Following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus popularly known as Covid-19 and its impact on global economy, the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has called on the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to cause an action to fumigate the nation’s seaports and its environs.
The call was contained in a letter addressed to the Managing Director of the NPA dated 29th May, 2020 and signed by the National Secretary of the association, Mr. Dipo Olayoku.
NAGAFF in the letter noted that there had been reports of one or two infection of individuals who had at one time or the other visited the ports in Nigeria saying, “we never can tell, perhaps, there are still some cases of infected individuals around our ports but which had not been discovered.”
“It is for this reason that the fumigation of the ports and its environs becomes very pertinent”, it added.
NAGAFF observed that its call for the fumigation of the nation’s ports was to ensure the safety of the visitors to the nation’s ports, thereby curtailing the spread of the virus in the country.
“Dear Madam, our advice is borne out of our concern for freight forwarders and visitors in general to the nation’s ports. It is also in fulfillment of our pledge to always support your administration through constructive engagements that will assist you in discharging your statutory functions in port industry. We will not fail in this task which is our own contribution to making your administration succeed.
“CRFFN as an agency of the federal government has the mandate to regulate and control the practice of freight forwarding in Nigeria. It stands to reason that access to the ports by the freight practitioners should be based on the register kept by the Registrar of freight forwarders in Nigeria submitted to your good office for that purpose.
“And finally, it is now most crucial that access into the ports should be addressed. The need for your office and that of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) to close ranks for proper identification of freight practitioners cannot be over-emphasized, without prejudice to the fact that ports are commercial areas but at the same time a restricted area for security reasons, NAGAFF said.
The association however appreciated the Managing Director of NPA and her Management team for their efforts in sustaining the reforms at the ports since assuming office at the helm of affairs at NPA and striving to make operations at the ports and its environs seamless.
NAGAFF said, “Indeed, your action since the outbreak of the global pandemic – Covid-19 which has brought about hiccups in operations in the maritime industry all over the world including Nigeria has been of immense benefit to the country. Your effort at collaborating with the Presidential Task Force (PTF) in controlling the traffic gridlock within the ports domain and easing the flow of essential goods out of the ports at the peak of the lockdown was a huge contribution which deserves commendation.
“In addition, your agency’s role in ensuring waiver palliatives for shippers from March 23 to April 26, 2020 was of immense impact reducing the suffering on the part of the port users and freight forwarders during this period.”
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