... Staff slams illegal N300,000 on every consignment
... We are not aware, we will investigating - Management
By Ewrhujakpor Godfrey Bivbere
The nation's leading container terminal, APM Terminal has been accused of deliberately delaying container clearing process with the intention of making shippers and their agents pay more.
Harboursà ndport.com gathered that the delay is caused by staff of the terminal who deliberately hold on to documents of shippers for weeks and in some cases months before such documents are released, after payments of unreceipted, rogue fee designed as gratification.
Harboursandport.com learnt that the APM Terminal staff who have constituted themselves into a cartel, demand between N150,000 and N300,000 from shippers, before import cargo documents are released.
A shipper's representative who arrived in Lagos to take delivery of his consignment with the intention of moving the same by train to their destination, was delayed for about two weeks without the shipping company issuing Delivery Order (DO) a source at the terminal who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said.
Harboursandport.com gathered that the shipper's representative unable to stomach the official behaviour of the terminal operator was seen shouting and demanding reasons for the delay of his consignment, having concluded all the processes.
The shipper's representative it was gathered was shouting and telling anyone who cared to listen that APM Terminal will turn around to charge demurrage for the delay caused by it's officials, which is known to the management.
Another customer who got a 20 foot container through auction, paid the customs Levy in December 23, but the shipping company failed to release his Delivery Order until February this year.
According to finding, after the terminal operator's staff held on to the Terminal Delivery Order (TDO) for about a month, turned around to demand for N150,000, they claimed is for the office of their Managing Director.
It was was further learnt that the consignee, reportedly tired of the deliberate delay, involved a military personnel that accompanied him to APMT Customer Service Office at the terminal.
On arrival at the Customer Service Office where the documents were allegedly held, the staff who not sure of the identity of the female military personnel, became jittery and released the TDO which enabled the customer to take delivery of the consignment the next day.
Shippers have been complaining and alleging that the terminal operator deliberately delay release of consignments as a ploy to forcing transaction to go into demurrage claims they say runs into millions of dollars, annually.
When contacted on the alleged development, Head of Commercials of APM Terminal, Kayode Daniel, told Harboursandport.com that they are not aware.
He said management will carry out an investigation into the report.
He also advised our reporter to contact the management of the terminal should such an incident occur in the future so that it can be permanently addressed.
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