Shippers’ Council threatens to shut APMT over illegal charges

Funso Olojo |

The Nigerian Shippers ‘Council has threatened to seal up the APM Terminals, Apapa over what it described as illegal imposition of Export Re-nomination fee.

According to Chief Cajethan Agu, the Deputy Director, Compliance and Monitoring, Nigerian Shipper’s ‘Council, who dropped this hint in Lagos, the terminal operator imposed this fee on container which could not go with a vessel it was initially scheduled to go with.

He explained that before such container could be assigned to another vessel, the exporter is made to pay this fee.

“It is illegal “, Chief Agu retorted.

“There is another recalcitrant operator, APMT, who introduced a fee called Export Re-nomination fee which was not approved by the Shippers Council. “We have written to them to stop its collection because it is illegal, but they still continue with it .

“We shall soon go and close the terminal. “By the time we go and seal up the terminal, they will say we are disrupting trade.

“It is not the question of disrupting trade but it is by complying with the rules of engagement “,the Council monitoring chief warned.

Chief Agu said that as an investor, APMT has the responsibility to obey the rules of engagement.

“As an investor, you obey the rules in the country of your investment.
“When in Rome, do as Romans do.
“If you can’t obey, then get out. It is not only in Nigeria we have sea ports, he declared.

The APM terminal charges N10,000 per container.

According to its export billing system, the renomination fee has been on for many years before it was reduced in 2016 to N10,00 per container.

“In line with our strategy to become more responsive to the needs of both our shipping line and cargo owning customers, we will commence invoicing of export charges directly to Shippers with effect from all vessels arriving Apapa from June 11, 2016 onwards.

“This will exclude Stevedoring charges, Re-nomination charge and empty container pick up which will continue to be invoiced to Shipping Lines for pass through to exporters if warranted.

“With this new process APMT Apapa has also reviewed free days for exports from 7 to 10 days. Re-nomination charges will also be reduced to NGN 10,000 per container”, the terminal operator disclosed in their billing schedule to customers.

The Danish company has gained notoriety for its high charges, often overlapping, and alleged poor services.

In March , the Customs Headquarters had the cause to summon the management of the terminal over incessant complaints by users of its facilities.

According to Apapa Area Controller, Musa Jibrin, Customs Brokers had complained about the poor service delivery of the terminal, its collection of double fees in form of cargo examination charges and other exploitative practices.