NSC warns shipping companies, terminal operators on illegal charges

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has issued a fresh note of warning to shipping companies, terminal operators  and other service providers operating at the nation’s seaport, to put an to the imposition of illegal charges on shippers using Nigerian ports.

NSC, which is the port economic regulator, also said its officers were on the field to monitor port operations in order to identify cases around illegal charges against importers and exporters.

Hassan Bello, executive secretary of the NSC, who gave the warning at the weekend in reaction to the recent case of the alleged over-billing of a shipper named Sunflag Steel Limited, by Cosco Shipping Company, which amounted to the demurrage charges of $23,000.00, said that such was not good for trade facilitation.

Bello said that while the Council was always out to create an enduring peace among service providers, it would not tolerate a situation in which shipping companies or terminal operators decide to short-change shippers through imposition of illegal charges.

According to Bello, short-changing shippers of their resources was not good for the economy. He added that service providers should endeavour to abide by the rules guiding trade.

Bello described illegal charges as serious trade crime that should not be encouraged for the interest of the nation’s economy and business development in Nigeria.

He said that the Council will not spare any company found to be involved in any form of crime.

Recall that the Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement Division of the Council, recently recovered $23,000.00 from Cosco Shipping Company as overbilling demurrage charges imposed on Sunflag Steel Limited.

Uzoamaka Anagor-Ewuzie