Maritime
Exporters Seek Withdrawal Of New Terminal Charges
The Head of Logistics,
Rubber Estates Nigeria Ltd., Mr Stephen Usih, has urged terminal operators to withdraw new Terminal Handling Charges (THCs) on container -laden exportable goods which took effect June 1.
Usih, who said he had the mandate of other exporters to speak, made the plea in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.
A breakdown of the new THCs shows: N40,000 on 20 ft. container and N60,000 on 40 ft. container.
He suggested that the THCs should be suspended to allow a stakeholders’ meeting of terminal operators, shipping lines, exporters and Nigerian Shippers’ Council.
“Everyone involved has to discuss on the issue to have realistic figures as terminal handling charges.
THCs are charges collected by terminal authorities at each port against handling equipment and maintenance.
Usih said that the shippers (exporters) were also paying the N4,123 as delivery charges which had to do with the loading of empty containers and off-loading of full containers.
According to him, N4,123 was charged at the exchange rate of N165 to a dollar, an equivalent of 25 dollars per container.
“If now, the current exchange rate is N350, at 25 dollars per container, exporters are still ready to pay N8,750 as delivery charges.
“Even if increased to 50 dollars per container, the exporters will still pay N17,500,’’ he said.
According to him, exporters will accept a reasonable increase in delivery charges based on the excuse given by the terminal operators about the prevailing exchange rate of the naira to the dollar.
“Considering the nature of services rendered by the terminal operators, which is to load empty containers and offload full containers, N40,000 additional charge on a 20 ft container is not justifiable,’’ Usih said.
He also requested that the payments “have to be made directly to the shipping lines as being done over the years, where payment is done at the time of collection of the Bill of Lading after departure of containers’’.
“Globally, the charges are paid after the departure of the vessel but now exporters have to pay 48 hours before the arrival of the vessels, thereby making the documentation processes more cumbersome,’’ Usih said.
He told our sources that exporters were not ignorant of the situation of the country “but are saying that things should be done appropriately’’.
Usih said that it was the noble idea of the Federal Government to diversify the economy into non-oil exports with agricultural commodities accounting for 90 per cent of the non-oil exports.
“With the government’s quest to diversify the economy, the key thing is to make export business profitable in order to convince people to venture into it.
“With the new terminal handling charges, the objectives will not be achieved.
“It will scare away new entrants into exports. With government’s pronouncement, people have started exporting at least one container load on monthly basis.
“ An exporter who is exporting a container load of a commodity valued at N4 million per container, the maximum profit he could make is N100,000,’’ Usih said.
According to him, with the additional N40,000, the terminal operators have already removed 40 per cent of the gross profit and this will not make the export business lucrative any more.
He said that Rubber Estate Nigeria Ltd. (RENL) shipped 1,000 containers of processed rubber annually, “and you can imagine the effect the terminal handling charges would have on our company’’.
“With the new charges, this will translate to N40,000 multiplied by 1,000 containers which will make a total of N40 million to be paid by our company as terminal handling charges,’’ Usih said.
He told The Tide that the company might reduce its staff strength with the present situation.
In a reaction, a source close to the Seaports Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN), confirmed the introduction of the new container handling charges for exports.
The source told The Tide that since the last 10 years of port concession, terminal operators were handling containers of exportable goods free of charge.
According to the source, the free charge cannot go on forever considering the situation in the country.
He said that the newly-introduced charges on containers to be exported were still lower than what importers were paying.
The Nigerian Navy Forward Operation Base (FOB), Badagry, says its gallant officers have rescued nine women from the hands of suspected human traffickers.
FOB said the suspects have been handed over to the National Agency for prohibition of Human trafficking in Person (NAPTIP) for prosecution.
This was disclosed to newsmen in a statement by the Base Information Officer, Litunent B. Awodeyi, in Lagos.
Awodeyi said the first interception of the women was during a stop and search operation by the Quick Response Team (QRT) of the Command in a boat traveling to mile 2 and Panshi Jetty in Lagos State were five women between the ages of 19 and 32 were rescued.
The statement further said four women were also rescued by QRT two days later in a boat along Tongeji Island in Badagry, with the ages of victims ranging from 19 to 24 years.
Awodeyi said the rescued suspects were under investigation in line with the 2016 Harmonised Standard Procedures on arrest.
