NSC Flays Attempt to Truncate CTN Implementation
The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) has flayed the attempts to truncate the implementation of International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN) in the country.
CTN was earlier introduced in the country and its execution was spearheaded by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). It was, however, abandoned by the federal government for reasons not made to the public.
NSC, which is presently saddled with the responsibility of seeing to the successful implementation of the re-introduction of CTN in the country, said there was no iota of truth in the claims made by those opposed to the exercise.
The council, which has Mr. Hassan Bello as the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), flayed shipping line agencies in the country for allegedly distorting facts about CTN implementation.
It maintained that ICTN is at no cost to the shippers, but that the inherent costs are to be borne by the international shipping lines and carriers.
It accused the international shipping lines and their agents in the country, the Shipping Association of Nigeria (SAN), of creating disaffection among the organised private sector in Nigeria by promoting falsehood that ICTN will add to the cost of business.
While explaining the cost element of the CTN, NSC Director of Commercial Shipping Services, Mrs. Dabney Shall-Holma said that the CTN cost does not come with additional cost to importers or exporters.
Shall-Holma explained that contrary to the falsehood that is being spread by agents of shipping lines in the country, the administrative cost is expected to be paid by the shipping lines, who according to her, are already charging Nigerians for it.
She disclosed that for many years, the shipping lines have been hiding such cost on the final bills given to Nigeria importers to pay.
“It comes out of payments that are already collected or payable per consignment. Whether the Shippers Council introduces cargo tracking note or not, shipping companies will continue to collect this taxation, the $25 per container and all the other listings are expected to come from the already existing freight taxation collected by the shipping lines on Nigerian freight. The shipping lines and agents are trying to fight off the implementation of CTN because they are aware that it will address wastages in the system and create choices for the shipper,” she said.
Shall-Holma explained that the charges released in the document published by the shippers council recently was meant to guide shipping lines and agencies in the preparation of their documents.
Continuing, she said: “They are trying to truncate the ICTN because they are the same shipping companies dealing with all the 18 countries in West and Central Africa implementing cargo tracking note, and in those countries they pay 65Euro per TEU, the lowest cost is 35Euros. But here we are charging $25 per TEU, which is less than a quarter of the 65Euros charged by other countries, but they are not worried about that because they know that Nigeria controls 75 percent of the cargoes.