Clearing Agents Demand N2bn COVID-19 Waiver Refund From Terminal, Shipping Firms

Clearing agents operating at the nation’s seaports have lamented the refusal of terminal operators and shipping companies to refund N2 billion Covid-19 pandemic waiver to clearing agents and importers by terminal operators and shipping companies as approved by the immediate past administration of ex-president Muhammadu Buhari.

The president, National Council of Managing Director of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Lucky Amiwero, in a petition to President Bola Tinubu and a copy made available to LEADERSHIP, said the terminal operators and shipping companies have refused to refund the 35 days waiver approved by the presidency on COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on demurrage and rent by terminal operators, shipping companies to agents and importers.

Amiwero, who accused the operators and shipping companies of deliberate refusal to refund the surcharge which he alleged were “wrongly charged bills, forcefully collected fromImporters/Licensed Customs Agents (LCA),” said the surcharge was worth over N2 billion.

“We once more bring to the attention of the Federal Government of Nigeria the refusal of the Terminal Operators and Shipping companies to refund the waiver of the 35 days relief granted to importers/Licensed Customs Agents(LCA) under the COVID 19 Pandemic by the presidency till date.

“The relief was contained in a letter from the Presidency address to the National Council of Managing Directors Of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA) ECD/P/251/IV/ T/14 of 6th of April 2020, on the waiver of both Terminal and Shipping Companies of rent and demurrage on the 35 days period, necessitated by the restriction of both private sector and government agencies all over the country especially the Licensed Customs Agents, who were mostly affected.”

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Amiwero, however, urged the federal government to compel the terminal operators to refund the demurrage waivers to importers and clearing agents.

“Five years after the waiver was wrongly and forcefully collected by the Terminals operators and shipping companies, nothing have been refunded to the Importer as directed by the Presidency. All processes were suspended due to refusal of the terminal Operators to refund the 35 days waiver wrongfully collected.

“Furthermore, records of Invoice wrongly paid by Importers/Licensed Customs Agents (LCA) to the Terminal Operators, are all forwarded to the agency responsible to coordinate the implementation of COVID 19 relief reconciliation with the Terminal operators.

“We once more inform the Federal Government that the waiver on demurrage and rent on goods imported in the country during the COVID 19 lockdown for 35 days waiver has not been refunded as directed by the Federal Government, that the Presidency should compel the Terminal Operators and shipping company to refund the money wrongly collected from the Importer/Licensed Customs Agents (LCA),” he stated.