Clearing Agents Begin Strike Over Illegal Demurrage, Storage Charges at Lagos Ports

Refusal of the terminal operators to stop collecting demurrage and storage charges has led to clearing agents declaring strike at the Lagos seaports.

The charges are said to contravene the directive of the Federal Government.

It was revealed that terminal operators and shipping firms have continued to charge for demurrage and storage which the government had ordered to be placed on hold due to the Coronavirus impact on businesses.

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) had issued the directive to cushion the effect of COVID-19 on port businesses. The lockdown directive by President Muhammadu Buhari had also hindered business activities within the country.

But with the terminal operators' refusal to comply, clearing agents and other freight forwarders from five major associations went on strike in protest. The decision was said to have been reached after several intervention plea to the NPA.

According to a report by The Nation, the clearing agent have now stopped taking delivery of cargoes since Friday. However, before the clearing agents went on strike, they had a meeting with the Apapa port manager, Funmilayo Olotu.

It was also disclosed that members of Apapa chapter of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) have stopped writing Terminal Delivery Order (TDO) which is used to take clear containers from the port.