Clearing agents under the aegis of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) have kicked against a newly introduced charge known as Port Additional Destination by container carrier CMA CGM, describing it as an illegal collection.
A document dated October 10th 2017 from CMA CGM Shipping Nigeria Limited, which was sighted by SHIPS & PORTS DAILY, revealed that the company slammed N38,000 per TEU and N76,000 per FEU as the so-called Port Additional Destination charge.
Speaking at a press briefing held at the ANLCA National Secretariat weekend, Senior Special Assistant to ANLCA President, Pius Ujubonu lamented what he termed “arbitrary charges by shipping companies”.
He said, “Shipping agencies are not supposed to make increments or initiate charges; they are certainly not to initiate any charge at all because they are at the terminal end of an agency, to say that a shipping company introduces a charge has to be done internationally. What they are supposed to collect is documentation charge.”
“The government does not respect us and this is why our opinion is seen as that of people from unorganized sector and this is a stigma. They take Manufacturers Association, Chambers of Commerce serious, but when the real practitioners like us talk, they don’t see it as important,” he added.
When contacted, CMA CGM refused to comment on the new charges.
Shipping manager of the company, Vincent Ohizu said, “I can’t give you the information because I am in the operations department. I am not in the commercial department to decide what have been decided.”
However, one of the clients of the company, a logistics manager, Ojo Daniel confirmed the hike in charges.
He said, ” Most of the shipping companies are increasing their fees because they don’t have much containers to load. CMA CGM have also increased their fee.”
In a separate development, the association said that it is set to honour five lawmakers at both Federal and State levels who were members of ANLCA, as well six past presidents of the association with an excellence award.
Ujubonu stated that the association is holding the awards to celebrate its members in politics and to further leverage on their positions to improve the association.
Among those the association plan to honour are Honourable O.C Prestige representing Aba South Constituency; Deputy Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly, Harford Ikechukwu Oseke; a member of Osun State House of Assembly and immediate past chairman of ANLCA in Ikorodu lighter terminal, Israel Olumuyiwa Aloba; Chairman of Ngwa South Local Government in Abia State, Ifeanyin Isikaku and his deputy, Chidiebere Asonye.