The President, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, Mr Eugene Nweke,  said the issue of arbitrary charges in the nation’s ports should  be addressed to facilitate trade.

Speaking at the Fifth Practical Maritime Dispute Resolution Seminar in Lagos, Nweke said “some charges in our ports are stumbling blocks to international trade“.

“Ports are no longer seen as mere gateways to a nation’s economy. They now serve as national assets and fulcrum drive to economic development. “

According to him, globalisation has made ports intrinsic to economic recovery.

“Ports are now part of the mainstream of international logistics and supply chain management.

“The adherence to best practices of technical, financial and managerial economies of scale with its far reaching benefits has affected maritime countries positively,” he said

Nweke said that the arbitrary charges constituted a dilemma to shippers and freight forwarders in Nigeria, stressing that such charges contradicted government’s plans for more vibrant ports.

“With increase in the cost of cargo clearance in our ports, government’s intention to achieve quick cargo clearance and to reduce the cost of import clearance will be defeated,” he said.