Shipping companies, port operators lose billions as importers forfeit 151 containers

CHECKS by the Nigerian Tribune have revealed that shipping companies and port terminal operators operating at Nigerian ports have incurred losses running into billions of Naira following the forfeiture of 151 import-laden containers by importers to the Federal government.

In a public notice issued by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), 151 overtime containers and vehicles domiciled at Apapa port and KLT port terminals in Lagos were already slated for court condemnation.

According to the public notice sighted by the Nigerian Tribune, the Customs Service said that the condemnation action is in line with the NCS Act 2023, following a motion of exparte with suit no: FHC/L/MISC/8262024 dated 28tth November, 2024.

Our correspondent noted that out of the 151 listed containers, 91 of them are domiciled in Apapa port, while the remaining 60 containers are located at KLT terminal.

Speaking on the forfeiture order, a former National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Olayiwola Shittu explained that anytime cargoes are subjected for condemnation, the shipping companies and the port terminal operators make no revenue from such jobs.

According to Mr Olayiwola Shittu, “The condemnation of certain cargoes is not a new thing. It has always been in the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA). Infact, under that law, it is 28 days. I don’t know why it has suddenly turned to 30 days.

“There are some overtime containers that are deliberately left inside the ports by the owners for reasons best known to them. What if the containers contain illicit drugs and arms and ammunition? The owners won’t come forward. In this kind of situation, the port terminals and the shipping companies are losing revenue running into millions of Dollars because nobody has come forward to clear those containers.

“For the ships to bring those containers here, there are charges attached to such services called Shipping charges. Even when those containers are discharged at the port terminals, they occupy spaces and are liable to pay Storage Charges.

“But now, these containers have been left inside the ports and have become overtime containers. The shipping companies and port terminals have incurred losses because nobody has come to take responsibilities for those cargoes.

“There are rules stopping shipping companies from bringing illicit goods into any country. I don’t know why Nigeria is not implementing such rules. Ordinarily, if Nigeria is implementing such rules, vessels that bring illicit drugs into the country ought to be detained.

“But here, vessels bring all sorts of goods, discharge them and return to their countries. At the end of the day, the owners of these cargoes won’t turn up to clear them, and they become overtime, incurring cost for the terminal operators and the shipping companies.”

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