Freight forwarders at Tin Can Island Port of Five Star Logistics Terminal and Port and Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) have raised alarm over alleged arbitrary charges by the two RORO terminal operators, saying that there is no difference between none starting charges for vehicle and transfer chargers.
Two separate investigations carried out by Auto Port Weekly last week revealed the two charges are the same, but the terminal operators are only using nomenclatures to extort the agents.
Freight forwarders at Tin Can Island Port of Five Star Logistics Terminal and Port and Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) have raised alarm over alleged arbitrary charges by the two RORO terminal operators, saying that there is no difference between none starting charges for vehicle and transfer chargers.
Two separate investigations carried out by Auto Port Weekly last week revealed the two charges are the same, but the terminal operators are only using nomenclatures to extort the agents.
In a chat with our correspondent; Olorogun Andrew Ugwi an ANLCA chieftain at PTML described the charges by the terminal operators as extortion, calling for the scrapping of such charges.
He noted that it is the duty of the concessionaires to provide storage facilities for imported vehicles that call at the terminals, adding that agents or importers are supposed to pay the said fee.
Agwi lampooned freight forwarding association heads for not supporting their members to fight a ‘just cause’, stressing that, "there is no difference between ‘no starting’ and’ transfer charges’.
He said importers and agents are not supposed to pay for transfer charges because, "agents are not the cause for the non-availability of space for vehicles to remain at the port.
Also responding, Sunday Uchegbo said the practice has caused importers to pay extra levy in the process of clearing vehicles from the terminals.
Uchegbo also appealed to terminal operator to have a rethink in the arbitrary charges for vehicles to exit the ports.
He said, "if a vehicle fail to start inside the terminal, it has nothing to do with payment, because if the vehicle is in good working condition the importer will also pay for such charges".
He stated that "the transfer process of vehicles to off-dock terminals is the problem of the terminal operators and not the agents, yet we pay for it which is not supposed to be".
“We will like the terminal operators to think about these charges, because it is nonsensical to Nigerians", he added.
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