 |
| Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council, Mr. Hassan Bello |
The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) has frowned on the imposition of different unjustifiable surcharges by multi-national shipping lines that bring cargoes to Nigeria.
The ports economic regulator is particularly worried that
most of the surcharges were imposed on Nigerian shippers contrary to the
provisions of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
The Executive Secretary, NSC, Mr. Hassan Bello who described the surcharges as unjustifiable
said the Council would take the matter up with the Global Shippers Forum (GSF)
to call the different shipping lines and their agents to order.
said the Council would take the matter up with the Global Shippers Forum (GSF)
to call the different shipping lines and their agents to order.
Bello explained that while some of the charges were supposed
to be temporary, reduced or cancelled as allowed by UNCTAD and as the situation
in the ports changes, the shipping lines have maintained a permanent imposition
of the charges on helpless shippers.
to be temporary, reduced or cancelled as allowed by UNCTAD and as the situation
in the ports changes, the shipping lines have maintained a permanent imposition
of the charges on helpless shippers.
He said that it is worrisome that even incidents of piracy that
have nothing to do with Nigeria are given different coloration in what is
targeted at placing a surcharge on cargoes coming to Nigeria.
have nothing to do with Nigeria are given different coloration in what is
targeted at placing a surcharge on cargoes coming to Nigeria.
His words: “Everything that
happens, even if it is in Togo or Benin Republic, it is attributed to have
taken place in Nigeria.
happens, even if it is in Togo or Benin Republic, it is attributed to have
taken place in Nigeria.
“Even local infractions like somebody just enters the ship
illegally even without weapons, it is reported as incidence of piracy. But that
is not piracy, it is probably robbery incident. Piracy is total command of the
ship on the high sea.”
illegally even without weapons, it is reported as incidence of piracy. But that
is not piracy, it is probably robbery incident. Piracy is total command of the
ship on the high sea.”
He said the Council, apart from other measures locally, would reach out to the GSF directly or through the African
Shippers Forum (ASF) to address the issues of surcharges.
The ASF collaborates with GSF to reach out to shipping lines
in different continents doing business with the West and Central African
sub-region to address issues of arbitrary surcharges.
in different continents doing business with the West and Central African
sub-region to address issues of arbitrary surcharges.
The Director, Special Duties, NSC, Mr. Tahir Idris who gave
an insight into the different surcharges told newsmen that the shipping
agencies often ignore to suspend the surcharges even with the knowledge that
the situation which justified their imposition has changed.
an insight into the different surcharges told newsmen that the shipping
agencies often ignore to suspend the surcharges even with the knowledge that
the situation which justified their imposition has changed.
He said, “it seems to be permanently being deployed as it is
mostly built into the freight cost from parent companies.”
mostly built into the freight cost from parent companies.”
Among the surcharges identified by the Council include Peak
Season Surcharge (PSS); Extra Risk Insurance (ERI)/Carrier Security Fee (CSF)
surcharge; Congestion Surcharge (CS); Freight Tax Surcharge (FTS); Operations
Cost Recovery (OCR); Low Sulphur surcharge (LSS); B.A.F (Bunker Adjustment
Surcharge) and C.A.F. (Currency Adjustment Surcharge).
Season Surcharge (PSS); Extra Risk Insurance (ERI)/Carrier Security Fee (CSF)
surcharge; Congestion Surcharge (CS); Freight Tax Surcharge (FTS); Operations
Cost Recovery (OCR); Low Sulphur surcharge (LSS); B.A.F (Bunker Adjustment
Surcharge) and C.A.F. (Currency Adjustment Surcharge).
The surcharges, Idris explained are fees collected by
shipping companies in addition to freight rate prevailing in Nigerian seaports.
shipping companies in addition to freight rate prevailing in Nigerian seaports.
He said, “There are about eight or more surcharges imposed on
Nigerian ports. The UNCTAD provisions in its Article 16 of the code stipulates
that surcharges imposed on cargo moving to and from a particular port shall be
regarded as temporary and likewise shall be increased, reduced or cancelled
subject to when the situation in the port changes.
Nigerian ports. The UNCTAD provisions in its Article 16 of the code stipulates
that surcharges imposed on cargo moving to and from a particular port shall be
regarded as temporary and likewise shall be increased, reduced or cancelled
subject to when the situation in the port changes.
“But what we have observed is that, we hardly witness a total
suspension of these surcharges as was intended to be a temporary measure,
designed to bring equity in the recovery of some unexpected costs increases or
losses. It seems to be permanently being deployed as it is mostly built into
the freight cost from parent companies.”
suspension of these surcharges as was intended to be a temporary measure,
designed to bring equity in the recovery of some unexpected costs increases or
losses. It seems to be permanently being deployed as it is mostly built into
the freight cost from parent companies.”
Shippers bringing cargoes into the country, and freight forwarders, are agry about the surcharges being collected on goods
destined for Nigeria.
destined for Nigeria.
