Terminal operators and shipping companies have refunded a total of N60million to importers as demurrage and storage charges collected during the lockdown occasioned by Covid-19 pandemic.
Recall that the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Shippers' Council (NSC) had directed terminal and shipping companies to stop collection of storage and demurrage charges from importers during the lockdown.
However, the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), said over the weekend that it has helped its members to secure refund of about N 60million in rent charges paid during the pandemic.
The association also disclosed that it has submitted the receipt of about 375 members of the association who are qualified for further refund to the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC).
In a chat with Shipping Position Daily, the National Secretary of ANLCA, Mr. Babatunde Mukaila told our correspondent that a list of about 375 members who met the criteria for refund has been submitted to the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) for process of refund with 100 already processed and refunded.
He said: “We have to do what I call arbitration, because it is only few of the shipping lines that accepted to do that, so what we have done is to back up all these and put it at the complaint department of Nigeria Shippers’ Council and we as well copied the Managing Director of NPA, at the last count I think we should have close to 300 of our members that met the cut-off because, there was criteria that the shipping lines and terminal operators applied. Close to about 100 of them (ANLCA members) have got their refund and those that are still having difficulty we have dropped them at the doorstep of Shippers’ Council, although the 300 are those who have come forward”.
“You know the directive of NSC said, from the beginning of COVID to terminate at May 3rd, that of NPA said from March 2 to terminate at April 27, so it’s very clear, once you are within that period you are likely to get it. 100 of our members have got it, while 200 are still hanging; last week we submitted additional 75”, he said.
He informed that the refund that was made to its 100 members would amount to about N60 million.
“I will put that (refund) to close to N60 million, because each container pays close to N200,000, so if about 100 of them have got, when you multiply by N200,000 and that is for one container and most times you have a bill of laden that has 10 or 5 containers, so when you do critical analysis it is close to the figure”.
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