The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has decried terminal charges placed on containers during public holidays.
Speaking through its spokesperson; Mr Kayode Farinto, the association said that frivolous terminal charges were the bane of the sector.
Farinto also spoke about his association’s inputs to the on-going template for port reform.
He said that ANCLA had forwarded several practicable inputs which included removal of charges imposed during holidays.
He disclosed that: “We have made our presentation and submitted same to the Shippers’ Council for prompt response.
“The issue of charges on public holidays is close to the heart of the freight forwarders.
“If we are sincere on the port reform, some of the charges that tend to discourage shippers from bringing their cargoes to Nigerian ports should be done away with”.
According to him, every investor is looking for an avenue to cut cost and if for no fault of theirs, holidays are declared by the state, they should not be asked to pay terminal charges of cargoes.
He said that it was a convention within the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for cargoes not to be charged during holidays.
Farinto said that Nigeria as a signatory to the IMO Protocol, ought to, like neighbouring maritime countries of the Republic of Benin and Togo, implement the free holidays terminal charges.
“We are looking forward to seeing the Shippers Council as an industry regulator putting a stop to charges causing ripples at in terminals,’’ he said.
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