Covid-19: Terminal operators refuse to implement 21 days storage charges waiver – ANLCA

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents ( ANLCA),  has aĺleged that Terminal operators in Lagos ports have refused  to implement the 21 day waivers of storage  charges as mandated  by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

Speaking in a  television programme,  the National President,  ANLCA, Mr. Iju Tony Nwabunike lamented that despite the difficult circumstances Customs’ Brooke and Freight Forwarders are operating from, terminal operators are yet to implement the NPA twenty- one days free storage charge period.

Hadiza Usman, MD, NPA

He noted that NPA has given the order considering the lockdown by the federal government, that for  continuous ports operations,  terminal operators are to waive 21 days storage charges beginning from March 23rd, 2020 for all cargoes in Lagos ports in order to bring succour to Importers and their Agents.

Nwabunike said Customs’ Brokers find it difficult to access the ports due to the lockdown until the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC)  in collaboration with the  Council for Regulations of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) step in to provide the buses which assisted his members for easy entry and from the ports.

” We are looking forward to the implementation of the waiver.  Even the 21 days is not enough due to the fact that before the lockdown, people were scared of the Covid-19, as such, the ports were witnessing skeletal services, ” he said.

On how to ease congestion in Lagos ports  after the Coronavirus pandemic, Nwabunike said it’s going to be very hectic and troublesome, but advice that,this is the time for cargoes in the Lagos ports  to be  transfered to Bonded Terminals and the maximum use of Eastern Ports of Port Harcourt, Calabar and Warri ports.

” It is going to be very hectic and troublesome. We  were told clearly that it’s only essential goods that are to be cleared from the ports during this period. Essential goods like medicaments, hospital equipment, beverages etc  and this are not up to 30% of cargoes in the ports. And as you know the ships  are discharging every container, so the congestion will be hectic after the pandemic and that is why I said the 21 days storage charges waiver given by NPA is not even enough,” he explained.

Nwabunike, however commended the Federal Government for allowing ports’ operations  to continue during the lockdown as the maritime sector is next to oil in sustaining the economy.

He  urged government agencies to continue to assist port stakeholders to carry out their duties during this trying period in Nigeria.