…Mulls withdrawal of service
The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has described as regrettable, the hike on haulage cost within Lagos and up country by truckers operating at the nation’s seaport.
The Head Special Duties, NAGAFF Headquarters, Rev. Emmanuel Agubanze who made the position of the association known in a press statement he issued in Lagos on Monday observed that the current charge for a 40ft container standing at N650,000 local and N1.2m up country were unjustifiable.
Agubanze maintained that it was the view of NAGAFF that Nigerian Shippers’ Council as the commercial regulator had the statutory mandate to mitigate the present state of unregulated transport cost.
According to him,” While awaiting for Nigerian Shippers’ Council to react and take additional steps, it shall be our mandate to invite all registered associations under CRFFN to hold a meeting to articulate our position which may lead to withdrawal of services. Meanwhile, all freight forwarders with financial means shall began to invest on haulage trucks immediately.
“The international division of NAGAFF has been directed to link up with multinational haulage companies in Europe, Asia and America with a view to investing in Nigeria. If we fail to do so, we are likely to be in bondage now and the future in the hands of haulage group within the transport chain, logistics and Customs facilitation. Time 10am. Venue is NAGAFF Village and Date is 24th July 2018. Concerned freight forwarders of Nigeria are equally invited.
He further stated that President Muhammadu Buhari was through the statement being informed that aside from issue of high level of corruption in the Nigerian Ports, it was regrettable to note that the systems were duly collapsing wherein virtually all the key operators and stakeholders may no longer be law abiding adding that the ports management and administration required his attention for remedy.
“We regret to state that it is only the Comptroller General of Customs, the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers’ Council and the Director General of Standards Organisation of Nigeria are making concerted effort to add value in our ports reform and productivity. However, this is not the time to blame anybody or organization but to find a lasting solution to avoidable circumstances which we all know is human to arising from lack of respect for rule of law and order. We want to appreciate the effort of the government to addressing the ports access roads, however it is our expectation that construction work should be fast forwarded”, he added.
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