…as freight forwarders issue 2 weeks ultimatum to terminal operators or face strike action
The National Coordinator, 100% Compliance Team of National Association of Government Approved Foresight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr. Ibrahim Tanko, has blamed terminal operators for congestion at the ports, accusing them of frustrating the efforts of the Overtime and Auction Committee to decongest the ports.
This is just as he has disclosed that over 10,000 containers are at the TICT and Ports & Cargo terminals in Apapa, Lagos.
Tanko alleged this in a statement endorsed by him on Friday October 11, 2024, in Lagos, and made available to journalists.
He lamented that most of these boxes are trapped in the ports because of demurrage.
He attributed the continuous congestion of the ports to the uncooperative attitude of terminal operators especially TCIT, Ports & Cargo who had refused to grant the Committee access to the containers.
According to him, this Committee does not only comprise 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. In fact, I was told , if they auctioned the container, they (terminal Operators) will refuse the beneficiary to take the container even after paying 25 per cent duty, auction fee to terminals and shipping companies.”
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 the 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 stance or contend with freight forwarders,” he warned.
Efforts to reach spokesmen of some of the terminals as at the time of filing this report proved futile.