Port shutdown: ANLCA threatens showdown over storage, demurrage charges

THE Association of the Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has written to the nations port economic regulator, the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), demanding a waiver for accumulated storage and demurrage charges that arose due to the two-day port shutdown occasioned by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) strike action.

Speaking exclusively with the Nigerian Tribune in Lagos, the National President of ANLCA, Emenike Nwokeoji explained that the association is expecting all terminal operators and shipping companies to waive storage and demurrage charges for the two days that the ports were shut.

“We expect the Terminal operators and the shipping companies to grant waivers for the two days that the ports were shut because it was a national strike that was beyond anybody at the ports.

“However, we have written to the port economic regulator, the NSC to inform them that we won’t be paying for the Storage and Demurrages incurred for those two days.

“We are yet to get a response from the NSC but we don’t expect the Terminal Operators and the shipping companies to slam those charges on cargoes that were trapped inside the ports during those two days,” the ANLCA National President told the Nigerian Tribune exclusively.

When asked what will be the next line of action of the association if the operators slam storage and demurrage charges for the two days lost to the national strike action, the ANLCA National President explained that, “Why not let’s wait for an official response from the nations port economic regulator first?

“Our next line of action will be predicated on what the NSC tells us. Let’s wait and see,” Chief Emenike told the Nigerian Tribune.

Recall that the NLC and the TUC had shut down the nations ports and pother establishment across the country over infractions and encroachments on the rights of workers in Imo State and the distressing and appalling  acts of violence and bloodshed inflicted upon the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero and other Unions’ officials by the Imo State government in collaboration with the Nigerian Police, Imo State Command.

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