By Uzor Odigbo
The Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) has tasked truck owners and other haulage operators to take advantage of the recently pronounced government decision to lift ban on some imported food and other commodities within the next five months.
The foremost transport association charged members to ensure effective conveyance of such commodities from the seaports to various parts of the country in its efforts to support the government addressing food shortages .
General Manager in charge of Operations, NARTO, Mr .Stephen Okafor who disclosed this during the inauguration of newly elected executives of Metropolitan Section of the Association noted that the opportunity would encourage truckers operating from the maritime industry to boost investments, saying that the project is an avenue for truckers to revamp their businesses .
He said the suspended payment of tariffs on imported grains and its semi-finished goods into Nigeria for five months is an opportunity for truckers to stay afloat adding that shippers would leverage on the window to import huge tonnes of the above mentioned commodities to ameliorate food shortages within the period.
Okafor maintained that “We are all aware of the federal government pronouncement on import duty free on some commodities with a grace period of five months.
“We are praying that the pronouncement is sustained and if sustained then it is kudos to all of us because I know we will all smile.”
According to him, the newly elected executives of Metropolitan Session of NARTO has the caliber and manpower to benefit from government directives on imports, even as he stressed the need for them to embrace team spirit as a veritable to benefit from the 150 days grace period.
He urged the new executives to embrace team work, transparency, commitment and resilience towards achieving success from the directive.
The General Manager expressed optimism that the newly elected executives of Metropolitan Session of the association under Abdullahi Inuwa has competent personalities to write the name of NARTO in gold but advised them to place higher premium on goals and objectives of the foremost transport group.