NCJTFLCA EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER CONTINUED UNFAIR PRACTICES BY SHIPPING COMPANIES
By Mcanthony Onuoha
National Compliance Joint Task Force of Licensed Clearing Agents- (NCJTFLCA) has intensified call for urgent action to address continued unfair practices by Shipping companies
Addressing news men in his Lagos office, the President of NCJTFLCA, Dr. Basil Chudi Nwolisa, expressed serious concern over the high-handedness of shipping companies and their relentlessness in procedural breaches as service providers.
According to Nwolisa, ” we have discoveries about shipping companies exploiting freight forwarders, importers, and exporters through unjustified server/ network downtime which has resulted in extortion under the guise of technical hitches and sundry challenges .”
“Again, needless request for documents like international passports and indemnities aimed at frustrating and extorting the agent .”
“Next is exorbitant deposits as up to N9 million is charged as deposit for auction containers, leading to abandonment and additional rent or demurrage costs.”
Nwolisa stated that, ” these practices undermine the benefits of the B’Odogwu system introduced by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). We urge relevant authorities, especially, the Nigerian Shipper’s Council (NSC) to investigate and address these unfair practices by ensuring compliance with regulations. The NSC should also protect the interests of freight forwarders, Importers and exporters as there is urgent need to work together to create efficient trade environment that we all can be proud of. ”
The National Compliance Joint Taskforce of Licensed Clearing Agents-(NCJTFLCA) is an advocacy group created to expose corrupt individuals and corporate establishments within the Ports industry, it is committed to enhancing compliance and combating economic crimes in the freight forwarding and logistics sector in Nigeria.
The group had earlier, sealed a partnership deal with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to tackle corruption in the Ports industry.
