Southeast Traders Write Senate President Over Task By Cargo Handlers
Southeast Amalgamated Markets/ Traders Association (SEAMATA), an umbrella union of traders in all the markets in the Southeast and Southeast extraction have sent a save our soul to the Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan – led Senate over demands by Cargo handlers to task traders into paying demurrage for their goods.
The Association in a release signed by its President, Chief Gozie Iroko and secretary Alex Okwudili complained that the cargo handling companies as a result of the shutdown now demand demurrage charges that is well over 80% of the market value of the goods.
The statement said that some of the traders borrowed huge loans from banks with huge interests running into millions to purchase the goods and cannot go back to obtain another loan without clearing the huge outstanding debts.
The statement also called on the senate for rapid response and address the situation that has had direct effect on traders, thereby complicating their health condition as some traders are already suffering hypertension, depression and other health challenges caused by the accumulated debts.
