Shippers’ Council Seeks Demurrage Waivers From Liners Over Curfew Imposition

Shippers’ Council Seeks Demurrage Waivers From Liners Over Curfew Imposition

Following the recent curfew imposed on the entire state by the Lagos State Government,the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) , has pleaded with shipping lines operating at the nation’s seaports on the need to remove demurrage charges on cargoes.

This, the council said would serve as one of the ways to alleviate the hardship imposed on the shippers.

The Head, Public Relations, NSC, Rakiya Zubairu who disclosed this in a statement in Lagos on Monday informed that several discussions were ongoing between management of the Council and shipping companies in Nigeria to find ways to accelerate clearing of cargoes from the terminals and collection of same by shippers who were unable to access the ports during the period of the curfew.

The statement further disclosed that the Executive Secretary/CEO of NSC, Mr. Hassan Bello will also visit some terminals to progress discussions on the waiver and other issues.

The release added that :“Activities at Apapa, the port city of Lagos are gradually returning to normal as Lagos State government has eased the curfew by pronouncing that residents can move freely between the hours of 6am and 8pm.

“No doubt the activities of the past week caused a lot of disruptions for shippers. Just as it did during the COVID-19 lockdown, Nigerian Shippers Council is working with shipping companies to find ways to ease the hardship occasioned by the disruptions”, the statement added.

It will be recalled that the Lagos State Government had on Tuesday last week imposed a 24 hour curfew on the entire state following the burning down and vandalization of both the public and private assets by hoodlums who hijacked the peaceful protests by the #EndSARS protesters a development that obstructed seamless operation of the ports.