By Uzor Odigbo
National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has urged agencies responsible for the regulation of government policies in the maritime industry to ensure an efficient port system that can meet up with global standards.
The President of NAGAFF, High Chief Tochukwu Ezisi (RFF) said this while delivering his welcome address at the 24th anniversary ceremony of the association held on Apapa Lagos.
The ceremony, which has the theme‘ “Agro Allied Products Export: The Bedrock to Sustainable Development”, Tochukwu Ezisi emphasized on the need for a more efficient port system in Nigeria especially under the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.
In his words, “if Nigerian ports must remain competitive to attract more cargo flow in the region, the NPA, NSC, NCS and others have to check the inefficiencies in the ports and customs operations which indirectly affects ports operations”. These inefficiencies, Tochukwu said includes: poor quality service at the ports, arbitrary hike in duty and terminal charges, illegal activities of non state actors within and around the ports terminals.
Others according to him are, Proliferation of agencies which contributes to cargo clearing delays and challenges faced by truck drivers in accessing terminal gates and loading.
While reiterating on the contribution of NAGAFF in Capacity building for the nation’s workforce through the accredited NAGAFF Academy, the president also appealed to management of terminal operators and shipping lines to stop chasing freight forwarders away from operating their terminals as both needs each other for the success of their businesses.
The ceremony which was Chaired by a former Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Shippers Council, Barrister Hassan Bello was graced by highly placed dignitaries in the industry including the Customs Area Controller of TinCan Island Command, Comptroller Dera Nnadi and Duty Comptroller Enforcement, Aliyu Gambo, the representative of the Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority, Mohammed Bello -Koko, Representative of the Assistant Inspector General of Police , Zone 2, AIG Mohammed Ari Ali, Acting Registrar of CRFFN , Mrs Chinyere Uronta and a host of others.
In her goodwill message, the Acting Registrar of CRFFN, Mrs. Chinyere Uromta,
commended NAGAFF for its building capacity efforts in the maritime industry through training and retraining of its members, urging the association not to relent in its efforts to get its members educated and more knowledgeable in the profession of fright and logistic chain business.
The Chairman of the occasion, Barrister Hassan Bello in his remarks charged the freight forwarders on the need to be more concerned about professionalism on the job,
reminding them of their roles in representing their principals, (Importers) as well as representing Nigeria.
While encouraging freight forwarders to also focus on exports, which he said remained important to growing the nation’s economy, Barrister Hassan Bello charged them on self-improvement through training and retraining with the aim of being well equipped to handle greater jobs beyond going after just cargo clearing.