Shippers Council recovers N80m  from erring shipping companies in first half of the year

Tayo Afolabi    |        

As part of its statutory roles of protecting the interests of shippers, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council said it has recovered a sum of N80 million on behalf of shippers from erring shipping  companies between January and June, 2018.

It added that it also recovered another $23,000 dollars from Costco shipping arising from excessive charges made on shippers 

The Deputy Director, Compliance and Enforcement, Cajetan Agu said this at a forum in Lagos, Friday.

Agu said the Council has been intervening on behalf of the Nigerian shippers which according to him, prompted the economic regulator to send letters to both shipping companies and terminal operators.

He added that the then Minister of Transport in 2009 put a benchmark in freight rate, and Shippers’ council was set to effect it hence letters to the operators to abide by the regulations.

“Instead of compliance, they went to court and the case has gone up to Supreme Court now.

“The Council won both at the High court and Appeal court and they were asked to refund all the excess charges they have been collecting before that time,” he said.

Speaking on the proposed electronic call up system at port entrances, the Deputy Director said that the Council had made all necessary moves up to the minister who directed the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to go ahead with execution of the project.

But according to him, instead of NPA going ahead with the plan, it came up with another plan saying up till now, nothing is seen on ground.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the Council, Hassan Bello had asked that journalists covering the maritime beat should be objective in their reports.

He however pleaded that the media should help the organisation to be on course as well as cooperate with them in the area of good reportage that will engender maritime development.

© 2018, maritimemag. All rights reserved.