Nigeria, Feb. 9 -- Customs agents under four associations, led by the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, have begun picketing the offices of Pacific International Lines, halting business with the shipping firm over what they describe as multiple taxation and unapproved increases in charges.

Other groups involved include the Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria and the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders.



The protest is centred on complaints that both the Nigeria Customs Service and shipping lines are imposing a 7 percent surcharge on the same transactions, a situation agents say amounts to double-billing.

Industry leaders argue that the levy is already embedded in customs ...