Clearing agents kick as PTML slams N50k forklift charge on imported cars

The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) says the additional N50,000 per unit charge imposed on forklifted cars should be cancelled.

The charge is to cover the “high cost” involved to handle cars with a forklift from the vessel to the final delivery.

NAN reports that the Ports and Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) said it will from May 1, 2023, begin to charge an additional N50,000 on imported cars handled with forklifts at the port terminal.

PTML is a roll-on-roll-off terminal in Nigeria handling a sizable number of vehicles imported into the country.

But speaking with the news agency on Tuesday in Lagos, Rilwan Amuni, taskforce chairman, ANLCA, Tincan chapter, said the proposal was illegal and would not work or stand the test of time.

Amuni said the association had written to the terminal to argue that there was no basis for the inposition of the N50,000 charge.

“The feelers we are getting is that it has been suspended, Our own is that it should not be suspended, but jettisoned completely,” Amuni said.

“This is because it is illegal, the costlier the cost of clearing these goods for the importers, the more it spoils business for us, the agents.

“If the cost is escalating, no importer will import and what will the agents do? So, it is very important we fight this obnoxious proposal.”

Amuni said the association would also not accept a downward review of the charge.

“They already have charges for forklifted accidented vehicles, they were not doing it for free,” he said.

“There is one other one that is in their debit note that is called Port Recovery Charges, we don’t even know what that is for.

“What they recover in the port, who is to collect that from them? There are a lot of columns that we do not understand, but on this one, we will not accept it.”

Meanwhile, Ovien Michael, a clearing agent, called for the reduction of the charge.

“These cars are accidented and the terminal will not tow a car that is okay. While towing the car, it’s the forklift that will carry vehicles that are very expensive,” Michael said.

“PTML had earlier stopped the shipment of accidented vehicles that are not road worthy, when you talk about the chassis gone, the front axial gone, headbags out, vehicle that cannot even drive.

“All of a sudden, maybe because they are not getting volumes as they suppose to, as volume on importation of vehicles have reduced drastically by close to 80 percent.

“Because of that, PTML decided to join the clique of those bringing in accidented vehicles than more mobile ones.

“For us in the maritime industry, if we are going against it, what provision do we have? We can only ask them for a review of the cost.”

He added that the management team of ANLCA in PTML would talk about the issue with the management of Five Star Logistics and other agencies such as the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF).