The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has called on the Hon. Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to create an enforcement unit for the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) with the backing of the relevant enforcement agencies to apprehend and bring to book those who breach the provisions of the Act setting up the Council as a commercial regulator of the ports.
This was contained in a letter addressed to the Minister by the Deputy National President, Headquarters of NAGAFF, Chief Increase Uche and copied to President Muhammadu Buhari and five others and made available to Primetime Reporters Tuesday.
Uche observed that the establishment of the enforcement unit for NSC had become necessary as some operators have descended into the arena of impunity and conflict to carry on as if there is no laws.
He stated that the level of disdain for the law they had observed was predicated on the fact that the offences as provided for in the Nigerian Shippers Act were not being obeyed and enforced.
The NAGAFF chieftain opined that the Shippers Council as the commercial regulator had the statutory responsibility equally to punish offenders by bringing them to justice reminding the Minister of the delegated powers of the President of the Federation of Nigeria as enshrined under Section 5 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
According to him,”We write this letter on the above subject matter to you Sir with all sense of responsibility. As critical operators in the maritime sector of our economy, we have observed that things are not going on well as some operators have descended into the arena of impunity and conflict to carry on as if we don’t have laws.
“This level of disdain for the law we have observed is predicated on the fact that the offences as provided for in the Nigerian Shippers Act are not being obeyed and enforced. The Shippers Council as the commercial regulator has the statutory responsibility equally to punish offenders by bringing them to justice.
“The delegated powers of the Executive President of the Federation of Nigeria refers under Section 5 of the 1999 Constitution as amended. This we believe can be effectively carried out if the Shippers Council can be enabled by way of creating an enforcement unit with the backing of the relevant enforcement agencies to apprehend and bring to book those who breach the provisions of the Act setting up the Council as a commercial regulator of the ports.
“We appeal to you to use your good office to invoke Section 9 of the Act to liaise with the Honourable Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of the federation and the Inspector-General of Police to work out the modalities for creating and manning this unit. This has already been done by NAFDAC and SON respectively”.
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