ANLCA, NAGAFF Express Worry Over Arbitrary Charges

Two major stakeholders
in the Maritime Industry, the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) and the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) have expressed dismay over actions of some shipping services providers at the nation’s Sea Ports.
The duo in a statement which was signed by their respective President, Prince Olayiwole Shittu and Chief Eugene Nweke, expressed their anger on what they called attempt to arm-twist the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) in the performance of their roles as the nation’s economic regulator of the Port.
According to the statement, they are apprehensive over attempts to frustrate the NSC’s directive to Shipping Companies and terminal operators to reduce some controversial charges being collected in the Ports, adding that they have also put their members on alert for an impending show-down.
The associations stated that “The Shippers’ Council which is the commercial regulator in the industry is being arm-twisted and rendered impotent by the operators who are hell bent on thwarting its efforts at reducing cost of doing business in Nigerian Ports.
“We shall not fold our hands as illegal charged are being constantly foisted on helpless Nigerians”, the statement added, disclosing that, members nationwide are being put on notice to regard the barefaced robbery as an affront and a denial of their livelihood as more cargoes are being diverted daily to neigbouring countries as a result of avoidable impunity.
“We also call on government to intervene urgently to avoid total paralysis of the Ports and its attendant effect on the economy”, the unions said.