Again : NAGAFF raises alarm on port system collapse * Calls for urgent Presidential inquiry to look at port operations
Again : NAGAFF raises alarm on port system collapse
* Calls for urgent Presidential inquiry to look at port operations
By Udeme Clement :
Only few days after the Founder of NAGAFF, Dr Boniface Aniebonam, called attention of the regulatory agencies in the ports to what he described as deliberate disregard for government directives, he is again saying there is total system collapse in the port industry.
He made these assertions while addressing members of the 100% Compliance Team in Lagos.
Speaking further, he called on the Federal Government to set up a Presidential inquiry, to look at issues in the nation’s port.
Dr Aniebonam expressed great displeasure on the mode of operations by concessionaires not complying with Executive Directives from government.
He frowned, “Looking at the way things are going now, you can see that there is system collapse in the nation’s seaport, because there is confusion everywhere.”
On what the team stands for, he explained, “The Compliance Team is an Enforcement Unit and initiative of NAGAFF to monitor activities in the ports and what various organisations are doing in the port..
He said, “At the moment, there is total system failure in the port. So, we must help ourselves.
“In war, when there is system collapse, tactics takes over. Since there is system breakdown, we need to help ourselves.
“Nothing is working at the port now. We cannot even predict the business we are doing. We are incurring losses.
“Government should set up a Presidential inquiry to see how things are going in our port.
“The tactics we are putting in place now are self control, self regulation and self compliance.”
According to him, “The intention of government to make the port competitive has been defeated.
“As a matter of fact, for freight forwarders to sustain their means of livelihood, they must learn to add value and get things done properly. Freight forwarders are surrounded by enemies. they should take their destiny in their hands, by ensuring compliance in all ramifications.
Freight forwarders must be on the side of the law at this auspicious time, so that their goods cleared in the port can get to their warehouses without problems.”
Dr Aniebonam explained that the 100% Compliance Team is meant to bring respect and honour to freight forwarding business through honest declarations.
Also speaking at the event, National Coordinator of NAGAFF 100% Compliance Team, Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko, called for total cooperation by the team in carrying out their functions in the port.
He said that all the Chapters will be headed by Coordinators , while the Bonded Terminals will be headed by Supervisors.
Tanko warned all members against in-fighting among themselves and to report all challenges, as well as infractions in the port to NAGAFF Headquarters for proper attention.
He promised that soon, all the Chapters will be given buses to aid their operations.