Shippers’ Council Seals APMDC Terminal Over Arbitrary Charges, Other Irregularities
Associated Port & Marine Development Company (APMDC) Limited was Tuesday sealed over arbitrary charges and other irregularities in the ports.
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) in a statement by the Head of Public Relations, Mrs Rakiya Zubairu said the terminal operator ignored warnings from the ports economic regulator before Tuesday’s action.
Among the infractions against the terminal operator charging in forex, non-compliance with approved nomenclature of charges such as (Transport Adjustment charges, non-vessel operating carriers).
The terminal operator was also accused of outright disregard to terms of mediation reached at NSC and unresolved complaints of over one and half years, among others.
The Council’s team was led by Mr. Adesina Sarumi, an Assistant Director in the Regulatory Services Department.
Speaking shortly after the enforcement exercise, the Deputy Director, Monitoring and Enforcement Division, Mrs. Celine Ifeora, said NSC sealed APMDC’s premises following its non-compliance with Council’s directive as Port Economic Regulator.
Ifeora disclosed that NSC had invited APMDC for meetings to resolve the issues but they refused to honour the invitations.
NSC, she said, was left with no choice but to carry out the enforcement by sealing APMDC’s premises. She added that the APMDC would remain closed until the issues are addressed.
Mrs. Ifeora said, “They don’t want to listen to any agency representing government. That is why we went out today to carry out the enforcement exercise on APMDC. Two warnings letters have been forwarded asking them not to introduce new tariffs and charges without the consent of government but they refused to comply and rather they introduced another new tariff heading.”
Also speaking on the issue, Mr. Adesina Sarumi, who led the enforcement team said that the enforcement exercise was informed by the need to address anomalies at APMDC.
These, he said, revolved around issues such as introduction of charges not approved by Council, making of payments in dollars on services rendered in Nigeria, among others.
Alhaji Bashir Ambi of Complaints Unit following the enforcement exercise said that the Complaints Unit has received series of complaints from the users of the services of APMDC.
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) in a statement by the Head of Public Relations, Mrs Rakiya Zubairu said the terminal operator ignored warnings from the ports economic regulator before Tuesday’s action.
Among the infractions against the terminal operator charging in forex, non-compliance with approved nomenclature of charges such as (Transport Adjustment charges, non-vessel operating carriers).
The terminal operator was also accused of outright disregard to terms of mediation reached at NSC and unresolved complaints of over one and half years, among others.
The Council’s team was led by Mr. Adesina Sarumi, an Assistant Director in the Regulatory Services Department.
Speaking shortly after the enforcement exercise, the Deputy Director, Monitoring and Enforcement Division, Mrs. Celine Ifeora, said NSC sealed APMDC’s premises following its non-compliance with Council’s directive as Port Economic Regulator.
Ifeora disclosed that NSC had invited APMDC for meetings to resolve the issues but they refused to honour the invitations.
NSC, she said, was left with no choice but to carry out the enforcement by sealing APMDC’s premises. She added that the APMDC would remain closed until the issues are addressed.
Mrs. Ifeora said, “They don’t want to listen to any agency representing government. That is why we went out today to carry out the enforcement exercise on APMDC. Two warnings letters have been forwarded asking them not to introduce new tariffs and charges without the consent of government but they refused to comply and rather they introduced another new tariff heading.”
Also speaking on the issue, Mr. Adesina Sarumi, who led the enforcement team said that the enforcement exercise was informed by the need to address anomalies at APMDC.
These, he said, revolved around issues such as introduction of charges not approved by Council, making of payments in dollars on services rendered in Nigeria, among others.
Alhaji Bashir Ambi of Complaints Unit following the enforcement exercise said that the Complaints Unit has received series of complaints from the users of the services of APMDC.
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