Business
Customs Agents say National Window System worsening ports congestion
Amiwero pointed out that the Nigerian Revenue Service, which is driving the initiative, lacks the expertise required for customs and import procedures, insisting that tax administration and customs operations should remain separate.
The National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, (NCMDLCA) has observed that the current structure of the National Single Window at Nigerian seaports fall short of the globally accepted model of a true single-window platform.
“The National Single Window is not effective. What we have now is more of a multiple-window system that duplicates Customs functions,” said Lucky Amiwero, the National President of NCMDLCA.
According to him, delays in obtaining approvals from agencies such as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) have worsened congestion and increased the cost of doing business.
He said, “A proper single window should involve single administration, single transaction, and single delivery. Once processes are harmonised at the backend, cargo clearance should be seamless.
“But importers are still required to interact separately with agencies like NAFDAC and SON. That defeats the purpose of a single-window system.”
Amiwero, disclosed that some importers now pay as much as N100,000 daily in demurrage to shipping companies and terminal operators while awaiting approvals from regulatory agencies.
Amiwero also pointed out that the Nigerian Revenue Service, which is driving the initiative, lacks the expertise required for customs and import procedures, insisting that tax administration and customs operations should remain separate.
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Business
WEF could appoint Lagarde as its next chair, sources say
The WEF’s Board of Trustees, which includes Lagarde herself, was due to meet on November 2 and could elect her as its next chair, said the people close to the organisation, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
•European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde
The World Economic Forum could appoint Christine Lagarde as its next chair as soon as next month, four people close to the organisation told Reuters, meaning she would step down early as European Central Bank chief and trigger a wider reshuffle at the top of the ECB.Lagarde’s ECB term is scheduled to end in October 2027.
Leaving early would give European Union leaders a chance to pick a new ECB President before France’s spring presidential election, which opinion polls suggest the far-right could win, and could pave the way for a deal involving two other senior ECB roles.
The WEF’s Board of Trustees, which includes Lagarde herself, was due to meet on November 2 and could elect her as its next chair, said the people close to the organisation, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
No final decision has been taken yet, they said.
A spokesperson for the WEF said the forum could not confirm when the next full Board of Trustees meeting would take place, but that the aim was to hold one before the end of the year.
Business
Germany plans tax on sugary drinks
The tax is expected to generate additional revenue for the federal government of €690 million in 2027 and €925 million in 2028.
The German cabinet has approved draft legislation to tax sugary drinks in Europe’s biggest economy.
If passed by the German Bundestag, the tax will take effect on 1 July 2027.
The coalition aims to raise revenue for the federal budget while encouraging manufacturers to reduce sugar content and offer healthier products.
The levy is intended to ease pressure on the healthcare system, which faces costs of more than €2 billion every year linked to the high consumption of sugary drinks, which contributes to obesity, diabetes and tooth decay.
According to the federal government, Berlin is using the tax to implement “what associations from the fields of health, science, child protection, and consumer protection have long been demanding.”
The tax is expected to generate additional revenue for the federal government of €690 million in 2027 and €925 million in 2028.
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