The major shipping lines running services into Nigeria have suspended the loading of charcoal and wood export from the country.
Findings by SHIPS & PORTS reveal that the suspension is consequent upon a recent circular by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), which placed an embargo on the export of the items.
An official of the NCS said the ban was part of the Federal Government’s effort to arrest deforestation in the country.
However, the major shipping lines calling at Nigerian ports such as Maersk, COSCO, CMA CGM, MOL, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), Ocean Network Express (ONE), and Evergreen have notified shippers that they would no longer accept export containers laden with wood or charcoal out of any Nigerian port.
One of the notices seen by SHIPS & PORTS was issued by CMA CGM Nigeria.
The notice titled ‘Suspension of wood and charcoal export’ reads: “Dear esteemed customer, following the recent circular in distribution by Nigeria Customs Service on the suspension of export of wood and allied products and as well as the ban on export of charcoal, new booking requests with these commodities will not be accepted or confirmed till further notice. Thanking you for your cooperation and support.”
Spokesman of the Tin Can Island Port Customs Command, Lagos, Uche Ejiseme, confirmed that the command recently received a circular from the NCS headquarters in Abuja, directing implementation of the ban.