Clearing agents operating at the premier port of Apapa in Lagos have vowed not to go back to work until one of the terminal operators at the port; APM Terminal accedes to their demands, especially on waiver of shipping company charges.
Shipping Position Daily gathered that at a fourth reconciliatory meeting since the crisis began last week Monday was held yesterday between both parties at the Apapa Customs Command in Lagos. The meeting however did not yield any results.
Clearing agents operating at the premier port of Apapa in Lagos have vowed not to go back to work until one of the terminal operators at the port; APM Terminal accedes to their demands, especially on waiver of shipping company charges.
Shipping Position Daily gathered that at a fourth reconciliatory meeting since the crisis began last week Monday was held yesterday between both parties at the Apapa Customs Command in Lagos. The meeting however did not yield any results.
In attendance at the meeting were: Commission of Police in charge of Western Ports, Mrs Ibifuro Harrison, Apapa Custom’s boss, Charles Edike, representatives of ANLCA, NAGAFF and Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, as well as representatives of APM Terminals.
Speaking with our correspondent at the end of the closed door meeting, a clearing agent, Mr. Afolabi Raji noted that even though, APM Terminal has agreed to some minor demands brought to the table, the company has refused to the major demand of the agents.
"They have agreed to start booking of containers by 8am and close it by 12pm, and that all booked containers should be entered into their system"
"They said that they can only position 200 containers per day, but we have told them that if there are more than 200 containers in a day, then they should bear the consequences with the shipping companies, but they refused" he said.
Raji warned however that clearing agents using the terminal have formed a common front with their associations’leadership, insisting that until APMT shifts grounds, work will not resume.
"We are all suffering, to book containers you have to leave your home by 4am, at the end of the day, the container will not be examined and yet you will be paying rents", he lamented.
Also speaking about the meeting, another frontline agent and Chieftain of ANLCA, Mr. Frank Aliakor told Shipping Position Daily that the agents are in support of the strike action and they have asked their leaders to continue until APMT meets their demands.
He said that the Customs Area Controller of Apapa command, Mr Charles Edike, Port Police, NPA and other stakeholders are mediating on the matter at hand.
Speaking further, he vowed that: "We will not go back to work until we have reached a final conclusion on the matter, there are agitations which we have brought to the table, but up till now, APMT is still not cooperating"
"There are some they agreed to which are issue of booking and positioning of container, but this is not the crux of the matter, the main issue is on demurrages, validation and consequential loss which they have refused to bear"
"We are saying that, if they wave the demurrages which was caused by them, they will tell the shipping company to waive the same thing but they refused"
"Our boys are back to the trenches; still keeping vigil, we don't mind if it extends more than this, provided we achieve results" Aliakor said.
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