PTML Terminal Suspends N50, 000 Addition Charges Slammed on Imported Cars

By DAPO OLAWUNI

There are indications that vehicle terminal operator; Ports and Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) has bowed to pressure from clearing agents and has reversed its recent increment of N50,000 tariff on handling of imported vehicles.

DAILY TREND gathered that the terminal had in a notice dated April 17th 2023, announced that the additional charge of N50,000 will take effect from May 1, 2023.

The notice also explained that the new charge was necessary in order to cover the huge cost involved to handle cars with a forklift.

“PTML would like to bring to the attention of its esteemed customers that with effect from May 1, 2023, all forklifted cars will be subject to an additional charge of N50,000 per unit. This charge is necessary to cover the high cost involved to handle the cars with a forklift from the vessel to the final delivery,” the notice had read in part.

However, investigations by our correspondent showed that the various freight forwarding associations, led by Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) have pressured the terminal operators to suspend the charges.

Speaking with our correspondent on Tuesday morning, Public Relations Officer of PTML Chapter of ANLCA, Comrade Ayokunle Sulaiman said the clearing are now waiting to see practicality of the terminal operators suspension of the charge.

He said that the suspension was declared verbally without any memo to that effect.

“In principle, they told us that they have suspended the N50,000, however, we want to see it practicalised, we want to see it working, our members are going forward to collect debit notes now, at the end of the day, we would be able to speak with fact that it has truly been suspended.

“We are not even talking of suspension, we are calling for total cancellation of such charges, it shouldn’t come up at all. When you talk of suspension, it means it can be revisited at anytime, that N50,000 charge is unjustifiable

“My Chairman has been in contact with the terminal operators and we are scheduling a meeting, we just resumed operations this morning, they have been seeing the pressure

“The Maritime Workers Union were saying that terminal operators should be allowed to increase their charges, but we are the victims, at what level are the union concerned? We are the ones paying this money, why should a third party in a transaction be the one calling for increment” Comrade Suleiman stated.