Although the names of the suspects were not made public by FOB, it insisted that the operation reflects Navy’s dedication to combating human trafficking and ensuring a secure maritime environment in line with the Chief of Naval Staff’s strategic directive 2023 and 2026.
The directive, Awodeyi said, is aimed at promoting safety in Nigeria’s waters and the Gulf of Guinea (GOG).
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), led by its President-General, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, has announced plans to embark on a nationwide strike, if the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) fails to pay nine months of salary arrears owed its employees.
Adeyanju said the affected workers are members of MWUN, and accused CRFFN management of neglecting its financial responsibilities.
MWUN in a statement by its Head of Media, Comrade John Kennedy Ikemefuna, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the actions of the CRFFN’s Acting Registrar.
The statement noted that MWUN had exhausted all available options for negotiation, including issuing several ultimatums, but that the efforts were ignored by the management of CRFFN.
“The most recent attempt at mediation occurred in Abuja on September 18, 2024, yet no progress was made in resolving the matter”, it said.
The statement criticised CRFFN for disregarding a crucial resolution reached during the mediation meetings.
According to Ikemefuna, one of the resolutions stipulated that when funds become available to the CRFFN, the payment of employees’ salaries should be prioritis ed.
The statement further noted that CRFFN diverted available funds to conduct what it described as a “kangaroo” training programme for select staff members, leaving the issue of unpaid salaries unaddressed.
“This is a clear violation of the agreements reached”, it emphasised.
The Union said CRFFN’s actions have deepened the financial challenges faced by its members, hence MWUN expressed disappointment that, despite their willingness to cooperate with the CRFFN management, the regulatory body has continued to act in a manner that undermines the rights and welfare of its members.
The workers union, therefore, insisted that it would no longer tolerate the perceived impunity of the CRFFN and declared that if the outstanding nine months salary arrears are not paid, it would have no choice but to initiate a total withdrawal of its members from services.
“This action would impact key sectors of Nigeria’s maritime industry, including the Nigerian Ports Authority, dock labour, shipping and freight forwarding agencies, as well as seamen working across all ports, jetties, terminals, and oil and gas platforms”, Ikemefuna stated.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Command, has thwarted a smuggling attempt of N1.1billion illicit drugs in four containers at Apapa Port.
The four seized containers were filled with narcotics valued at N1,183,915,500.
The Command’s Area Controller, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, disclosed this to newsmen through its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abubakar Usman.
The seizure involved 236,783 bottles of cough syrups containing codeine and Barcadin, packed in a total of 2,174 cartons from two terminals under the command’s jurisdiction.
Three other seizures were made at APM Terminals, while one was intercepted at Kachicares Bonded Terminal.
Comptroller Olomu explained that, “On October 11, 2024, during a joint inspection of a 1×40 container, number MRKU0377493, our officers discovered prohibited CSP cough syrup—34,800 bottles packed into 174 cartons, each containing 200 bottles.
“The shipment was expired at the time of interception”.
The statement said on the same day, another 1×40 container, number TGBU8886020, was found with 39,700 bottles of DSP cough syrup, packed in cartons containing 100 bottles each.
Additionally, a third container (TCKU6800526) examined on October 15, 2024, at APMT Terminal, labelled as containing essential goods, revealed 19 cartons of concealed CSJ cough syrup for throat and chest with codeine, packed in 200 bottles per carton.
Another major seizure was recorded on October 15, 2024, at Kachicares Resources Terminal: A 1×40FT container, number SUDU8579006, declared as containing kitchen wares, was found with a concealed stash of Barcadin cough syrup in 1,584 cartons, along with 83 loose bottles.
Comptroller Olomu described the seizures as part of the NCS’ zero-tolerance policy toward smuggling.
Apapa Command, he said, “is committed to efficient trade facilitation while maintaining strict controls on revenue collection and anti-smuggling activities.
”I urge those engaged in illegal trade to avoid Apapa Port. Our vigilant officers, using intelligence, technology, and experience, are poised to detect and intercept any smuggling attempts”.
He insisted that Codeine abuse has been linked to severe side effects, including drowsiness, confusion, and increased susceptibility to criminal behaviors.
“The Nigerian government banned the importation of codeine-containing cough syrups in 2018 after widespread misuse among youth”, he noted.
The Comptroller said further investigations are underway to identify and apprehend the individuals behind the smuggling attempts.
