The LeadOnline In-depth News
By Ajibola Abayomi,
December 11, 2017
A group of Nigerian shippers have concluded plans to sue the Federal Government over accumulation of demurrage arising from inability of trucks to access the ports due to bad roads.
The president, Shippers’ Association of Lagos State (SALS), Reverend Jonathan Nicol, dropped the hint while addressing journalists.
Nicol, who wondered why government policies were inimical to both importers and exporters, stressed the need for government to put in place an enabling environment that would encourage international trade.
He said that government policies are working against shippers’ interests in the country and “we are also worried why shippers have to pay penalties for business hindrances they do not create.”
According to him, as a result of traffic in the ports resulting from bad access roads, vessels are lined up in Togo waters waiting to berth in Nigerian ports but cannot due to the traffic on Nigerian roads leading to the ports thereby causing accumulation of demurrages.
He expressed displeasure at the government for not taking responsibility for its failure but rather makes importers to pay for its shortcoming.
“As we speak now, we have lined up vessels at Togo waters waiting to berth in Nigerian ports. Who pays for the demurrage? Is it the shippers that caused it? Why compelling shippers to pay for all these things? I made a public statement that sooner or later, we will go to court and let the court tell us who pays for all these demurrages.
“We will not take terminal operators to court, we will take the federal government to court. Who is supposed to run the roads? The roads belong to the federal government so who is destroying business? It is the federal government,” he lamented.
Speaking further, the SALS boss maintained that shippers are not opposed to the reintroduction of Cargo Tracking Note (CTN) so long they will not be made to part with money.
On the importation of arms into the country, he took a swipe at shippers who go against the law of the land, adding that “have you heard of any problem from Cotonou about Nigerian shipper and the government laws? It is only in this country that the shipper breaks all the laws.
Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I’ve really enjoyed browsing your blog posts.
After all I will be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again very soon!
We’re a group of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our
community. Your web site provided us with valuable info to work
on. You’ve done a formidable job and our whole community will be grateful to you.
What’s up to every single one, it’s in fact a fastidious for me to pay
a visit this site, it consists of important Information.
Every weekend i used to pay a visit this web page, because i want enjoyment, since this this site conations
genuinely nice funny material too.