A licensed customs broker, Olumide Fakanlu has called on freight agents and shippers from the informal sector to support the Nigerian Shippers Council to condemn the 400% hike on Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) by foreign shipping lines .
Recall that the council and Organized Private Service had kicked against hike of the surcharge, describing it as unjustifiable and unethical in shipping business.
Fakanlu ,a former chairman, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) ,Apapa Chapter in a chat with our correspondent in Lagos on Thursday, frowned at the sudden hike in shipping charges by the multinationals ,saying , “there is an ongoing conspiracy to frustrate the nation’s maritime industry and economy.
He noted that all hands must be on deck to kick against any foreign conspiracy that would cripple the shipping sub sector of the country adding that the hike if accepted would affect the nation’s economic negatively.
He also lauded efforts put in place by the economic port regulator to guide against hike in shipping charges like container deposit, in Nigeria.
The ANLCA Chieftain who doubles as the Managing Director, Obokun Freight Nigeria Limited , alleged that the surcharge must have been the handy work of some interest group in a bid to benefit from the moves by foreign liners.
Fakanlu said “Some people are just there to sink Nigeria economy because this idea is to favour some set of people but the Shippers’ Council must fight for it not come on stream”.
According to him,the Council for the Regulations of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) has failed to live up to its responsibilities since inception,noting that burning issues on charges ,billing and tariff would have been some of the mandates it ought to address on behalf of the practitioners.
By Roland Ekama
