Mr Fred Akokhia, the Deputy National President of the
National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) on
Wednesday urged terminal operators to develop manpower and infrastructure to
improve on their services.
National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) on
Wednesday urged terminal operators to develop manpower and infrastructure to
improve on their services.
He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that
the terminal operators had not kept to their pledge to turn around the ports
when the concession was carried out in 2006.
the terminal operators had not kept to their pledge to turn around the ports
when the concession was carried out in 2006.
He attributed some delays being experienced in port
operations to limited manpower to handle the volume of work at the ports.
operations to limited manpower to handle the volume of work at the ports.
“When they took over in 2006, a delegation went from
NAGAFF to see their managing director then at the port. He even was so proud to
show us; he showed us all the dilapidated structures, equipment and everything.
NAGAFF to see their managing director then at the port. He even was so proud to
show us; he showed us all the dilapidated structures, equipment and everything.
“He said this is the yard of all that we inherited
from NPA; that within a period of three months they are going to revolutionise.
from NPA; that within a period of three months they are going to revolutionise.
“Let us ask now how they have complied with that.
“Till today, they don’t have enough equipment for
lifting of containers to position for people.
lifting of containers to position for people.
“They have not trained enough people. When they are
talking of infrastructure development in the port, they don’t have enough.
talking of infrastructure development in the port, they don’t have enough.
“At times, one driver, he is only the one that will
be on duty. They might have about three cranes but if you don’t have one driver
on each, how do they work?
be on duty. They might have about three cranes but if you don’t have one driver
on each, how do they work?
“So, you find one driver working.
“But if they have three, it will be quicker. That
area of development should be looked into. “How are they improving in that
critical area of their operation? ‘’ Akokhia asked.
area of development should be looked into. “How are they improving in that
critical area of their operation? ‘’ Akokhia asked.
He said that some of the challenges at the port
continued because stakeholders were not widely consulted before the port
concession were done.
continued because stakeholders were not widely consulted before the port
concession were done.
Akokhia said it was also erroneous to have left the
concessionaires to begin operations without a defined regulator to monitor
their activities from the onset.
concessionaires to begin operations without a defined regulator to monitor
their activities from the onset.
