Operators in the freight forwarding sub-sector of the maritime industry have lampooned the Nigerian Shippers’ Council for being docile as Shipping Lines have allegedly introduced a new charge through the back door.
Port Additional Destination charge was said to have been introduced few days ago without consultation with the shippers or their agents, adding that Shippers’ Council which has the statutory duty to protect shippers interest, have failed in their roles.
According to a document reflecting the charge, made available in Lagos Tuesday, confirmed the new charges.
The document from CMA CGM Shipping Nigeria Limited dated October 10th 2017 revealed that a twenty feett container on charge description cost N38,000 while for a forty feet container is N76,000.
Speaking on the development, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Mickey Excellency Nigeria Limited, Alhaji Abdulazeez Babatunde said that the Shippers Council had failed the operators over their incompetence to play its regulatory role.
Babatunde, a former Chairman of Association Electoral Committee (ASECO) of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) stated that shippers are being coerced to pay arbitrary charges without government intervention.
The customs broker maintained that in the last three weeks, shipping line agencies have been known for arbitrary charges on boxes, pointing out that the primary aim of the council was to protect and mediate on behalf of the shippers.
Babatunde said, “Nigerian Shippers Council is an agency of the government that gets subvention to protect the interest of importers and exporters “
“Right under the Council’s watch the shipping companies are increasing their charges arbitrarily,without a word from the council “
He further noted that despite the council ‘s appointment as port economic regulator, it can best be described as a toothless bulldog, that cannot bite.
When asked about the position of ANLCA on the newly introduced charges, Alhaji Babatunde stressed that the association would engage relevant bodies on how to address the issue over the cost.
Meanwhile, some of the freight agents operating at the Apapa port frowned at the development even as they called on the Council to intervene.
However, the Director of Special Duties and Public Affairs of the NSC, Chief Ignatius Nweke could not immediately respond to the text sent to him asbat the time of filing this report.
But an insider sources who preferred anonymity told our correspondent that the Council was aware of the new charge and was working on it, saying that shipping companies have been asked to revert back to status quo .
“The charge is not that new ,it’s been there for two to three months now. Why are the freight forwarders just raising alarm ? We have heard of it and taken those steps but till a positive results come out of the steps we are not supposed to make noise about it. “sources disclosed
