ANLCA, NAGAFF Mobilise Members To Shut Down Port Over Terminal Operators, Shipping Coys Face-Off With Shippers’Council

Even as stakeholders in the maritime sector remain apprehensive over attempts to frustrate the Nigerian Shippers’ Council’s directive to reduce some controversial charges being collected by shipping companies and terminal operators, there are indications that the two leading freight forwarding associations in Nigeria have put their members on standby for an impending strike.
This indication was contained in a press release sent to Shipping Position Daily yesterday in which the duo of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) and National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) expressed anger over actions of some shipping service providers in the ports.
In the statement which was signed by presidents of the two associations; Prince Olayiwola Shittu and Chief Eugene Nweke respectively, the associations expressed dismay at what they called attempt to arm-twist the Nigerian Shippers’ Council in the performance of its role as the economic regulator of the port.

In an apparent reference to the reaction of terminal operators and shipping companies, both ANLCA and NAGAFF said: The shippers’ council which is the commercial regulator in the industry is being arm-twisted and rendered impotent by the operators who are hell bent on thwarting its efforts at reducing cost of doing business in Nigerian ports.”
The shipping companies and terminal operators had gone to court to seek an injunction over the shippers’council’s directive that some of their charges be reduced.
The two associations also added Standards Organisation of Nigeria and Plant Quarantine Services among agencies they are going to fight.
But standing firmly behind the regulator, NAGAFF and ANLCA said, “We shall not fold our hands as illegal charges are being constantly foisted on hapless Nigerians”.
Unfolding their plans, the associations also added that:“Our members nationwide are being put on notice to regard the barefaced robbery as an affront and a denial of our livelihood as more cargoes are being diverted daily to neighbouring countries as a result of avoidable impunity”.
They have also summoned a meeting of their national executive committees for next week to “secure the go-ahead to withdraw our services nationwide in protest again these subversive actions.”
“We also call on the government to intervene urgently to avoid total paralysis of the ports and its attendant effect on the economy:, the statement added.http://shippingposition.com.ng/article/anlca-nagaff-mobilise-members-shut-down-port-over