COVID-19 Waiver: Customs Agents Write Buhari over Refusal by Terminal Operators to Refund 35 Days Rent
*Accuse NPA of connivance
By Onyinye Apeh
Members of the National Council of Managing Directors of Customs Agents (NCMDCA) have protested against the refusal of the terminal operators to refund rent paid by importers during the 35 days COVID-19 lock down for which waiver was announced by the President Muhammadu Buhari in a presidential broadcast.
In a letter to the President signed by the President, Mr Lucky Amiwero, the agents had accused the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) of conniving with the terminal operators not to refund the rent collected from importers and licensed customs agents.
Amiwero said the terminal operators and shipping companies had bluntly refused to refund the rent collected illegally from importers despite the approval of the waiver by the Presidency during the lockdown in a national broadcast.
The agents accused the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) of manipulating the letters through various interpretation to terminal operators ,the Nigerian Police and the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents(NCMDLCA) , adding that the intention was to stop the refund.
Part of the letter reads, “We hereby bring to the attention of the Federal government of the Connivance of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Terminal Operators not to refund the Thirty (35) days lock down on COVID 19, which all terminals refuse to refund after collecting the money from importers/ Licensed Customs Agents, which was done through the help of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)
“The following letters by National Council of Managing Directors of licensed Customs Agents(NCMDLCA) was for the refund of the illegal money collected by Terminal Operators on the COVID 19 lockdown approved by the presidency:
1 Letter dated 8th April 2020,:Forwarding of letter from the Presidency Chairman of presidential task force on COVID 19 on some concern raised on the port operation
2 Letter dated 20th of April 2020 : Refusal to the Waiver of Demurrage and rents by Terminal Operators and shipping company as directed by the Federal Government as Result of COVID 19 Lockdown restriction
3 Letter dated 4th May 2020:The Rejection of Federal Government Directive on Waiver of goods due to the Lockdown on COVID 19 Pandemic by Terminal Operators and shipping companies as a result of the Lockdown on COVID 19 Pandemic
4 Letter dated 26th June 2020: The subversion of the Foreign Terminal operators to the Federal government directive by the refusal to refund the illegal money forcefully collected from Nigerian Importers/ Licensed Customs Agents from March 23rd for thirty five(35) days as approved by the Presidency for the waiver of rents for period of the COVID 19 lockdown
5 Letter dated 6th July 2020: The refusal of Terminal operators to refund the illegal money forcefully collected from Nigerian Importers/ Licensed Customs Agents for waiver as directed by the Federal Government on the days of the Lockdown on COVID 19 Pandemic from 23rd March to the day of ease of lockdown
6 Letter dated 23rd July 2020: The rejection of Terminal operators and Shipping companies of the presidential directive on the period of waiver of COVID 19 Pandemic for the refund of the Money illegally and forcefully collected from Licensed Customs Agents/ importers during the period of COVID 19 Lockdown from 23rd March to the ease of the Lockdown.
“The six letter was for the refund already collected rent charges during the period of COVID 19 Lockdown for the approved of waiver announced by the presidency and advertised by Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in national broadcast.
“Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA) manipulated letters by various interpretation to Terminal Operators ,the Nigerian Police and the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents(NCMDLCA) , which intent was to stop the refund, which was done”
By Onyinye Apeh
Members of the National Council of Managing Directors of Customs Agents (NCMDCA) have protested against the refusal of the terminal operators to refund rent paid by importers during the 35 days COVID-19 lock down for which waiver was announced by the President Muhammadu Buhari in a presidential broadcast.
In a letter to the President signed by the President, Mr Lucky Amiwero, the agents had accused the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) of conniving with the terminal operators not to refund the rent collected from importers and licensed customs agents.
Amiwero said the terminal operators and shipping companies had bluntly refused to refund the rent collected illegally from importers despite the approval of the waiver by the Presidency during the lockdown in a national broadcast.
The agents accused the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) of manipulating the letters through various interpretation to terminal operators ,the Nigerian Police and the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents(NCMDLCA) , adding that the intention was to stop the refund.
Part of the letter reads, “We hereby bring to the attention of the Federal government of the Connivance of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Terminal Operators not to refund the Thirty (35) days lock down on COVID 19, which all terminals refuse to refund after collecting the money from importers/ Licensed Customs Agents, which was done through the help of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)
“The following letters by National Council of Managing Directors of licensed Customs Agents(NCMDLCA) was for the refund of the illegal money collected by Terminal Operators on the COVID 19 lockdown approved by the presidency:
1 Letter dated 8th April 2020,:Forwarding of letter from the Presidency Chairman of presidential task force on COVID 19 on some concern raised on the port operation
2 Letter dated 20th of April 2020 : Refusal to the Waiver of Demurrage and rents by Terminal Operators and shipping company as directed by the Federal Government as Result of COVID 19 Lockdown restriction
3 Letter dated 4th May 2020:The Rejection of Federal Government Directive on Waiver of goods due to the Lockdown on COVID 19 Pandemic by Terminal Operators and shipping companies as a result of the Lockdown on COVID 19 Pandemic
4 Letter dated 26th June 2020: The subversion of the Foreign Terminal operators to the Federal government directive by the refusal to refund the illegal money forcefully collected from Nigerian Importers/ Licensed Customs Agents from March 23rd for thirty five(35) days as approved by the Presidency for the waiver of rents for period of the COVID 19 lockdown
5 Letter dated 6th July 2020: The refusal of Terminal operators to refund the illegal money forcefully collected from Nigerian Importers/ Licensed Customs Agents for waiver as directed by the Federal Government on the days of the Lockdown on COVID 19 Pandemic from 23rd March to the day of ease of lockdown
6 Letter dated 23rd July 2020: The rejection of Terminal operators and Shipping companies of the presidential directive on the period of waiver of COVID 19 Pandemic for the refund of the Money illegally and forcefully collected from Licensed Customs Agents/ importers during the period of COVID 19 Lockdown from 23rd March to the ease of the Lockdown.
“The six letter was for the refund already collected rent charges during the period of COVID 19 Lockdown for the approved of waiver announced by the presidency and advertised by Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in national broadcast.
“Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA) manipulated letters by various interpretation to Terminal Operators ,the Nigerian Police and the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents(NCMDLCA) , which intent was to stop the refund, which was done”
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