After an underwater cable was severed in the Atlantic Ocean, thousands of shipments have been left stranded at the nation’s ports. This event has significantly disrupted services such as banking, customs, shipping companies, and terminal operations within the maritime industry, leading to increased costs for importers due to storage and late fees from terminal operators and international shipping companies, respectively.
“Early on the morning of March 14, 2024, numerous Nigerians found themselves unable to perform online transactions due to a disruption caused by damage to the MainOne submarine cable system off the coast of West Africa, near Cote D’Ivoire,” indicating a wide-reaching impact on internet connectivity that has affected sectors including banking, telecommunications, aviation, and both the formal and informal economic sectors.
MainOne, the entity responsible for the cable, estimated that repairs might take “one to two weeks,” suggesting that the disruptions could persist for some time.
The situation has particularly hampered clearing agents and importers. “Clearing cargo out of the seaport has turned into a Herculean task,” remarked Oluwaseun Akinola, a clearing agent, pointing out the challenges faced due to unstable customs servers and difficulties in duty payments, which have delayed shipments and resulted in additional storage fees.
Echoing this sentiment, Alhaji Akeem Ayobiojo and Aminu Nababa spoke about the difficulties in making customs payments and the accumulation of extra charges, underscoring the operational challenges caused by the cable cut.
Ikechukwu Ababa made a plea to shipping companies and terminal operators, saying, “This crisis, caused by an incident affecting not just us but other West African countries, has led to unforeseen demurrage and storage charges. It’s only fair that these charges be waived, as the situation demands sacrifices from all, including multinational corporations.”
His appeal highlights the broader economic impact and the need for understanding and support from all stakeholders involved, acknowledging that the crisis, while not caused locally, demands a collective response to mitigate its effects on the affected businesses and individuals.
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