COVID-19: Group Accuses NPA Of Conniving With Concessionaires , Shipping Lines On Refusal To Demurrage Refund

The National President of National Council of Managing Directors of Customs Agents (NCMDLCA)  has accused shipping service provider, port concessionaires of conniving with Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA) over alleged  refusal to refund demurrage and rent waivers granted shippers  and freight agents following the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic last year .

 

The Lucky Amiwero led council has also petitioned the federal government with the  intention to sue both the terminal operators and shipping line agencies in Nigeria if they refusal to refund the 35 days demurrage waivers and rents approved for the relief of importers and licensed customs agents on covid-19 pandemic lockdown.

 

 

 

 

According to a  letter signed by the National President of NCMDLCA, Mr Lucky Amiwero  and addressed to  the Secretary of the Federal Government, the council noted that the shipping service providers have ignored the order to refund the 35 days relief granted the importers/ licensed customs agents under the COVID 19 pandemic by the Presidency.

 

Amiwero recalled that the first letter had been written as far back as January this year to the shipping service providers in respect of the waiver on the days of the lockdown, which cumulated to 35 days for the period, which conform with principle of force majeure restricting the movement of all agencies especially the Importer/ Licensed Customs Agents(LCA) who were mostly affected

 

 

 

He described the action of the shipping service providers as a clear contravention of international maritime obligation on COVID 19 Pandemic and the presidential directive on the relief for Licensed Customs Agents(LCA).

 

The Council’s boss said that it is worrisome that the NPA could not do much to get the service providers make the refund after the management had been presented evidence of the collection by both terminal operators and shipping companies.

 

Part of the letter reads, “The Management of the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) was forwarded with the Terminal Operators and Shipping Companies receipt of payment made by the importers/Licensed Customs Agents(LCA)which falls under the date of the waiver of the thirty five days that was illegally and forcefully collected, which was not paid up till date the letter is attached and marked appendix 3”.

 

The Council called on the federal government to set up a committee to enforce the refund by the terminal operators and shipping companies.

 

“We once more appeal for the set up of a small committee made up of SGF, NPA and NCMDLCA to collect all unpaid refund illegally and forcefully collected with the aid of Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA) by the Terminal Operators and shipping companies from Importers and Licensed Customs Agents(NCMDLCA)”, the letter read.

 

 

 

“We hereby draw the attention of the Federal Government of the refusal of the Terminal operators and shipping companies to refund the waiver of thirty five(35)days relief  granted the Importers/ Licensed Customs Agents under the COVID 19  Pandemic by the Presidency.

 

“The letter dated 13th January 2021 ECD/P/251/T/VI addressed  to the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Agents(NCMDLCA) on waiver of both Terminal and shipping Companies waiver on the days of the lockdown, which cumulated to thirty five(35)days for the period, which conform with principle of  force majeure restricting the movement of all agencies especially the Importer/ Licensed Customs Agents(LCA) who were  mostly affected

 

” Companies with the connive  with Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA) who are to implement the waiver process, refused to implement the directive from the presidency of the thirty five(35) days of waiver on demurrage and rent for Importer/Licensed Customs Agents(LCA) which is clear contravention of international  maritime obligation  on COVID 19 Pandemic and the presidential directive on the relief for Licensed Customs Agents(LCA)

 

 

“The total collection by the Terminals operators and Shipping companies on the waived rent and demurrage, was made possible by Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA) that allowed the Terminal operators and Shipping companies to collect all the thirty five(35) days, which was supposed to be refunded to the Importers/ Licensed Customs Agents(LCA)”

 

“Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA)  aided the Terminal Operators and Shipping Companies by issuing the  circular HQ/GM/MRS/OP/L.1/VOLII/434 OF 14TH MAY 2020 on the demand of the refund to the National Council Of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents(NCMDLCA) after the ease of the lockdown, when the Terminal Operators/ Shipping Companies have   illegally and forcefully  collected the rent of the thirty five(35) days without refund to the Importers/Licensed Customs Agents(LCA)

 

 

“The Management of the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) was forwarded  with the Terminal Operators and Shipping Companies receipt of payment made by the importers/Licensed Customs Agents(LCA)which falls under the date of the waiver of the thirty five days that was illegally and forcefully collected, which was not paid up till date the letter is attached and marked appendix 3” It stated.

 

By Roland Ekama