The managements of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) have been advised to change their approach to the implementation and administration of ports policy and enforcement of lawful orders of the federal government of Nigeria.
The founder of the National Association of Government Approved Freight forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr. Boniface Aniebonam who gave the advice in a statement in Lagos yesterday noted that it was in the public that Nigeria was at a borderless war of the COVID-19 pandemic adding that the customs ports in this regard had been declared a state of emergency to stem the tide of Coronavirus scourge.
Aniebonam while encouraging the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority and the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to be decisive on anybody, group and/or any organisation who failed to comply with the emergency rules under the circumstance, insisted that the essence of the executive powers of Mr. President under Section 5 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria may now be evoked and applied.
He added that “In other words the MD of Nigeria Ports Authority and ES of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council as heads of government may now contact the Inspector General of Police with a view to arresting anybody and/or leadership of any private business company operating in our ports who failed to comply immediately with the lawful port orders and regulations. All defaulters should be visited with criminal content other than civil matters.
“It is unheard of that lawful orders the federal government are allegedly in breach with impunity by most of the shipping companies and terminal operators on matters of demurrage waiver under the emergency situation of our ports operations.
“We therefore advise that the freight forwarding practitioners spoiling for breaches of the peace of the ports because of the non-compliance nature of terminal operators and shipping companies should exercise restraint. It is not your fight but that of the Nigeria Shippers’ Council and the Nigeria Ports Authority. It is sad and regrettable that most of the service providers in our ports administration and management have become an Island onto themselves in a sovereign state of Nigeria our Dream country.
“We therefore call upon Hon. Rotimi Amechi and together with his officers Hadiza and Bello to take responsibility to arrest the heads of the various shipping companies and terminal operators found in breach of the lawful directives of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Indeed we are not in a banana republic where rule of law does not exist.”
He maintained that the President of NAGAFF would be held accountable if any member of the association was found to be part of any disorder in the customs ports at the moment of Covid-19 pandemic.
Aniebonam who is also the National Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) pointed out that the coming week called for more action to observe sanitary conditions including but not limited to social distancing, washing of hands and use of hand sanitizer .
“We care for the life and properties of all the freight forwarding practitioners primarily. We also advise that every freight forwarding practitioner must be familiar and conversant with all instructions from the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria who has the mandate to regulate and control freight forwarding profession in Nigeria.
“The use of On Duty Card issued by CRFFN cannot be over-emphasised for proper identification before the security agencies of the government. We again advise that you sit at home if you do not have anything to do at the ports for safety. Stay safe and secured for your own good and for our dream country”, he admonished.
Photo: Founder of NAGAFF, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam.
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