Lagos — Disturbed by the increasing embarrassment suffered by shipping lines and their agents in Nigeria over the carriage of fairly used electronics which are now regarded as toxic and hazardous, shipping companies operating under the aegis of Shipping Association of Nigeria (SAN) have given notice that they have suspended carriage of used electronics to Nigeria.

The shipping lines have since the beginning of this year suffered indiscriminate arrests of their ships in Lagos ports following the Nigerian Environmental Standards Regulation and Enforcement Agency (NESREA's) onslaught on used electronics at the ports.

It is estimated that an average of 2,000 TEUs (Twenty Equivalent Units of containers) of used electronic items is imported into the country through the major shipping lines monthly.

The ship owners in a statement signed by its chairman, Mr. Val Osifoh, said the decision to stop the carriage of the cargoes was because of the allegations that the shipping companies were conniving with the importers of such products.

The statement said that the suspension would be effective pending when the Nigerian government would make full and official clarification on the guidelines governing the importation of second hand electronics into the country.

The statement noted that the shipping lines and SAN did not support the transportation of toxic wastes into the country and would continue to collaborate with the relevant government authorities.

"As reported in the media during recent weeks, a number of container vessels have been detained in Nigerian ports following the instructions of NESREA (National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency) for allegedly bringing toxic waste into Nigeria. Our members have viewed with great concern the detention of these vessels.

"To be clear, the vessels were being detained on the suspicion of carrying toxic waste whereas the containers in question contained various used electronic goods, including televisions and computers. The Bills of Lading information supplied by the shippers confirmed that the containers were said to contain such goods which are not included in the Nigeria Customs Service Prohibited Import List, and our members had no reason to believe that they were contravening any Nigerian law or regulations in accepting such cargo," the statement said.

The implication of the action by shipping companies, analysts say, is that anyone that wants to import fairly used electronic appliances such as television sets, radio, DVD players and I-pods even as personal effects may not be able to find a shipping line willing to carry his goods into the country.

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