ANLCA Counsels FG on Preventive Measures over Empty Containers

Chinazor Megbolu

The Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) ,has counselled the Federal Government on preventive measures over empty containers being dumped in the country.

The association in Lagos on Tuesday, urged the Government to take urgent steps towards preventing the country from becoming a dumping site for empty containers.

The ANLCA President, Chief Iju Tony Nwabunike, during a media briefing, explained that the leadership of the country needs to be proactive in order to tackle the perennial gridlock in Apapa.

“We wish to draw government attention to the very near possibility of making Nigeria a dumping ground for empty containers as shipping companies have shown ineptitude in taking responsibility for this.

“We view the application of tug propelled barges in moving empty containers as a welcome initiative that should be improved upon, ”he said.

He further reiterated that ANLCA is in total support of the Practitioners’ Operating Fees (POF) championed by the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).

“ANLCA is supporting it because of the laudable plans explained to the association.

“ANLCA got convinced because they were informed that part of the funds will be deployed to build their capacity through training and retraining of it’s members, “Nwabunike said.

Furthermore, he buttressed that the group is also supporting the planned diversion of cargoes from the Lagos area to the Eastern.

Nwabunike, however, charged the Federal Government to dredge the Calabar and Warri channels so as to accommodate bigger vessels.

He added that efforts should be put in place to curtail the effect of likely inflation that will affect consumers of imported cargoes due to the diversion announced by Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) a couple of weeks ago.