Shippers kick against high port charges

Nicol said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeia in Lagos, against the backdrop of conflicts among the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, shipping companies and terminal operators on port charges.

He said the shippers’ associations had been calling for a reduction in port and other cargo handling charges for many years.

According to him, it is not a good thing for Nigeria to be labelled as the most expensive in the world– in terms of port operations.

“We do not see why the terminal operators and the shipping companies should be desperate to continue with their way of doing business. We believe that we will come together and fight the case, if need be,’’ Nicol said.

He said the shipping lines and terminal operators should know that without the shippers, without the cargoes, they would not raise invoices against anyone.

Nicol said, “We shippers would make up our mind whether to continue doing business in Nigeria or we look at how we can harmonise all the charges and get on with our business.

“Right now, some of the stakeholders said they would withdraw their services because of the high charges.

“It is something that affects all the stakeholders, down the line to the freight forwarders. So, shipping companies should not hold Nigeria to ransom.”

[Punch]