Clearing agents and importers have collectively declared as illegal the container deposit they pay to both Indigenous and foreign shipping companies, describing the deposit as an illegitimate means of exploiting innocent importers exporting to the country.
Speaking to our correspondent, a source under anonymity said that the container deposit is a way of taking from Peter to rub Paul; he said shipping companies ask for container deposit worth N200, 000 for a 40 footer container and N100, 000 for a 20 footer container.
The source said all agents must pay the money before he is allowed to go with the container though this money they collected is to ensure that the containers are returned but the bone of contention is the time it takes the shipping company to refund the money they collected in less distant time.
According to him“You have to wait one or two months to collect your money after the money has been in their account and generated a lot of interest. With over two thousand licensed Customs agent in Apapa alone paying N200, 000 as container deposit for forty footer containers or N100, 000 for 20 footer containers as it were do you know how much they rake in.
“I have money with them that over one months now, have not been able to get my money, what am supposed to have used to do another business is with them, accumulating interests from banks for them why my business is suffering.”
Corroborating him, Bert Okeke publicity secretary of the Apapa chapter of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, NAGAFF, said that collecting container deposit is done in other part of the world but where he thinks the problem lies is that that the shipping companies don’t return the money in time.
“Yes, the terminal operators don’t refund the money back on time but there are two coin to this theory, the first is that it depends on the issue you have with company but the fact remains that the depositors are being short changed we don’t get the money as at when due it is not of international best practice.”
Still speaking Okeke said “It depends on the shipping line after you must have dropped their containers some take a month depending on the situation on their own issue, but disclosed that what make the shipping companies deduct importers or agents money depends on what happened when you took their container and when you return it if it is dented or scratches you are bound to take some loses if there is dent you will lose some of your money.
A clearing agent, Pius David said container deposit can be likened to indemnity as for assurance that the containers will be returned back to the terminal but he said that the shipping companies can find an alternative way to indemnify agent instead of the money collected.
He said, “it is exploitation because there is always a better way to fine tune it and not a way that you must deposit 200,000 for one by 40 footer or 100,000 for one by 20 footer, a better way that will check modalities to check the excesses of empty containers without returning them is by asking importers or agents to fill an indemnity form that the importer or agent will have to pay for the damages it has done to container or debit his account whenever he go with a container and refused to return it.
“When the importer account has been debited, whenever he has consignment to clear you tell him to pay for the damages done to the earlier containers he lifted or non return of containers, i think this will in no small measure help to find a solution to this than subjecting the whole of agents to paying money that they should have used to do some other business.”
Pius indicted the shipping companies saying all the money they deposited cannot be recovered because some charges will come in that will make you lose part of the money to shipping companies.
He said, “there is no way the money you deposited will be refunded completely, either they say that the ankle of the container is broken or one reason or the other, and most of this things they point at may be from the terminal operators because when APMT is loading they don’t allow agent to go in, it may be the fork lift of the terminal operator that destroyed what you may be asked to pay for. He continued, “That is why we are shouting and we will never stop shouting until the menace is stop.”
Pius said Maersk line, a shipping giant, was the first to introduce the charges.
Furthermore, Asogios Ikechukwu, said the issue has been reported to their various associations for intervention but nothing concrete has been done to liberate us from this people.
We freight forwarders are losing money to the activities of shipping companies and terminal operators, they collect money in terms of indemnity and when the containers come back you apply to collect back the money but you find out that when you apply it takes up to over a month before you can take back your money which is injurious to our business.
“Our respective association leaders are not doing anything it appears they have compromised because when you return the containers they said it contains dust but when you look at the debit note they issued to you they have already debited the importer for the cleaning of the container so when the container is dirty or not you have been charged but should there be any dirt again they charge you another money which to me is double charge.”
But, Ikechukwu said when it comes to the paying refunds for the money paid; they come up with different charges in other to collect something out of the money.
“At times they pay at times in full, most time they don’t at times they connive with the terminal operators to mark you even when the dent is not from you the machine will dent it but the real thing is that the money the collect within five minute take over a month to be refunded.
Also, the money is in their account to generate interest why you apply for refund, if you don’t induce them they won’t accelerate the processing of your money and being a business man that want to use the money to do another business he have to wait till is money his refunded.
Confirming the allegations, the President of the Lagos state Shippers Association, Rev. Jonathan Nicol said that they pay the container deposit charges although it varies.
“Yes we pay, until they receive the cargo in their terminals your container deposit will be running off. Concerning the refund, they do refund the money. Although there are still hiccups with some shipping companies, there are still some faithful ones amongst them who give refund of container deposit within two weeks”.