Frontline shipping company, CMA CGM, has written the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), saying the newly- introduced N144,000 congestion charge is not to be paid by clearing agents in Nigeria but by the shipper at the port of loading.
In a letter to the National Headquarters of ANLCA which was signed by Managing Director of CMA CGM, Mr. Todd Rives, and sighted by our correspondent on Thursday, the company explained that it is the shipowners that are imposing the charge and not the shipping company.
He said the N144,000 is not applicable to shipments for which a contract of affreitment already exists as freight would have already been agreed before carriage.
Rives said the shipper determines if freight payable at point of origin is acceptable to them and not the clearing agents.
The letter is coming few hours after the Vice President of ANLCA, Dr Kayode Farinto, issued a statement threatening that the association would not hesitate to arrest and drag the CGM boss to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should he go ahead to collect the congestion surcharge.
“We wish to inform the association that the charge in question is a prepaid charge which is paid at the port of loading (origin) by the shipper. It is an operational based charge not imposed by CMA CGM Nigeria as a local agent but by the Shipowners.
“The shipper determines if freight payable at point of origin is acceptable to them and has the right to choose which line they will enter into a contract of carriage and we cannot compel them to ship with us.
“Furthermore, the operational charge is for clarity, not applicable to shipments for which a contract of affreitment already exists as freight would have already been agreed before carriage. So, no additional retroactive cost can be applied, and no such charge is collected from the receivers in Lagos Nigeria.
“We confirm that no invoice has ever been issued by our local agency, CMA CGM Nigeria for this operational charge and this can be verified from your members who are our esteemed customers”
“We are at your disposal to meet and further clarify the misconception regarding this matter and thank you for your continuous understanding,” Rives said .
