NPA Suspends Demurrage on All Imported Cargoes
By WUNMI ADEYANJU
In order to cushion the effect of the Coronavirus pandemic on importers and clearing agents, the Nigerian Ports Authority has directed all terminal operators to suspend all applicable terminal storage fees on consignments from an initial period of twenty-one days effective March 23, 2020.
In a press statement issued on Friday by the General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications of NPA, Eng Adams Jatto, the gesture is in recognition of the pressure that the COVID-19 pandemic imposes on businesses, the responsibility imposed on the Authority to relief this burden on its customers as well as attaining the objective of the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business Policy.
“The Authority recognises the financial implications of these policies on the terminal operators and will consider a shift in our operational charges to ameliorate the situation of stakeholders” he said
In another release signed by Mr. Jatto, the Authority announced that it has donated the Agura Hotels in Abuja as isolation centre for Coronavirus infected persons.
Accordig to the statement “The Nigerian Ports Authority as majority shareholders alongside other shareholders of the Agura Hotels, Abuja, have agreed to donate the 130-bed fully furnished hotel as isolation centre for COVID-19 in Abuja”
“This is a social responsibility initiative aimed at supporting efforts of the Federal Government to contain the spread of the virus in Nigeria”
“The Authority encourages all Nigerians to follow all advisories issued by the National Centre for Disease Control and be confident that Nigeria shall overcome”
