ANLCA, NAGAFF, 10 Others Gang-up Against CRFFN, Terminal Operators

There are indications that the importance of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria may soon be eroded while the Seaport and Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN) may be in for a tough fight as stakeholders in the maritime industry have teamed up to set up a body for the regulation of the freight forwarding and port practice.

The group called; Maritime Advocacy and Action Group (MAAG) was inaugurated in Lagos yesterday with big wigs like: the Chairman of Port Consultative Council; Otunba Kunle Folarin, President of ANLCA, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, NAGAFF Founder, Dr Boniface Aniebonam, President of NAGAFF, Eugene Nweke, President of Lagos Shippers Association, Rev. Jonathan Nicole, and National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA) represented by Chief Festus Ejiofor.

Others that were in attendance include; AMATO Chairman, Remi Ogungbemi, AREFFN President, Dr Frank Ukor, Lagos Chamber of Commerce represented by Mrs Julie Ogboru, Chairman of Multitrade Group, Mr. Al hassan Dantata as well as representatives from NARTO and RTEAN.

Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the group yesterday, it’s Cordinator; Alhaji Al hassan Dantata told journalists that the idea behind the formulation of the group is to defend the right of freight forwarders and other port users against unwholesome practices and high handedness of service providers and government agencies.

He said that part of the essence of the group is to check the excesses of terminal operators and shipping companies who already has a uniform body; Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN)

Dantata claimed that the group has observed discrepancies in port operations and that it has decided to take action in order not to continue shifting blames on the President Goodluck Jonathan administration.

The group acknowledged the government for deeming it fit to appoint the Shippers Council as economic regulator of the port as well as returning destination inspection functions to the Nigeria Custom Service.

"Basically what we are saying is that the way of doing business in Nigerian ports will change, we can assure you that Nigerians in all sectors will feel the positivity of our group in the sense that we will fight the wrong doers and we will bring growth to the sector because we intend to make our port more competitive", he assured.

"We will make sure that people abide by our laws and regulations, we will make sure that every service provider will behave according to the rules of engagement", he added.

“As a private sector body, we will be right here overseeing to make sure that the government appointed economic regulator is followed to the letter, if the regulator is having problems with those who think it is business as usual, we will now come together and decide, we can even shut the operator down" he threatened.

Also speaking, ANLCA President, Prince Olayiwola Shittu said that the primary aim of MAAG is for advocacy and redress, he said that it is not limited to only the seaports but that the airports and land borders will also be under the scrutiny of the group in order to ensure that the right thing is done.

Following suit, NAGAFF President, Eugene Nweke, LCCI Julie Ogboru and Remi Ogungbemi of AMATO all took turns to buttress that the group is to establish standard and to sanitize the port.

However, Speaking with Shipping Position Daily at the end of the meeting, NAGAFF Founder, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam said that the CRFFN has not fared well and that this is one of the major reasons why the MAAG is coming together.

"The Maritime Advocacy Group is coming out because the CRFFN is not living up to expectation, because whatever they chose to do through this policy advocacy is what the CRFFN will articulate and this is the essence of the council", he added.

"It is unfortunate and I begin to wonder if it was a mistake to have domiciled the Council under the Ministry of Transport because we can't understand what is going on there" Aniebonam said.
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