The National Coordinator, 100% Compliance Team of National Association of Government Approved Foresight Forwarders, Dr. Ibrahim Tanko has accused Terminal operators of frustrating the efforts of the Overtime and Auction Committee to decongest the ports.
Dr. Tanko who made this assertion in a statement endorsed by him today 11/10/24 in Lagos and made available to journalists, lamented that most of this boxes are trapped in the ports because of demurrage.
He attributed the continuos congestion of the ports to the uncooperative attitude of Terminal Operators especially concessionaires like Tincan Island Containers Terminal (TCIT) , Ports & Cargo Handling Services who had allegedly refused to grant the Committee access to the containers.
According to him, this Committee does not only comprise of Customs Service but includes other government agencies in the ports.
He said:”We have an issue with the Terminal Operators. Government is trying to decongest the ports by setting up a Committee of Overtime and Auction. Most of these boxes in the ports are being trapped because of demurrage.
“Our members came to us, they cried, we tried to write to them, they turned us down. Even when we write for a waiver, they turned it down. We have series of letters we have written to them.
“What is their own? Are they above the government? Who gave them their licenses to operate? Government said , this is what we want. infact, I was told , if they auctioned the container, they(terminal Operators) will refuse the beneficiary to take the container even after paying 25% duty, cost of auction fee to terminals and shipping companies “, Tanko stated.
Dr. Tanko who is also a Board of Trustees member of NAGAFF lamented that over 10,000 containers are trapped at both TICT and Ports & Cargo terminals alone, adding that they have obstinately refused to cooperate with the Committee because they want to collect the demurrage by all means.
The 100% Compliance Team Boss disclosed that the Team has decided at a meeting that Freight Forwarders would withdraw their services at the ports if the Terminal Operators continue to Obstruct the efforts of the Decongestion Committee.
“We are on the part of government. If they refuse to cooperate with the committee, we are going to withdraw our services. .By then, the government will come in. Everybody will come in. We cannot take it again.
“Finally, we have taken a decision; we are giving them TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY 11/10/24 to reconsider their Satan’s or contend with freight forwarders”, he warned.
