In a bid to dissipate the economic pangs of exporters utilizing the Tin-Can Island Container Terminal (TICT) located at the Tin-Can Island Port, the nation’s port economic regulator, the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) has directed the port operator, Tin-Can Island Container Terminal (TICT), to stop receipt of delivery charges on all export cargoes.
The NSC admonished TICT to ensure that all tariff nomenclature bearing “Delivery Charges” on their export transition invoices be permanently expunged.
This follows a complaint received from an exporter, Harlink Investment Limited against TICT.
Briefing a mediation meeting held on Monday, 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 exporter who also doubles as 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 TICT 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.
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 on the following resolutions: TICT should 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
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