2017-06-26 | 5578 Print PDF
Have you been searching online for customs clearing and freight forwarding services in Nigeria? or you need a clearing agent in Apapa, Tincan and Airport that is licensed with cost effective means to combine both custom clearing services and freight forwarding services smoothly?.
Well I need to call it here, in most cases it is rare to find such, because these days most clients that sort out for custom clearing agents fall short to unprofessional goons that are like road side hawkers for the profession. This sort of roadside agents are neither certified to be the right clearing agent that can clear container in Apapa or clear consignment in Tincan or clear consignment in Airport, Lagos.
They bombard both clearing agent services and freight forwarding agent services together and when you need a CLEARING AGENT THAT CAN PROCESS A CONTAINER DOCUMENTATION IN APAPA/TINCAN they fall short and hence increase the overall cost of such dealings.
If you read my post on Clearing and Freight Forwarding Agent you will understand the uniqueness of these two services, and in most cases you might find a genuine agent that can offer you both services. Just to do a quick brush up on what a clearing agent actually does for a client and why it is vital to work with an accredited agent.
Wikipedia explains that Customs broking or customs brokerage is a profession that involves the "clearing" of goods through customs barriers for importers and exporters (usually businesses). This involves the preparation of documents and/or electronic submissions, the calculation and payment of taxes, duties and excises, and facilitating communication between government authorities and importers and exporters.[1] Custom brokers may be employed by or affiliated with freight forwarders, independent businesses, or shipping lines, importers, exporters, trade authorities, and customs brokerage firms
Hence it's no surprise that such organization and corporations like Banks, manufacturing industries do need a professional and certified customs agent, most times what discourage SMEs owners in venturing into the importation and exportation business is the service charges and expense in custom clearance.
One thing that most importation or exportation business men and women don't realize is that the duty of a good clearing agent is to actually reduce such cost and find waivers on fees that don't apply to any consignment shipments. This is why you need to employ the service of a licensed clearing agent that can communicate in the right language of customs officers at the ports.
So, now that we understand the concept behind a clearing agent and why you need to be certain of they are licensed custom agents, to find if such are actually licensed prior you trusting them with your millions of goods worth you can validate them by asking the associations they are in. In Nigeria most clearing agents that are licensed are also associated with Association Of Nigeria Licensed Custom Agent also known as ANLCA.
On the other hand wikipedia explains that a freight forwarder, forwarder, or forwarding agent, also known as a non-vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC), is a person or company that organizes shipments for individuals or corporations to get goods from the manufacturer or producer to a market, customer or final point of distribution.
Now from the two definition above one can see the split difference and how they both co-exist in ensuring a safe clearing and delivery of containers or consignments to their destinations. So outsourcing these services to different companies might not be cost-effective so if you will employ the service of a clearing agent that offers freight forwarding services, my advice will be to confirm if they are licensed.
In Nigeria a freight forwarder that is licensed are also associated with National Association of Govt Approved Freight Forwarders also known as NAGFF.
At DELAR FREIGHT AND LOGISTICS LIMITED creating a one shop server all service is what we pride ourselves in, and executing top class customer satisfaction in the areas of custom clearing
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