Freight forwarders demand refund of demurrage incurred during #ENDSARS protests

The National Association of Governmemt Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) 100 percent compliance team has appealed to the management of Mearsk Nigeria Limited and other shipping lines, including terminal operators, operating in Nigeria to skip storage and demurrage charges accruable during the #EndSARS protest.

The team also warned  operators who have collected such charges from freight forwarders to refund such or risk closure of their facilities.

The National Coordinator of the compliance team, Alhaji Tanko Ibrahim stated this in a letter to the Managing Director of the shipping lines on Saturday.

Tanko said it had come to his notice that some shipping lines and terminal operators have started charging demurrage without recourse to the one week that the #ENDSARS protest lasted.

He stated further that the first priority world over in any period of crisis is security of lives and property, adding that is it unfortunate that the reverse is the case in Nigeria.

He therefore said that the compliance team would not allow the operators to charge for the period under review.

“The subject matter above refers;
Following the ENDSARS Nigerian Youths Protest which has lasted for more than a week now;

“The NAGAFF 100% Compliance Team wish to appeal to shipping  Companies and Terminal Operators in  Lagos  Not to Charge Demurrage/ Rent.

“It has come to our knowledge that, some Shipping Companies and Terminal Operators have already started charging storage and Demurrage for this period of ENDSARS Nigerian youths Protest without recourse to other considerations to the security of lives and properties.

“First consideration world over  in any crisis period is security of lives and properties. It is most unfortunate to note that, otherwise is the case here and:
We want to say a BIG NO to that effect”

“One had expected our shipping companies and Terminal Operators to show some sense of concern, love, solidarity  and pity to the Nigerian youths and to those importers who have lost their beloved sons and daughters in the struggle to put Nigeria on the track of good governance, but Alas, is their new normal.

“On this note, we want to state categorically clear that, NAGAFF 100% Compliance Team will not fold her hands and watch our members been exploited for no fault of theirs”. We will employ and invoke the spirit of Aluta Continua to resist and even oppose this wickedness by shipping companies and Terminal Operators”

“We will mobilise in most civil manner other associations, Truck owners, Clearing Agents and Port users in a Card Carrying Protest against you to block your gates and entrances until our demands are met.

“We therefore call on the shipping Companies and Terminal Operators to refund the fees to those who have paid already with immediate effect.

“Take notice that, we will escalate this matter after 24hours of this notice if you fail to heed to our prayers”