The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has raised the alarm over delays in the return of empty containers, accusing some shipping lines of frustrating freight forwarders and importers while continuing to impose detention charges.
The association, in a letter alleged that some shipping lines had turned haulage trucks into temporary holding bays by refusing to receive empty containers because of inadequate or unavailable holding facilities.
The letter, signed by the National Coordinator, 100 per cent Compliance Team of NAGAFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko, and addressed to all shipping lines, said the practice was inflicting unnecessary financial losses on freight forwarders, importers and haulage operators.
NAGAFF said freight forwarders often take delivery of import containers from the ports but encounter difficulties when attempting to return the empty containers to the shipping lines.
According to the association, some shipping lines allegedly wait for vessels to arrive before accepting empty containers, leaving trucks tied down for days or even weeks.
‘This practice is unacceptable because it unlawfully ties down trucks for days or even weeks, preventing transporters from taking on other jobs and causing avoidable financial losses,’ NAGAFF said.
The association warned that the situation was also worsening congestion on port access roads, while importers continued to incur detention charges despite the alleged inability of the shipping lines to receive the empty containers.
NAGAFF described the practice as unjust, arguing that shipping lines should not charge customers for delays allegedly caused by the lines themselves.
‘It is fundamentally unjust for a shipping line to refuse to receive its empty container while simultaneously charging customers for failing to return that same container. No person or organisation should profit from a delay that it deliberately creates,’ the association stated.
The freight forwarding body consequently demanded that shipping lines provide adequate holding bays capable of receiving empty containers without unnecessary delays and in line with applicable regulations.
It also called for the immediate suspension of what it described as unfair detention charges and demanded refunds for detention charges already collected from affected customers.
NAGAFF warned that failure by the shipping lines to address the issue could force the association to pursue all lawful means available to protect freight forwarders and Nigerian importers.
‘Should this unfair practice continue, NAGAFF will have no option but to pursue every lawful means available to protect the interests of freight forwarders and Nigerian importers,’ it warned.
The association said the current system for returning empty containers was unsustainable and detrimental to trade facilitation, port efficiency and the ease of doing business in Nigeria.
It urged shipping lines to urgently review their empty-container return arrangements and end what it described as practices that impose additional costs on port users and constrain the movement of haulage trucks.
The letter was copied to the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Shippers’ Council, Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority, Commissioner of Police, Port, Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Port Managers, Founder of NAGAFF and the National President of NAGAFF.