that the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) coined the word shippers.

“So if you are an importer, you are a shipper. If you are an exporter, you are a shipper. So it does not really matter what name you register your organisation, you are a shipper.

“So, all of us should come together and build the shippers’ associations across the country. When we are matured enough, FONSA will come naturally.’’

Nicol said that shippers preferred using the Lagos ports to clear their cargoes, adding that the Lagos ports were nearer to the end users of the cargoes.

“If you bring in your containers, they prefer to use the Lagos ports rather than Port Harcourt because the market is domiciled in Lagos.

“By the time they cleared their goods, they spread it to different outlets. Within one or two weeks they sell their goods off and they go back and make a turnaround.

“If you take your goods to the Eastern port, is a whole lot of competition there. So, rather than tie your goods down, they prefer to come to a market like Lagos, sell off and make a roundabout trip.

“It is the number of trips you make that determines your profit. They prefer to use the Lagos ports and go back quickly and make another trip.

“If you move your cargo to Calabar port; cars for instance, and you clear from the ports, now you want to bring those cars to Lagos.

“You have so many security check points on the road and it makes it very unpalatable for importers to go through the eye of a needle in ferrying their cars from Calabar to Lagos.

“So, is like you are buying another car because of the check points and is one of the reasons why they prefer to use Lagos ports.’’

6 Questions Shippers Need to Ask Freight Brokers

Dear freight brokers, no matter how big, small, or independent, how much work you get and how much money you earn will depend solely on you. That's why it’s essential to establish good relationships with shippers, in order to help their business thrive and have a constant flow of clients.

While every shipper may have their own criteria as to what they are looking from freight brokers chosen to do business with, there are certain things everyone wants to know about you before they trust you with their freight and ultimately their business reputation with their own clients. Knowledge of these things will help you be better prepared to answer shippers' questions and meet their expectations. Here are six of the most frequent ones.

Question #1. How do you choose your carriers?

Speaking of carriers and insurance, now is the time to say that shippers would want to know what selection method you use to pick carriers. Whether the carriers have insurance themselves will be an important part of that question. After all, they want to make sure that they will be covered should something happen to the cargo they shipped. Shippers may ask about about your carrier safety record, as well as whether you have outlined all terms and conditions in a written contract. Verbal agreements and generous promises won't get you far.

Question #2. How big is your business?

There’s nothing wrong with being a small operation, even a one-man operation, as long as you don’t take more work than you can handle. Still, many shippers may ask that question and freight brokers may feel pressured to exaggerate the number. But for establishing long-term relationships honesty is the best policy. Shippers may also ask how many years you have been in business, because they will take that as a measure of how reliable you are.

Question #3. How many modes of transportation do you use?

While truckload motor carrier services are the most common, some shippers will ask you if you are also using other modes, such as LTL, vans, air freight, rail intermodal, to name a few. They do that for two main reasons. First, having multiple options means that you can be more flexible, so if the cargo can’t be shipped through one mode, you will quickly find another. Second, it means that you have many partners and can probably offer more than one option for each of the modes.

Question #4. Are you financially stable?

A frequent question you may encounter is one about your financial stability. Shippers normally have a lot at stake, and will want to make sure that the freight broker they do business with doesn't have any financial and credit problems. They may want to look into your finances and possibly run a credit check at the Red Book Credit Services. If your business is profitable, this is a green light for shippers. In addition, be ready to answer questions regarding your payment methods and how quickly you compensate carriers.

Question #5: Do you have a freight broker bond?

This will likely be the number one question on any shipper’s list. A freight broker bond means you are properly licensed and bonded. A freight broker bond is also designed to protect shippers in case you are not keeping your contractual agreements and are delaying payments. The FMCSA contains a searchable database of all licensed and bonded freight brokers, which means shippers might not ask you directly whether you’re bonded. Still, it’s a good idea to keep maintain proof that you’re bonded (via your Motor Carrier Report) that can be shown upon request.

Question #6: Do you have cargo insurance?

There are different types of cargo insurance for freight brokers, but luckily you don’t need them all. Shippers are likely to ask whether you have contingent cargo insurance. Even though you are not physically handling freight, if a shipment is lost or damaged, the carrier may not make good on the claim. This is when your contingent cargo insurance kicks in to cover the losses. You are not obliged by law to have this insurance, but both shippers and carriers are likely to ask you and be more willing to work with you if you have it.

What’s your strategy?

In your daily work with shippers you have probably encountered many such questions. Can you share some of them for your fellow brokers? What strategies are you using to establish long-term relationships with shippers? Leave a comment in the section below.

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WHY YOU MUST DEAL WITH VALENTINO BANKS AGENCY NIG. LTD

Valentino Banks Agency Nig. Ltd is a major name in both air and ocean freight industry in Nigeria.

Our aim & vision:We aim to provide high quality professional services to our valued customer to justify their trust & faith in our capabilities and organisation.We aim to become a preferred international freight company in Nigeria,delivering the most competitive and affordable tariff with the highest consumer value to price sensitive consumer without compromising on profitability and quality.

Our mission is to create "VALENTINO BANKS AGENCY NIG. LTD" a globally recognised Nigeria brand.our philosophy is to be a leading freight company with global reach and a local base.we shall achieve these objectives by providing a team of highly motivated professional.

We provide comprehensive customs clearing,international freight forwarding,ships agency.

Service:

customs brokerage

This is a vital aspect of our service portfolio. Our operation cut across the airport and seaport.Highly seasoned professionals are stationed at each port to oversee the loading, the processing of the customs entries and actual collection of the cargo and eventual delivery to the destination required.

Freight forwarding

We also assist in the packing of your cargo and the export by sea,air or land to anywhere in the world either on door to door or door post basis.

Ships agency

We're a major ships agency representing and supporting ship owners,manager,operators and charters from around the world.

Business focus:Air sea freight shipping rate,international container transportation quote,Nigeria logistics quotation,freight forwarder,ocean shipment forwarding.

The cost for customs clearing and delivery of your various shipment from all Nigeria sea port and air port to your destination in U S Dolla are:

car year clearing cost:2000-2003 $1570;

2004-2006 $1747;

2007-2008 $2560;

2009 $3810;

2010 $4435;

2011-2012 Negotiable.

commercial buses i.e Buses that can carry 10-15 passenger from year of manufacturing up to 1999 is $1248.

Truck year clearing cost:1990-95 $1685;1996-2005 $1873.

Goods Air freight cost:201kg-500kg $1.5/kg;501kg-1000kg $1.3/kg;1001kg-2000kg $1/kg;2001kg and above is $0.97, Sea freight cost:20ft container $623/container 40ft container $873.Remember that the above quote are apply to chenge without any notice,however you can also contact us for quote of shipping of car,suv, 20ft container, 40ft container etc from united state(US) to Lagos port.

For more information please contact the C E O Valentino Banks Agency Nig Ltd on +2347063807077,+2349057573959 or Email:valentinobankie@gmail.com 

working place :Tincan/apapa

For more information on your clearing solutionplease contact us for life chatting on Whatsaap with this yahoo id:azcargoandship@ymail.com

+2347063807077

Thanks.