Shippers Council Directs TICT to stop Delivery Charges on export cargoes
By Babatunde Aremu
The Nigerian Shippers Council, NSC has directed Tin-can Island Container Terminal, TICT Limited to stop delivery charges on all export cargoes.
The council urged TICT to ensure that tariff nomenclature (delivery charges) on their export transition invoices be permanently expunged.
This follows a complaint received from Harlink Investment Limited against TICT. Briefing the meeting, Mr Ambi Mohammed, Head of Complaint said the Council received a complaint from Harlink Investment Limited alleging that TICT imposed delivery fee on each of their export containers, namely EBKG08175277, EBKG08219074, EBKG08230998, EBLG08244049, EBKG08244050, EBGK08261890,
EBKG08317967, EBKG08317968,
EBKG0335997, EBKG08374698, EBKG08396392, EBKG08476390, EBKG08656664, EBKG08740013.
The mediation meeting convened by the Council was attended by the complainant, Managing Director/CEO of Harlink Investment Limited, Alhaji Nofiu Inaolaji, while TICT was represented by Messrs Tunde Owoeye and Merit Eshameh.
Acting on the Letter earlier written by the Market Analysis and Tariff Administration Division of the Regulatory Services Department, the Complaints Unit advised the terminal to step down and stop further charges. The complaints Unit urged TICT to go through the delivery charges already collected from the Consignor, Harlink Investment Limited, accordingly.
Responding, the TICT representatives apologised and informed the meeting that the terminal would expunge the charges as a result of the mediation intervention which they eventually did.
On his part, the complainant, Inaolaji said that his company appreciates the Council for the intervention, and reiterated his earlier request that the charges should be discontinued.
After deliberations which lasted for one-and-a-half hour, the meeting agreed as follows;
•TICT expunge delivery charges from their invoices for all export cargoes.
•TICT to refund the already paid delivery charges to the Consignor, Harlink Investment Limited and update the Council.
•The Consignor on his volition, let off the refundable sum of 804,121.04.
•NSC enjoined Harlink Investment Limited to maintain the existing cordial business relationship with the terminal.
NSC appreciates the parties for honouring the invitation and their positive contribution towards the amicable resolution of the matter.