The South-East Amalgamated Markets Traders Association (SEAMATA) has sent a Save Our Soul (S.O.S.) message to the National Assembly (NASS) over their businesses imminent collapse due to activity of a shipping company.
The association stated this in a letter sent to the leadership of the Senate through the President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan and the leadership of House of Representatives through the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila.
A copy of the letter, which was made available to newsmen in Enugu on Thursday, was jointly signed by SEAMATA’s President-General, Chief Gozie Akudolu and its Secretary-General, Mr Alex Okwudiri.
It said that a number of traders in the country, who are SEAMATA members, are currently suffering excruciating pains and anguish from PIL Nigeria Ltd, a shipping agency, with their operational base in Nigeria located in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The letter reads in part: “Our members entrusted their cargoes and containers from China to PIL for delivery to ports in Nigeria, some in December 2019, while others in January, 2020.
“These cargoes were supposed to be delivered at their ports of destinations on or before 15 Feb., 2020. Up till date, over six months after shipment, some of the cargoes were yet to arrive Nigerian ports.
“All our inquiries and appeals to PIL, were greeted with empty and failed promises of new arrival dates.
“Four vessels, namely KOTA SALAM, KOTA SATRIA, KOTA SURIA and KOTA SINGA, all have our members’ cargoes aboard.
“Out of these four vessels, only KOTA SINGA and KOTA SATRIA, arrived some weeks ago, after six and seven months respectively.
“Your Excellency Sir, most of our members’ cargoes aboard these vessels were funded with loans and overdrafts from banks with interests on them growing in geometrical progression.
“Some of the banks have placed the homes of some of our members, which they used as collateral for the bank facilities, for sale.
“The consequences of these developments are taking their tolls on the health of our members as they are now battling with severe depression, hypertension and other related sicknesses.
“In fact, the businesses of our members are dying gradually just like their owners are gradually dying also courtesy of PIL”.
It said that the traders opted to come to the NASS to prevail on PIL to deliver the remaining consignments of its members without further delay.
According to the statement, if the Senate or the House of Representatives did not prevail on them, they will not deliver the cargoes.
“It is our final prayer that NASS prevails on PIL, to compensate our members to the full settlement of the interests that accrued on the loans with which the imports were funded,” it added.
Reacting, Mr Jack Langrishe, Managing Director of PIL Nigeria Ltd, said that there was no direct comment on the issue and its allegations.
Langrishe, who spoke via telephone, however, said that for public interest, the company before now had delivered consignments in two of the vessels – KOTA SINGA and KOTA SATRIA some weeks ago.
“For the two remaining vessels; one of them, KOTA SURIA, has recently berthed in Nigeria port on July 1.
“While the other and the last vessel – KOTA SALAM – will be berthing on July 10, this Friday, in Nigeria.
“Berthing place, time and other information concerning the vessels mentioned can be tracked through the online shipment tracking procedure widely known by importers and traders as well,” he said.
