Clearing agents and importers operating at the nation’s seaports have again accused shipping companies of not refunding container deposit to agents several weeks after the containers have been returned.
Container deposits are collection of monetary deposit in lieu of containers that are taken away by agents.
The fund deposited is to be refunded seven days after the containers are returned to the shipping companies.
But, speaking last week at the monthly stakeholders meeting organised by the Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Lagos, the Apapa Chairman of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Fred Ajuzie said the shipping companies have been flagrantly holding on to the money.
He said, “CMA/CGM, HullBlyth and others have not been complying with refunding containers deposit to agents seven days after the containers are returned.
Tasking the port economic regulator, he said, “We don’t know what Shippers Council is doing. Agents and freight forwarders are not benefiting from regulation of shippers Council,” he said.
Also speaking on the need for the regulator to step up its work, the Chairperson, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Apapa Chapter; Mrs Julie Ogboru accused terminal operators of collecting money for services not rendered.
“I have to remind Shippers Council that we pay for positioning of containers and if we pay for 10 containers, concessionaires will position either two or collect the money and after that, Customs will ask us to reposition and they will collect another money.
“So what is Shippers’ council doing that they fold their arms allowing concessionaires collect money for work not done, everyday we keep complaining and you say you are regulators what are you regulating.
You should be able to tell shipping companies and concessionaires that they should do it as it should be done”.
However, responding, to the role it’s playing in the sector, the Nigeria Shippers’ Council said it was doing all the best to ensure a level playing field for all stakeholders.
The representative of the Council, Mrs Celine Ifeora said, “NSC is the Economic regulator and if such issues is brought to our notice, we don’t fold our arms.”
Ifeora stated that the shipping companies were expected to refund container deposit seven days after the containers were returned.
“Anyone who has complaints about container deposit refund should come to shippers’ council and it would be sorted.
“Containers deposit refund should be returned in seven days and we have said if that is not happening come to us and we seek your refund for you,” she stated.
Shipping Position Daily recalls that, the Executive Secretary of the Council, Mr Hassan Bello had last week told members of the Senate committee on marine transport that the agency received and handled 632 complaints from shippers between 2009 and 2014 as part of its statutory functions.
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