The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) is to go into strategic partnership with the AP Muller Terminal (APMT) towards entrenching better ports operations for the enhancement of international trade in the country.
This was the outcome of a facility tour of the Terminal in Apapa by a delegation of NAGAFF led by the Founder, Dr. Boniface O. Aniebonam.
Speaking during the meeting which trailed the facility tour, Dr. Aniebonam informed the APMT management that NAGAFF came on the visit as part of the association’s agenda to establish corporate relationship with other major stakeholders in the sector.
The NAGAFF Founder said the visit was part of its mandate to help in enhancing activities at the terminals for the benefit of stakeholders including terminal operators, importers and freight forwarders.
He informed the APMT management that NAGAFF was aware of the various challenges in the business climate in Nigeria and promised to use the association’s many channels of communication to push these issues to the attention of those in authority with a view to redressing the situation.
Dr. Aniebonam reiterated that in every dispute, dialogue, consultations and communication should be deployed in resolving all issues. He therefore faulted the last strike action that brought hardship and loss of revenue to Nigeria, describing it as an avoidable situation.
The NAGAFF Founder urged Nigerians doing business at the terminals to help the operators by complying with due process while the operators should also create customer-friendly environment for enhanced operations to the benefit of all.
While appreciating the concept of paperless shipping, Dr. Aniebonam stressed the need for the provision of shelter for freight agents and the establishment of a Customer Relations Department to bridge the gap between the company and the general public.
For his part, the Chief Commercial Officer APMT Apapa, Neil Fletcher said his company was impressed with the roles being played by NAGAFF as a stabilizing factor in the industry.
Earlier Mr. Fletcher had conducted the NAGAFF delegation round the terminal in a trip that took them to the container shed, truck park, the rakings as well as the new office block among others.
While conducting the NAGAFF delegation round the terminal, Mr. Fletcher said the company has invested about 330 Million Dollars in developing, upgrading and modernising its terminal, making it the largest and busiest container terminal in West Africa.
According to the Chief Commercial Officer of APMT, towards facilitating operations at the terminal, the company will take delivery of additional four RTG cranes to bring to 14, the total number in its fleet.
This measure and others have helped to increase the terminal average berth productivity at 17 moves per hour.
According to Mr. Fletcher the throughput capacity of the terminal is now one million TEUs while average vessel waiting time is less than one day unlike the vessel waiting time of 30 days as was the case as at the time APMT took over at the terminal.
Mr. Fletcher said the company has invested heavily in both human and material resources at the ports, thereby facilitating activities in the international trade, thereby contributing to the economic growth of the country.
The APMT official said what his company had done so far is just a tip of the iceberg, in view of the plans the company has in store for the terminal, and the port business in general.
He mentioned efforts by his company to improve on the current rail system that will help in carrying more cargo to other parts of the country, thereby freeing the roads of big trucks.
The NAGAFF delegation also included members of the Board, the National Executive Officers and some Chapter executives.
