According to a circular issued over the weekend by one of the leading shipping firms in Nigeria, CMA-CGM, the congestion surcharge of $400 dollars per 20ft and 40ft container will take effect from 15th of October, 2018.
The shipping company cited an increase in operational costs and recent service disruption at the ports.
“Port congestion at Lagos ports, Nigeria, is currently increasing our operational costs and generating severe service disruption for several weeks.
“CMA CGM will, therefore, implement the following Emergency Congestion Surcharge on Lagos import cargo:
Effective October 15th, 2018 (B/L date) for non-FMC trades and November 5th, 2018 (B/L date) for FMC trades:
“From worldwide to Apapa and Tincan, Nigeria
“All cargo dry, reefer, OOG and breakbulk
“Prepaid and paid in addition to the ocean freight
“USD 400 / EUR 350 per 20′ Dry and Reefer
“USD 400 / EUR 350 per 40′ Dry and Reefer,” CMA-CGM stated in the circular cited by TribuneOnline.
Further findings revealed that aside CMA-CGM, other shipping companies have started implementing congestion surcharge on all imports bound cargoes coming to the Apapa and Tin-Can ports.
In the words of an importer, Tunde Busari, “the news of congestion surcharge is not news because many of us have been paying through our noses due to a similar implementation of congestion surcharge by other shipping companies.
“It is time the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) come to the aid of Nigerian importers. These shipping companies are ripping us off under the guise of recent disruption of services by the two days labour strike that took place.
” Even if they are going to impose congestion surcharge, it should have a human face since we (importers) are not the cause of the recent strike action that shut down the ports. The Federal Government should intervene in this broad daylight robbery.”
It would be recalled that the Nigerian Labour Congress recently embarked on a two-day strike action that shut down the ports for two days, alongside other government parastatals.
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