The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) on Friday urged the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) to properly enforce government orders in the ports.
NAGAFF Founder, Dr Boniface Aniebonam, said in a statement in Lagos that Nigeria was at war with the COVID-19 pandemic and a state of emergency declared in the ports to stem the tide of the pandemic.
According to him, Ms Hadiza Bala-Usman, Managing Director of NPA, and Mr Hassan Bello, Executive Secretary of NSC, were encouraged to be decisive on anybody or organisation failing to comply with the emergency rules.
“In this regard, the executive powers of Mr President under Section 5 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria may be evoked and applied.
“In other words, the heads of NPA and NSC may now contact the inspector-general of police with a view to arresting anybody or leadership of any private business operating in the port, that failed to comply with port orders and regulations.
“It is unheard of that orders of the Federal Government are breached with impunity by some shipping companies and terminal operators on matters of demurrage waiver under the emergency situation of our ports operations.
“We, therefore, advise freight forwarding practitioners spoiling for breaches of the peace of the ports, because of the noncompliance nature of terminal operators and shipping companies, to exercise restraint,” he said.
Aniebonam said it was regrettable that some service providers in the ports administration and management had become an ‘island’.
The NAGAFF founder called on the relevant authorities to arrest heads of shipping companies and terminal operators breaching government directives.
“Indeed, we are not in a banana republic where the rule of law does not exist.
“The president of NAGAFF shall be held accountable if any member is found to be part of any disorder in the customs ports at this moment of COVID-19 pandemic.
“The coming week calls for more action to observe certain conditions including but not limited to social distancing, washing of hands and use of hand sanitiser.
“We are advising freight forwarders to be conversant with all instructions from the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), which has the mandate to regulate and control the profession in Nigeria,” he said.
He said thag the use of on-duty card issued by CRFFN could not be over-emphasised for proper identification by security agencies.
He urged them to stay at home if they would do not have anything to do at the ports.
Some freight forwarders on April 30 went on strike in protest of alleged refusal of some terminal operators and shipping companies to suspend demurrage charges.
