The management of the Associated Port Marine Development Company (APMDC), has denied allegations of arbitrary charges and charging in foreign currency levelled against it by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC).
This is even as the firm accused the NSC of not being bothered about operators plight and inherent industry challenges.
Recall that the NSC had shut down the APMDC terminal over allegations of non-compliance with regulatory directives and other arbitrary charges.
NSC had further alleged that APMDC had been issued several notices to address infractions ranging from charging in foreign exchange to non-compliance with approved nomenclature of charges such as transport adjustment charges, non-vessel-operating carriers, outright disregard of terms of mediation reached at NSC and unresolved complaints of over one and half years, among others.
However, in a press statement made available to maritime journalists in Lagos, on Thursday, the APMDC Group Head, Human Resources and Public Affairs, Mr Olise-Emeka Nwachukwu said its charges are not arbitrary but one of the most competitive tariffs in the market.
According to the statement which was signed by Mr Nwachukwu, APMDC said its charges are determined by the high cost of delivering groupage containers from discharge ports or off docks to its bonded terminal/warehouse.
He further explained that Transport Adjustment Factor-(TAF) being a bill back costs is one example of excessive costs of delivering groupage containers to her bonded warehouse/terminal.
According to APMDC, “Our charges structure is determined by the high cost of delivering groupage containers from discharge ports or off docks to our Bonded Terminal/Warehouse. “Transport Adjustment Factor-TAF being a bill back costs, is one example of excessive costs of delivering our groupage containers to our bonded warehouse/terminal.
“APMDC is an experienced Nigerian-Global Shipping/Logistics player with over 16years of extensive trading knowledge in the Nigerian Maritime.
“Apart from providing employment to Nigerians, the taxes our industry players pay to both local, state and federal governments are also revenue channels for the Nigerian economy through billions to trillions of Naira that are generated yearly via customs import duties/taxes and levies.
Hence, we are major economic contributors, and therefore should be applauded instead of being maligned. “APMDC makes bold to say that we are part of the contributors to the over one Trillion-naira revenue generated recently by the Nigeria Customs Service for the first half of the year, thus we cannot be tagged as economic saboteurs.
“The NSC’s action is subjudised, and the matter is currently pending at an appellate court. It is important to note that NSC shutting down the activities of APMDC, acted in flagrant disregard of a pending case at the Court of Appeal where these contending issues are before the honourable court.”
Speaking on the allegations that the company charges in foreign currency, the APMDC Group Head, Human Resources and Public Affairs revealed that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in 2015 grouped its operation among one of the services that can charge in foreign currency.
“Regarding ‘Transhipment Port Dues’, other charges collection in FOREX, and NSC’s allegations of APMDC committing financial infractions, there has never been any infraction, as the said charges collected were not for local services rendered.
Transhipment operations and their associated costs do not occur at a “Destination Port of Lagos but at a “Mid Transit Port” in the course of the container journey between load and discharge ports.
“Transhipment port dues as it is titled simply defines and makes clear the nature of the transaction for those who understand the international shipping business dynamics.
“Besides, CBN as the official financial/economic regulator of the country has exempted operators in the maritime and aviation sector where APMDC plays, to make payments/receive payments in foreign currencies.
“The same circular has been reaffirmed recently as still extant by CBN, hence APMDC has not committed any infractions as alleged,” he explained.
Also speaking, the Deputy Manager, Shipping of APMDC, Rachael Monye said Shippers Council’s is uninterested in operators plights and industry inherent challenges that drive charges to customers.
She also accused the NSC of fees imposition without consideration or recourse to the high costs of delivering the services.
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