Covid-19: Customs Agents Petitions FG Over Terminal Operators, Shipping Companies Refusal to Refund 35 Days Demurrage Charges

 Anne Ejuka

Customs agents have petitioned the federal government over the refusal of terminal operators and shipping companies to refund demurrage and rent waivers granted importers during the lockdown occasioned by the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic last year

 In a reminder letter signed by the National President of National Council of Managing Directors of Customs Agents, Mr Lucky Amiwero  and addressed to  the Secretary of the Federation, the agents said the shipping service providers have ignored the order by the presidency to refund the 35 days relief granted to the Importers under the COVID-19 pandemic.

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 accused the shipping service providers of conniving with Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) who is to implement the waiver process, and ignored the directive from the presidency on the issue.

Amiwero 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 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 with evidences 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 forcrefully 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.