…As NAGAFF, ANLCA extends ultimatum
The Federal Government has entered into discussion with freight forwarders over their threat to withdraw their services from the country’s ports, land borders and other entry points with a view to resolving all issues under contention.
The government therein engaged the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) and the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) the two leading freight forwarding associations in Nigeria recently at the Conference Hall of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.
It would be recalled that NAGAFF and ANLCA had earlier issued a 21-day ultimatum to withdraw their services to the government to address most of the issues militating against smooth cargo clearance or else they will withdraw their services from the country’s ports, land borders and entry points.
Issues in contention include, but not limited to, arbitrary and unilateral increase in charges by terminal operators and shipping companies, highhandedness, impunity, extortion, blocking and arrest of properly exited cargoes on the highways and unwarranted detention of freight forwarders among others, as some of the practices militating against smooth cargo operations.
Addressing the peace meeting called at the instance of the Federal Government, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Sabiru Zakari, who said he had the mandate of the Presidency, appealed to the freight forwarders to shelve their proposed withdrawal of service as the government, in recognition of their important role in the nation’s strive for greatness, was prepared to address the issues they raised.
While adopting the paper presented jointly by NAGAFF and ANLCA, Mr. Zakari pleaded for more time to enable the government address all the issues raised against the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigerian Ports Authority, the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Services, Maritime Police, Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Terminal Operators and others which have been fingered by the two associations as hindering the free flow of cargo.
Apart from organizing an enlarged meeting where the various leaders of such government agencies will hear how they constituted stumbling blocks to free cargo flow, the head of the government delegation assured the freight forwarding groups that he shall equally and personally submit the working paper to the Federal Government Committee on Ease of doing Business reform headed by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
Earlier, the National President of ANLCA, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, while presenting the document jointly produced by NAGAFF and ANLCA, had said the document had listed all the activities of government agencies and other stakeholders militating against government interest and well-being of their members.
He said the two associations were not only fighting for the liberation of their members, but the interest of the nation’s economy, at large.
Addressing the gathering, founder of NAGAFF, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam called on the Government to be serious in the process of organizing elections into the Governing Council for the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) in line with the spirit and letters of the law setting it up.
He also acknowledged the efforts of the leadership of the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Shippers’ Council and the Nigerian Ports Authority in resolving all matters.
On the part of the Registrar of CRFFN, Sir Mike Jukwe, the Council was on the verge of ensuring categorization of freight forwarding associations to ensure smooth administration and cohesion adding that in the new order and dictate of the ongoing reforms, it may no longer be necessary to allow proliferation of associations within the concept of categorization.
He stressed the need to ensure that all stakeholders key into the new mandate enabling ease of doing business in Nigeria.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Counci,l Barr. Hassan Bello, in his own contribution insisted that there was the urgent need to remove all barriers against trade in the ports.
After extensive engagement and discussion with the government representatives, the associations agreed to extend the ultimatum by another 21 days to enable government address all the issues raised in their letters.
Those also in attendance included, Director, Maritime Services, the Acting President of NAGAFF, Chief Increase Uche, and Legal adviser Barr. Fred Akokhia.
Others were the Secretary BOT of ANLCA, Taye Oyeniyi, Secretary General, Dr. Opara, the National Publicity Secretary Dr. Kayode Farinto and the National Presidents of AREFFN, NAFFAC, and the NCMDLCA.
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