In a public notice sighted by our correspondent on Tuesday,
signed by the management of PTML, the terminal said the current economic
conditions of surging inflation,
currency devaluation and subsidy removal had increased its operational
costs.
The terminal in the notice said it had received the
approvals of relevant authorities for the tariff hike.
The notice read in part, “PTML would like to bring to the
attention of its esteemed customers that the current economic conditions of
surging inflation, coupled with the devaluation of currency and removal of fuel
subsidy have caused the operational costs to increase multi-fold.
“Hence, having received the endorsement of the relevant
authorities, it has become imperative to restructure our terminal tariffs from the
1st of July 2023. PTML is confident that its esteemed customers will understand
the rationale behind this review that will cost assist us in ensuring our
superior level of service while keeping the competitiveness of its rates.”
Our correspondent gathered that tariff on SUVs was formerly
N113, 000 but it has been raised to N139, 420 while the tariff on SUVs that are
not working has been reviewed upward to N153,395.
Terminal tariff on a saloon car which was N92, 000 was hiked
to N112, 115 while SUVs that are not working have been adjusted up to N121,
575.
Recall that a few months ago, MWUN in a statement, said it
was supporting a hike in terminal operators tariff so that the terminals can
fulfill their commitments to the dockworkers, who are members of the union.
Reacting to this development, the Acting National President
of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, Mr Kayode Farinto said,
the agents would have to educate the importers on how to adjust to the new
tariff.
“The reality on the ground is what we have all seen, subsidy
removal with the exchange rate (adjustment), everything is changing. We just
have to see how we can educate our importers on this.
“There is no possibility of withdrawing services. The
reality on the ground is that the government has removed subsidy. Fuel is now
N500 per litre; the dollar is not stable. There is no more official rate. And
we can just be naïve as if we don’t know what is on the ground.”
Meanwhile, the General Manager of PTML, Tunde Kenshinro,
told The PUNCH, “We have issued a notice. We have said it. What else do you
want to confirm?”