The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has urged regulatory agencies of government in the maritime industry on the need to ensure a more efficient port system for competitiveness according to global standards.
National President of NAGAFF, Chief Emmanuel Ezisi, made the charge on Friday during his welcome address on the occasion of NAGAFF 24th anniversary event held in Lagos with the theme ‘ Agro Allied Products Export: The Bedrock to Sustainable Development.’
He emphasized the need for a more efficient port system considering the huge economic benefits that could accrue to Nigeria under the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.
He added that if Nigerian ports must remain competitive to attract more cargo flow in the region, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and others have to check the inefficiencies in the ports, as well as the operations of the Nigeria Customs.
“Competitive ports would attract more ship calls from the region,” Ezisi said.
He advised that more attention be given to issues bordering on quality of services rendered in the ports; the port charges, arbitrary hike in duty and terminal charges that indirectly affect port operational efficiency.
The NAGFF president was proud of his association’s contribution to capacity building of the nation’s workforce through its accredited NAGAFF Academy.
In his speech, the founder of NAGAFF, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, said that he founded the association in order to liberate freight forwarders from oppression.
He disclosed that he sponsored the Council for the Registration of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), in his bid to professionalize the job. He also expressed optimism that the CRFFN would achieve its purpose very soon.
Speaking also, the Acting Registrar, CRFFN, Mrs. Chinyere Uromta, congratulated NAGAFF at 24 and commended it for building capacity in the maritime industry through training and retraining of its members.
She urged the association not to relent in its efforts to get its members educated and more knowledgeable in the profession.
In his contribution, a former Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and chairman of the event, Barrister Hassan Bello, charged the freight forwarders on the need to be more concerned about professionalism on the job.
He reminded the freight forwarders of their role in representing their principals, the owners of cargoes as well as representing Nigeria.
He further charged freight forwarders on self-improvement with the aim of being able to handle greater jobs beyond simply chasing after just cargo clearing jobs.
Bello encouraged the freight forwarders to focus on exports, which he said remained important to growing the nation’s economy.
