FG to delay shipping companies congestion surcharge by two weeks

The Federal Government, through the port economic regulator, the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), has asked foreign shipping companies to give it a two weeks grace period to allow for stakeholders consultation before implementing the $400 congestion surcharge, which was expected to come into force this week.

Recall that the NSC had summoned foreign shipping companies to a meeting over plans by some of them to begin the collection of $400 as congestion surcharge on all cargoes bound for ports in Lagos

Speaking to Nigerian Tribune exclusively, a source in the NSC who was at the meeting explained that the port economic regulator asked for a two-week period to consult stakeholders in the maritime sector over plans by the shipping companies to impose the congestion surcharge.

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“Not all the shipping companies wanted to start implementing the surcharge this week. However, the shipping companies were asked for a two-week period to allow for consultation among stakeholders over the issue.

“They, the shipping companies have promised to get back to their principals abroad over our resolution, and will get back to us. We hope to meet with stakeholders to deliberate on the congestion surcharge. Government was not happy with the way and manner the surcharge was announced. We expected such move to have been brought up for deliberation, before being implemented,” the NSC source revealed.

Recall that the CMA-CGM had issued a statement recently, that due to high operational cost and disruption of ports service, it will be introducing a $400 congestion surcharge from October 15, 2018.