The Chairman, Ikorodu Chapter of the Association of the Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Chief Tomi Aloba, has kicked against alleged proposals by shipping companies to demand for delivery orders (DOs) on containers transferred to the Ikorodu Lighter Terminal (ILT), Ikorodu, Lagos.
Aloba complained to SHIPS & PORTS DAILY that shipping companies allegedly demand for DOs on containers transferred to the ILT which, according to him, is not in tandem with the cargo clearance procedures designed for the terminal.
“Customs has given guidelines or procedures on how to clear overtime cargoes at Ikorodu, which we have been working in line with. But suddenly, the shipping companies now come back demanding for DO, that is a kind of demanding for demurrages, which is not applicable to Ikorodu,” Aloba said.
He went on: “Ikorodu is a government warehouse. All containers transferred to Ikorodu belong to the government. The reason why these containers are transferred to Ikorodu is to allow opportunities for those who cannot clear their overtime goods purposely for demurrages. Despite this, the shipping companies are now wading in again to collect the demurrages and all other charges that the government has waived off. So, of what use is the purpose of transferring containers to Ikorodu?”
Aloba alleged that these shipping companies have written a letter to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) informing the Service of their intention to start collecting delivery orders on containers at Ikorodu.
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