TICT LATEST:

• Accuses SAPID Bonded Terminals of High Handedness

The Tin Can Island Port Chapter of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) said yesterday that it has put a hold to the threat it issued earlier to picket the Tin Can Island Container Terminal (TICT) over alleged irregularities in cargo clearance process.

• Accuses SAPID Bonded Terminals of High Handedness

Speaking with Shipping Position Daily in Lagos yesterday, the Tin Can Chapter Chairman of ANLCA, Prince Kayode Oyinlola confirmed that on account of the seven days ultimatum issued to the terminal, the TICT has reversed its earlier request that freight forwarders must get their Terminal Delivery Order (TDO) from shipping companies before cargoes can be positioned for examination.

He said that the industrial action was stopped because of the intervention of the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar who had set up a committee to look into the problems.

"When the minister came in and decided to form a committee to handle it, of which I am a member, after the submission of the resolution to the minister, if the drastic actions are not taken, then we can now write to give another ultimatum", he explained.

Oyinlola however raised alarm that following the directive of the ministerial committee that cargoes should be stemmed from TICT to bonded terminals; the bonded terminals have started having a field day by ‘milking’ freight forwarders dry.

The ANLCA chairman particularly fingered the SAPID bonded terminal for allegedly charging for services not rendered, especially the double handling of containers.

Speaking on the issue, Oyinlola said that, "now that NPA has ordered stemming of containers to off-dock terminals, the off-dock terminals are now charging exorbitant fees, they are now billing for services they do not render".

He said that the matter has been reported to the TICT terminal manager, Mr. Richard Akinbosotu who has promised to address the issue.

However, in a chat with other freight forwarders around the Tin Can Port, Shipping Position Daily confirmed that SAPID is collecting N50,000 as Terminal Handling Charges (THC) while at the same time charging N70, 280 as THC on behalf of TICT.

Other charges sighted by our correspondent includes: Transfer charges -N55, 000, documentation -N2,000, Custom examination -N7,000 and Import Delivery -N7,280, among others.

According to the clearing agents, the N55, 000 transfer charges ought not to be charged, because the NPA has promised regulate it.

Apart from these, they claimed that the importer is not supposed to bear responsibility for the transfer of containers since he si not responsible for the congestion.