As part of efforts to promote non-oil exports for shippers utilizing the Tin Can Island Container Terminal (TICT) Limited, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) and the port operator have agreed to stop receipt of delivery charges on export cargoes.
The nation’s port economic regulator, NSC, admonished TICT to ensure that all tariff nomenclature bearing ‘delivery charges’ on their export transition invoices be removed following a complaint received from Harlink Investment Limited against TICT.
Briefing the meeting, Mr Ambi Mohammed, Head of Complaints Unit at NSC 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 equally 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 that; 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 N804,121.04.
Meanwhile, NSC enjoined Harlink Investment Limited to maintain the existing cordial business relationship with the terminal.
NSC appreciated the parties for honouring the invitation and their positive contribution towards the amicable resolution of the matter.
