Coming on the heels of the suspension of the nationwide strike embarked upon by Labour last week, the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has demanded that shipping companies and terminal operators should waive all demurrage charges for the four days for which the strike lasted.
In a statement issued by the association and signed by its Vice President, Kayode Farinto on Monday, the association also accused the maritime police of extortion through stoppage of already cleared containers and allegedly demanding money from clearing agents.
ANLCA argued that its members were unable to carry out any operations for the two working days as well as on Saturday and Sunday during which the strike lasted.
The association has subsequently directed all its Chairmen in the Eastern, Western and Northern Zones to ensure that its members are not slammed with demurrages or storage charges for the strike period.
Farinto threatened that the Association will not hesitate to issue what it called ‘Global Trade Alert’ on any Shipping Company or Terminal Operator that slammed any illegal charges on ANLCA members henceforth.
"Shippers' Council is hereby charged to live up to her responsibility by ensuring that Nigerian importers are protected", the association urged.
On the activities of the maritime police, the ANLCA vice president said: "We have carefully studied the press release by the Maritime Police and believe that, the Nigeria Maritime Police are just making the illegal act of stopping consignment from delivery to look legitimate before the stakeholders"
"In view of this, we wish to reiterate that the Nigeria Maritime Police is becoming a clog in the wheel of cargo clearance which negates the presidential directive on the ease of doing business"
"When the Police have information on any consignment, such information should be shared with the Nigeria Customs Service as empowered by CEMA not minding the fact that Nigerian Police is part of examination of all cargoes" , the statement added.
The association advised the Federal Government to collapse the Maritime Police with Port Authority Police as a single unit to reduce the alleged suffering of her members in the course of cargo clearance.
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