The Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria, APFFLON, recently, paid a courtesy visit to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, in charge of Maritime Police Command, AIG Musa Yusuf Garba at his office in Lagos where they explored ways to deepen trade facilitation and ease of doing business at the port.
APFFLON delegation which was led on the visit by its National President, Otunba Frank Ogunojemite was received on arrival at the command’s headquarters by the AIG alongside top officials of the command.
Speaking on the purpose of the visit, Ogunojemite hinted that the visit was to strengthen the long-standing relationship between the association and the Command, while also familiarizing themselves with the current leadership and direction of the Command.
Acknowledging the role Maritime Police Command played in the formative years of the association, Ogunojemite harped on the need for continued partnership, while noting that the maritime sector was highly specialized and required officers who were equipped with requisite knowledge and abilities to effectively maintain law and order within the Command’s Areas of Responsibility.
He however, frowned at the persistent blocking of containers duly cleared and granted exit from the port by the operatives of the Maritime Police Command which he claimed hindered smooth flow of trade and obstruct the ease of doing business at the port.
The APFFLON boss stressed on the need for the officials of the Maritime Police Command to be visible and present during examination of cargo at the port so as to partake in the examination of cargo as well as in preparing the examination report, that way, the persistent cases of container blocking would be completely eliminated.
He therefore, requested that the Police should make themselves available during examination and contribute to the examination report arguing that it would be very unfair stopping the containers while they go out as it would not only delay them, but would also make the agents and their importers pay rent on the blocked consignment.
He equally added that the shipping companies would quickly listen to them (the Police) because they know that at the end of the day, they would make more money at the detriment of the citizens of this country as according to him, all the cost incurred in clearing the container would be transferred to the final consumers.
He further informed that container blocking could equally add to the congestion at the port and ultimately affect on the image of the country globally.
Responding, AIG Musa Yusuf Garba assured APFFLON of the command’s unwavering support and commitment to professionalism while underscoring the importance of effective prosecution of offenders within the maritime sector as a deterrent to others seeking to undermine Nigeria’s economic security.
On container blocking, AIG Garba informed his visitors that there’s hardly any container that was blocked at the port without any intelligence on it, stating that once investigation is conducted and the container is found to be clean, it’s allowed to exit the port without further delay.
He explained that containers were not being blocked with the intent to punish the consignee rather to carry on due diligence on them so as to ensure that the fragile security in the country was not threatened by any import.
The Police boss, however, appealed to the visiting APFFLON members not to hesitate to share any information on any suspected consignment with the command even as he assured them that the needful would be done without compromising trade facilitation and ease of doing business.
Garba reiterated the command’s readiness to collaborate with sister agencies and maritime associations to ensure safety, security, and economic growth within the industry.
In a related development, the Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria, APFFLON recently, paid a courtesy visit to the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 2 comprising of Lagos and Ogun states.
Speaking in an interview with our correspondent in Lagos on Wednesday on the visit, the National President of APFFLON, Otunba Frank Ogunojemite said the discussion between the Maritime Police Command and the association centred on trade facilitation and ease of doing business.
He also said that the visit was to further expand their collaboration with all the necessary stakeholders to ensure a friendly business environment for all port users.
According to him, “We looked at the movement of containers outside the port, the safety of the containers. We only talked about collaboration and how not to impede the ease of doing business.
“We just had a general discussion. We also discussed about the influx of a lot of people into Lagos, some of whom become homeless and can become a threat to the people. We equally discussed about the vehicle that carry the containers, that some of them are rickety and shared ideas on how to overhaul the entire system and ensure a safe, secured environment for trade to be facilitated.”
On his part, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2, AIG Adegoke Fayoade thanked them for the visit and assured them of the readiness of the command to collaborate and work with them and other like minds to rid the environment of crime and criminality.
He further assured them that his doors were wide open to receive them and the valuable contributions that they would bring forward to enable the command the Police the environment with professionalism while equally pledging not to be an impediment to the ease of doing business but to be conscious of the safety of the nation at all times.
Photo 1. (R-L): Otunba Frank Ogunojemite, National President of APFFLON presenting a plaque to AIG Adegoke Fayoade, AIG in charge of Zone 2 Police Command during their visit to the command’s headquarters recently.
Photo 2: (L-R): Otunba Frank Ogunojemite, National President of APFFLON and AIG Musa Yusuf Garba of the Maritime Police Command during the visit by members of APFFLON at the command’s headquarters in Lagos recently.
Photos 3 & 4: A cross-section of the police operatives at the two commands during the visit in Lagos recently.
Send your press invite, news, press releases/articles to augustinenwadinamuo@yahoo.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @PrimetimeRepor1 and on Facebook on facebook.com/primetimereporters or call the editor on 07030661526.
