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| The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman (left), presents a plaque to the Chairman, Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarders in Nigeria (CRFFN), Abubakar Tsanni Amadi (right), who paid a courtesy call on the Managing Director at the NPA Corporate Headquarters in Marina, Lagos. |
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)
has agreed to integrate the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in
Nigeria (CRFFN) transaction Portal into the Authority’s Web Portal, in a bid to
facilitate access to operational information.
has agreed to integrate the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in
Nigeria (CRFFN) transaction Portal into the Authority’s Web Portal, in a bid to
facilitate access to operational information.
The Managing Director of the NPA,
Hadiza Bala Usman, disclosed this while receiving members of the CRFFN
governing board who paid her a courtesy call, and explained that the move was to
create a synergy between the activities of the Authority and the Council.
Ms. Bala Usman assured the Port users,
and especially the Governing Board of the CRFFN Council that the NPA Management
would always be willing to promote an enabling environment and support to the Council
in its quest to having a smooth operation in the Ports.
and especially the Governing Board of the CRFFN Council that the NPA Management
would always be willing to promote an enabling environment and support to the Council
in its quest to having a smooth operation in the Ports.
She spoke when the Chairman of the
Governing Board of the CRFFN, Abubarkar Tsanni Amadi, led other members on a
courtesy visit to the Corporate Headquarters of the NPA, Marina, Lagos.
Governing Board of the CRFFN, Abubarkar Tsanni Amadi, led other members on a
courtesy visit to the Corporate Headquarters of the NPA, Marina, Lagos.
She told the delegation that the Management
was presently carrying out a review of the concession agreement with the
Terminal Operators, which is being bank-rolled by the World Bank for a more
efficient Port operation as well as to put them in shape in line with
International best practice.
was presently carrying out a review of the concession agreement with the
Terminal Operators, which is being bank-rolled by the World Bank for a more
efficient Port operation as well as to put them in shape in line with
International best practice.
She also said that sanctions had been
put in place for either party who might want to default in that regard.
put in place for either party who might want to default in that regard.
In his welcome address, the Chairman
of the CRFFN, Alhaji Abubakar Tsanni Amadi, said the body was in the NPA to seek mutual
relationship between both parties, with a view to further boost efficient
service delivery through a seamless port operations.
of the CRFFN, Alhaji Abubakar Tsanni Amadi, said the body was in the NPA to seek mutual
relationship between both parties, with a view to further boost efficient
service delivery through a seamless port operations.
He called for improved collaboration
with the NPA Management in addressing the issue of unauthorised access to the ports,
especially as it concerns those with no legitimate business in the Port.
with the NPA Management in addressing the issue of unauthorised access to the ports,
especially as it concerns those with no legitimate business in the Port.
He added that all registered freight
forwarders need to be issued a port entry permit as contained in the CRFFN Act,
section 19 [1] to urgently avert any security breach in view of the volatility
of the Port axis and most especially unwarranted human traffic.
forwarders need to be issued a port entry permit as contained in the CRFFN Act,
section 19 [1] to urgently avert any security breach in view of the volatility
of the Port axis and most especially unwarranted human traffic.
Amadi said that the Port Industry had
continued to suffer challenges including delays caused by the long dwelling time of cargo,
the traffic gridlock, and non-provision of empty containers holding bay by
Shipping Companies.
continued to suffer challenges including delays caused by the long dwelling time of cargo,
the traffic gridlock, and non-provision of empty containers holding bay by
Shipping Companies.
He requested the Management to take a
holistic approach to the charges slammed on Nigerian importers arising from shipping
companies not having holding bays.
holistic approach to the charges slammed on Nigerian importers arising from shipping
companies not having holding bays.
He said the CRFFN had set up committees
with relevant sections of the CRFFN Act, which if harnessed with the
Management’s Security Division would bring sanity to the Ports operation and
most meaningfully enhance revenue generation to the nation at large.
with relevant sections of the CRFFN Act, which if harnessed with the
Management’s Security Division would bring sanity to the Ports operation and
most meaningfully enhance revenue generation to the nation at large.
He further stated that the present CRFFN
Executive which came on board in 2018 met an environment not conducive for port
operations, especially as it concerns the port infrastructure leading to the ports
and its environs, hence the need for courtesy visit to the NPA as solutions are
sort.
Executive which came on board in 2018 met an environment not conducive for port
operations, especially as it concerns the port infrastructure leading to the ports
and its environs, hence the need for courtesy visit to the NPA as solutions are
sort.
In a related development, the
Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), while hosting the
visiting members of the National Association of Government Approved Freight
Forwarders (NAGAFF) led by its Chairman, Chief Increase Uche, who paid a
courtesy visit to the Corporate Office assured all that Government was very mindful
of the need to meeting with International best practices through the ongoing
Lekki Deep Seaport project.
Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), while hosting the
visiting members of the National Association of Government Approved Freight
Forwarders (NAGAFF) led by its Chairman, Chief Increase Uche, who paid a
courtesy visit to the Corporate Office assured all that Government was very mindful
of the need to meeting with International best practices through the ongoing
Lekki Deep Seaport project.
The Port on completion would be able
to accommodate bigger vessels, she said, and added that it is at the break water
point, which is being handled by the China Harbour, serving as partners to the
project.
to accommodate bigger vessels, she said, and added that it is at the break water
point, which is being handled by the China Harbour, serving as partners to the
project.
The NAGAFF Chairman had earlier
solicited for the support of the Management in the area of Port infrastructure
especially as it concerns roads leading to the Ports and its environs which has
drastically reduced the transfer of cargo out of the Ports to the hinterland.
solicited for the support of the Management in the area of Port infrastructure
especially as it concerns roads leading to the Ports and its environs which has
drastically reduced the transfer of cargo out of the Ports to the hinterland.
This according to him has had
negative influence on the activities of its members doing business in the Ports
across the country.
negative influence on the activities of its members doing business in the Ports
across the country.
Uche stated that NAGAFF was readily
available to participate in national development through meaningfully contributing
its quota in the area of policy formulation with Management to the Maritime
sector, for the growth and development of the sector.
available to participate in national development through meaningfully contributing
its quota in the area of policy formulation with Management to the Maritime
sector, for the growth and development of the sector.
