ABOUT 1,000 importers and their clearing agents besieged the main entrance to the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), Apapa, Lagos yesterday, to protest the refusal by the firm to issue them the Delivery Note (DO).
The DO will enable them to move their containers worth over N3 billion out of the port.
The importer said the containers, numbering about 6,000, were trapped at the Ports and Cargo Handling Services, Tin-Can Island Port following the industrial action embarked upon by the company’s workers, since four days ago.
The Nation learnt that some of the affected importers and their clearing agents besieged the company’s entrance as early as 8am, but its security officials prevented them from gaining access into the compound.
One of the company’s security officials, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, confirmed to The Nation that the importers and their clearing agents could not get the DO because of the industrial action by the workers.
One of the affected clearing agents, Mr. Samson Ekemezie, said his company has no fewer than 300 containers to clear from the port, adding that he has paid N400,000 and N200,000 for each of the 40ft and 20ft containers his firm is conveying out of Lagos.
“The fact is that we have paid the deposit for all containers. For every 40ft and 20ft container we are moving out of Lagos, we paid N400,000 and N200, 000. For those that are to be delivered in Lagos, we paid N200,000 and N100,000.
“The question now is that when are they going to refund this money based on this unnecessary delay? Don’t forget that we went to borrow this money from banks with interest. But they are the one using the money now without the intention to pay interest.
“This is one area where the Nigerian Shippers’ Council needs to assist our members and the nation. The delay we are suffering now is making our port unattractive for business. The container deposit is also adding to the cost of transacting business in our ports,” Ekemezie said.
Another clearing agent, Mr. Yekinni Adisa, said his company has about 50 containers to clear from the port and wondered why the firm’s management has failed to key into the trade facilitation programme of the Federal Government, which, he said, frowned at delaying quick cargo clearance from the port.
“At the terminal where we are having our containers, we are facing serious problem to approach the terminal operator because we are yet to collect our delivery order from the MSC Shipping Company. It is now over four days since we have requested for it, but we are yet to receive any.
“The company’s managing director is having crisis with his workers. Unless the Shippers’ Council come to assist us as port regulator, our containers may still be in the port for the rest of next week. And if you calculate the amount we have to pay as demurrage, it will run into billions,” Adisa said.
He urged the Federal Government to address problem facing importers.